Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Saint Augustine?
- 2 Does The City of Saint Augustine Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Saint Augustine?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Saint Augustine?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Saint Augustine?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Saint Augustine?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Saint Augustine?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Saint Augustine?
With its claim to fame as America’s oldest city, Saint Augustine is a historic town with many trees and foliage. The moderate climate helps outdoor spaces grow lush and green. In fact, some of the tree species that grow in Saint Augustine are protected and can’t be removed except under special conditions. Some of the trees that you most commonly find in the yard of your Saint Augustine home include:
- Atlantic White Cedar
- Eastern Red Cedar
- American Holly
- Redbay
- Coastal Live Oak
- Cabbage Palmetto
Since the city of Saint Augustine sits on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, you enjoy gorgeous weather throughout most of the year. However, abundant rain showers and the occasional hurricane or tropical storm might send you indoors. Your trees might suffer due to a variety of issues. Here are the ones most common to trees in Saint Augustine:
Damage Done By Insects and Other Pests
With its moist, warm climate, Saint Augustine is a bug’s paradise. These little critters can eat, burrow, or destroy your trees. The most common insects in Saint Augustine include:
- Aphids
- Mites
- Cinch bugs
- Fall webworms
- Hornworm caterpillars
- Twig Girdlers
- And many more
If you catch damage done to your trees early, we can help nurse them back to life. However, if there’s extensive damage, it might kill the tree, and removal is our only option.
It’s always a good idea to inspect the trees in your yard for damage done by insects. The damage might include bare sections, small holes, or channel marks. If you suspect insect damage, call our team immediately to evaluate the tree.
Root Rot
Root rot is a disease that kills the roots of the trees causing them to die. It’s typically caused by either soil saturation or a fungus. In Saint Augustine, your soil sees a lot of water soaking into it. Your home is close enough to the beach that you see a lot of humidity and rainstorms.
In fact, Saint Augustine enjoys an average rainfall of 51 inches a year — this is why your yard is so lush and green. The national average for rainfall is only 38 inches a year. This is a lot of water to saturate your soil.
Another factor to help root rot flourish is the humidity level. While humidity is a nuisance to you, it can add moisture to your soil. The average humidity in Saint Augustine is more than 82%, and this is more than 11% higher than the national average.
Turbulent Weather
As a coastal city on the Eastern Seaboard, Saint Augustine is no stranger to hurricanes and tropical storms. With the wind speeds as low as 39 mph and as high as 74 mph and higher, these storms can rip a tree out of your yard. A mild tropical storm can damage a tree beyond repair.
After a storm, carefully inspect all of your trees. If you suspect damage, our team can come out and make an evaluation. We can also remove any fallen trees and stumps. While these storms don’t hit Saint Augustine every year, they’re catastrophic when they do.
Does The City of Saint Augustine Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
No, the city of Saint Augustine doesn’t provide any assistance in the removal of trees unless it’s on an easement. If you remove a tree, you’re required to secure a permit. A failure to secure the correct permit can result in a large fine.
If a storm blows through town, and you see a fallen tree on a power line, it’s essential that you call emergency services. This situation is almost always dangerous, and the tree is probably on an easement for the utility company, making it their responsibility.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Saint Augustine?
In Saint Augustine as in the rest of Florida, the responsibility for the removal of a fallen tree falls to the property owner. Since Saint Augustine has several protected trees, you’re expected to secure a permit before removing a tree, and this includes fallen one.
However, if the fallen tree is on an easement, then either the government or the utility company is responsible for its removal. We can evaluate your tree’s location to help you determine if it’s on an easement.
If you’re a homeowner?
Yes, as the homeowner, you’re typically responsible for the removal of any fallen trees. However, the city of Saint Augustine requires a permit before any trees can be removed.
If you’re a renter?
When you rent a home, duplex, or condo, you might be responsible for lawn maintenance, depending on your lease. However, the homeowner is typically responsible for the cost of removing a fallen tree. You probably need to keep the homeowner apprised of any damaged or dying trees on the property.
If you’re a landlord?
As the landlord, you are also the homeowner, and you’re responsible for the costs of removing a fallen tree. Your contract with the renter might make them responsible for removal, though.
If you’re a neighbor?
Has a tree fallen so that half of it is in your yard and half of it is in your neighbor’s yard? When this happens, the person whose yard the tree grew in is responsible for the costs of removal. It’s always a good idea to go and talk to your neighbor. Whether it’s your tree or theirs, you want to work everything out amicably. You may live next to this person for a lot of years to come.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Saint Augustine?
Most of the soil on properties in Saint Augustine is sandy. This means that they can hold a lot of moisture. Heavily saturated soil can lead to root rot, which can harm your trees or cause them to die and fall.
If your soil is sandy, you can use mulch on your property, especially around tree roots and root systems, to act as a barrier. The mulch makes it more difficult for water to seep into the sandy soil. Our team can always come to your home and evaluate the soil to help you make the best decisions possible.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Saint Augustine?
Yes, the weather in Saint Augustine definitely affects the health of your trees. While you may enjoy the numerous sunny days at the beach, the average rainfall and high humidity make it harder for your trees to thrive. With saturated soil, your trees might face disease, such as root rot, that leaves them in danger.
Also, those pesky tropical storms that arrive in the fall can cause serious damage to your trees. In fact, the wind gusts might knock them over while the flooding can weaken the roots or pull a smaller tree out of the ground.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Saint Augustine?
Dead trees near a power line can create a dangerous situation. When a tree falls on the power line, it can cause power outages and become an electrocution risk. Call emergency services if you ever see a dead tree on a power line or one that’s been pulled down to the road.
As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the costs of removing a dead tree unless it’s on an easement. The power company may have an easement on your property where the power lines run. If you believe that the tree might be in the easement, you can call the utility company. They’ll come out and determine whether it’s in the easement area.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Saint Augustine?
It’s hard to pinpoint how much the removal of a tree costs. However, in the Saint Augustine area, you can expect to pay between $339 and $1344. You’ll probably end up paying something in the middle. Many factors go into the actual cost of removing a tree in the yard of your Saint Augustine home. These factors include:
Other Services
When you look at how much it costs to remove a tree, you’re probably only seeing how much it costs to cut down the tree. There might be other things that you need done in relation to tree removal. This can include things such as removing the stump after the tree has been cut down. You might also want the tree chipped. You can use the tree chips as mulch for your St. Augustine yard and the other trees.
Height of the Tree
As you can imagine, it’s easier to cut down a five-foot tree than a 35-foot one. You can’t cut a tall tree down at the base. Our team starts at the top and removes the tree in sections.
This requires extra equipment to reach the top of the tree and protect our workers at that height. Also, cutting down a tall tree takes additional time, so you can expect to pay more. In Saint Augustine, there are a few evergreen trees that can reach soaring heights.
Location of the Tree
When removing a tree from your yard, we make sure that it doesn’t end up in your home. This makes location of the tree in your Saint Augustine home a big cost factor.
If your tree is close to your home or in the center of other trees, you can expect to pay more for its removal. We’ll need to take precautionary measures to ensure the tree doesn’t do any damage to your home or other trees on its way down.