AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Panama City, FL

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Panama City?

Welcome to ocean breezes and salty air as you drive through the sunny streets of Panama City. The tourist favored town is loved for being a vacation hotspot and adored for having endless adventures to go on. Along with all of the excitement going on by the water, the palm trees line the streets with beauty and set the tone for positive vibes. Unfortunately, without proper care and maintenance, you might find a few of the following culprits lurking and harming local trees. 

Bark Beetles

Known for infesting and reproducing quickly, bark beetles are notorious for wreaking havoc on pines and other trees that are stressed or dying. The beetles bore into the top layers of a tree and feed on the inner bark of it, depleting it of nutrients and water. As they feed and reproduce they introduce fungi to trees which ultimately leads to the decay and death of the tree. Signs of the beetle include boring holes, white or reddish-brown brown pitch tubes on the outside bark, and flaking bark. 

Spotted Lanternfly

First detected in China, the Spotted Lanternfly isn’t your average pest. Not only is the jumping insect quick to reproduce, but it lays 30 to 50 eggs at a time. When these eggs hatch, you’ll begin to notice oozing sap, wilting, leaf curling, and dieback in trees. The insect rapidly causes harm to trees and plants and has been known to destroy mass fields of the crop for farmers. Not only is the Lanternfly invasive, but it’s known as the hitchhiker due to how often it catches a ride on people, moving plants, and more. 

Citrus Greening

Originally spread by a disease-infected insect, Citrus Greening is a pathogen that transmits bacteria to growing trees. Infected trees can live for months and even years battling the disease, but often have slowly withdrawing limbs and branches caused by gradual decay. The most common sign of the disease is wilting, blotchy, or spotted leaves. The disease may also attack the root system of trees, leaving them at risk of falling. 

Does the City of Panama City Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

Throughout Panama City, trees are well maintained and looked after. According to local ordinances, you are not allowed to cut down, destroy, remove, move, or injure any tree that falls under protected guidelines without approval from the city. Protected trees include dogwood and redbud with a diameter at breast height of 3 inches or more, as well as any tree other than pines with a Dbh of 10 inches or more. If the tree is decaying or dying, or it’s nearby and could cause damage to a single-family residence, then you do not have to apply for a permit to remove it. 

The city does provide a designated department to handle the maintenance and care for trees on public property and may assist in the removal of trees on private property that could cause damage to public property. However, the responsibility of removing trees that reside on private property falls on the homeowner, and help in removing them may be denied. 

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Panama City?

You’ve come home or walked outside only to find there’s a fallen tree in your backyard, so what do you do? You figure out who’s responsible for paying for the bill to have the fallen wood removed. In many cases, it can be a little tricky to know if you’re responsible or if your neighbor is. Here are a few tips to remember when determining if you should be the one to call and have it removed. 

If you’re a homeowner?

Tree removal in Panama city is typically the responsibility of the homeowner where the tree resides before falling. Should it fall due to natural causes, you can file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance to assist in handling any damages or the cost of having it removed. If it’s deemed that the tree fell due to negligence and poor maintenance, you could be held liable for all potential damages caused on your property as well as neighboring property. 

If you’re a renter?

Unless stated in your lease, your primary roles in lawncare are ensuring the grass is cut and the hedges are trimmed. However, if you fail to report that a decaying tree is posing risk to the property, you may be held partially liable for expenses for removing the tree once it falls if your landlord takes you to court. 

If you’re a landlord?

As a landlord, your duty is to routinely check and ensure that the state of the property is in living condition. This includes verifying that trees on the property are maintained and removed should they show signs that they may fall. If you work for a homeowner as a property manager instead, then it’s your responsibility to let them know about any trees that may pose a risk to the property. 

If you’re a neighbor?

In Panama City, trees are the responsibility of the homeowner, meaning that if your neighbor’s tree falls on your property due to negligence, it’s their responsibility to have it removed and sort out the cost of repairs as necessary. However, if a tree falls due to natural causes and it’s partially on your property, you may have to work with your neighbor to agree on splitting the cost for having it removed. This mainly happens with boundary trees and in most cases, the homeowner with more than 50% of the tree residing on their property is primarily responsible. 

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Panama City?

Much of the soil in Panama is made up of sand, which can make it difficult to grow many kinds of crops. For trees, this can be a mix of healthy opportunities and no chance of consistent growth. The soil throughout the city does consists of sand grains that are coated with minerals from the gulf. This can be both good and bad, as sandy-based soils tend to expand and contrast with ease during rainy periods. A high portion of the soil in the area has poor drainage and holds a fluctuating water table of 40 to 60 inches during rainy seasons. This can cause trees to over-hydrate and prevent them from getting the nutrients they need. 

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Panama City?

Panama City is prone to heavy storms and unexpected weather changes. From hurricanes to tropical terrors, there’s always a chance of experiencing an afternoon storm without warning. Being so close to the coast, Panama often deals with the risk of flooding which can be detrimental to the growth of young trees. When trees in the city become overwhelmed with floodwater, it can be difficult for them to soak in the nutrients from the soil that they need. While this doesn’t typically cause trees to die, it can stunt growth patterns and cause trees to grow slightly deformed. Too much water in the soil can also make it easy for roots to break from their home and may lead to trees falling when winds pick up. 

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Panama City?

Power lines are tricky threats when it comes to removing a tree. Even if you’re working on a tree that’s not directly touching a live line, if it’s close then it’s likely that when trimming branches you might wind up in danger. For example, if you’re planning to work on a tree that’s a couple of feet from a power line and a branch you cut falls on it, you may wind up getting caught in the sparks of the line or risk potentially falling and coming in contact with that line by accident.

Dead trees near power lines should never be toyed with by anyone that doesn’t have the proper training or equipment to handle the job. At all times, your best bet is having our professionals come out to trim and remove trees located near power lines. 

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Panama City?

When it comes to having a tree removed from your property, each job is unique. While most projects will use most of the same equipment and processes to safely remove a tree, planning the physical removal of it is unique to your yard and that tree’s needs. Homeowners in Panama City average tree removal services cost $504, but they can range from $300 up to about $2,000. This price covers the cost of labor, materials, and equipment, along with preparation and cleanup for the removal, and it fluctuates based on several factors.

Size and Diameter of Tree

To put things simply: the bigger the tree, the bigger the job. Size and diameter are major factors in determining the price of services when tree removal is necessary. A smaller tree will require less equipment, machinery, and labor, while a tree that’s been growing for 30+ years and is too wide to wrap your arms around will take up more time for preparation and work. The larger a tree is, the more precision will come into play when determining the best route of removal.

Ease of Access 

If you’re having a tree removed and our arborists can come on your property and quickly access it, then it’s likely that it’ll be an almost effortless time when carrying equipment and safety harnesses or moving machinery over to it. Ease of access can increase or decrease the cost of tree removal services based on how difficult it is to gain access to that tree. Trees that are near power lines or structures are considered harder to access due to how much planning goes into removing them without allowing limbs or branches to fall and make physical contact. How easy it is to get to the tree and remove it plays into the safety of the job for everyone involved. 

Additional Services

Do you want that trunk removed once the tree is cut down? Then you’re looking at an additional service. We typically don’t include stump removal in our quoted services, meaning that we’ll have to bring in additional equipment if you want it removed from your yard and add the service to the estimate. This will require heavy-duty machinery to be brought in so that the stump can go through a fine grinding process before the bits are hauled off.