Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Tallahassee?
- 2 Does the City of Tallahassee Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Tallahassee?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Tallahassee?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Tallahassee?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Tallahassee?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Tallahassee?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Tallahassee?
Located on the Florida Panhandle, Tallahassee is a city within easy driving distance of the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. This is a town that loves its trees and takes pride in its extensive tree canopy. After a fire burned a majority of the downtown area in 1843, the city invested in replanting the tree canopy. Today, more than 55% of the town’s land is covered by a tree canopy.
The most common types of trees in Tallahassee include:
- Hickory
- Elm
- Ash
- Maple
- Magnolia
- Basswood
- Locust
While you take good care of your yard and trees, you may need our help to care for them. There are a variety of common tree issues in Tallahassee, and these include:
Storm Damage
It’s no secret that hurricanes and tropical storms seem attracted to the Gulf of Mexico. With its proximity to the Gulf, Tallahassee sees more than its fair share of storms. Hurricanes can arrive with winds gusting between 74 and 157 mph or more, depending on the hurricane category. This high-velocity wind can pull your trees up by the roots or damage them.
Even a mere tropical storm can wreak havoc on your trees. The winds in a tropical storm can gust up to between 39 and 73 mph, and this can also cause a lot of damage to your trees, home, and cars. When this happens, our team is ready to help you save the trees we can and remove the ones we can’t.
Root Rot
When your trees’ roots rot, the tree is no longer stable, and it’s slowly dying. If caught early, we can treat and possibly save the tree. There are two main causes of root rot: saturated soil and fungal infection. Saturated soil comes from a lot of moisture from rain or humidity in the right kind of soil.
In Tallahassee, we see almost 59 inches of rain on average each year. This is almost 20 inches more than the national average. In addition to the rain, you know that the humidity is always high. You can practically see the water droplets in the air on hot, humid days. The average humidity in Tallahassee is 55% and the soil gets saturated.
Pests
While Pixar might create movies for kids with adorable bugs, don’t be fooled. Real-life bugs are a menace to your trees. Bugs typically attack sick trees, but they can feast on healthy ones too. The most commonly found pests in Talahassee that will go after your trees include:
- Bagworm
- Eastern tent caterpillar
- Gypsy moth
- Bark beetles
- Southern pine beetles
- Emerald ash borer
- Aphids
- Red spider mites
Bugs and other pests can go after any type of tree, although different trees see a higher influx of specific bugs. If you notice discolored leaves or channels in the bark, you might have a pest problem. The earlier you can detect a pest infestation and call us means the higher the probability of saving your tree. Our team can treat pests and care for your tree while it becomes healthy again.
Does the City of Tallahassee Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
While the city of Tallahassee doesn’t pay for the cost of tree removals in your yard, some residents can qualify for a loan from the city of up to $12,500 to make improvements to your home.
This includes the removal of trees that present a danger to the property, either due to their location to the home or disease. For low-income residents, this loan can be forgiven. Depending on where you plan to plant a new tree, Tallahassee has an adopt-a-tree program, so you can replace removed trees.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Tallahassee?
After a storm or due to disease, a tree may fall. You want to know who is responsible for the removal of fallen trees. If a tree has fallen onto a power line, you must call emergency services immediately. Do not try to get near the tree or climb on it.
When a tree falls, it needs to be removed. You can’t leave it decaying in your yard. If you’re a low-income homeowner, you might be able to access the loan that we talked about in the earlier section.
If you’re a homeowner?
If you own the property, and there’s a fallen tree, then it’s almost certainly your responsibility to remove it. You’ll need a permit from either Environmental Services or Growth Management. It depends on if you live in the city of Tallahassee or the county of Leon.
However, if the fallen tree’s roots and base are in your neighbor’s yard but the bulk of the tree fell into yours, your neighbor is responsible. Now, if the fallen tree is on an easement, then it’s up to the city or the utility company to remove it.
If you’re a renter?
As a general rule, the homeowner is responsible for the removal of any fallen trees except in the cases of easements when it falls to the government or utility company. However, you must let the homeowner know about any fallen trees, so they can handle the removal process. The homeowner can determine if it’s their responsibility or that of the government or utility company.
If you’re a landlord?
If you’re a landlord, you’re also the homeowner and will need to pay for the removal of any trees on your property that isn’t on an easement. In some cases, the contract between you and the renter might dictate that they take care of tree removal. You can always review your contract if you have any questions.
If you’re a neighbor?
This situation is a little more tricky because a tree from one yard may have fallen into the other. In Florida, the homeowner, where the tree originally stood, is responsible for removing the tree unless it’s on an easement. If your neighbor’s tree has fallen into your yard, or your tree has collapsed in theirs, it’s a good idea to talk to your neighbor and work it out. You don’t want things to get ugly with someone you live so close to.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Tallahassee?
Most of the soil you find in your yard in Tallahassee is Orangeburg. It’s sandy soil that can soak up a lot of water. This can cause root rot. However, if you tend to your yard properly, you might be able to avoid some of this water absorption. By laying down a layer of mulch, you can create a barrier that slows the amount of water that seeps into the soil. You’ll need to apply mulch regularly to keep the barrier in place.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Tallahassee?
Yes, the weather absolutely can affect the health of your trees in Tallahassee. The extra 20 inches of rain and high humidity are going to saturate your soil and make root rot a real possibility.
Although hurricanes and tropical storms don’t hit Tallahassee every year, the panhandle of Florida is the most hurricane-prone area in the state. When they do, the wind gusts and heavy rains can cause massive damage to your trees. Whether it’s rain, wind, or something else entirely, our team is ready to help care for your trees and remove any that can’t be saved.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Tallahassee?
If there are trees on or near a power line after a storm, you need to call emergency services. It isn’t safe to go near a tree laying on a power line. However, if it’s a dead tree that’s still standing due to disease or something else, the homeowner is responsible for removing the tree in Tallahassee. The one exception to this rule is when the dead tree on your property is on the easement. In this case, the removal of the tree falls to the city, county, or appropriate utility company.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Tallahassee?
The average cost for tree removal in Tallahassee is $534 with the low end at $452 and the high side at $616. Of course, this is a single tree, and many factors can affect your cost of having a tree removed. Here are some of the most common factors in Tallahassee.
Size
It’s going to take a lot more work for us to remove a 100-year-old oak from your Tallahassee yard, than a magnolia that you planted a few years ago. A larger tree might need to be removed in sections with one of our team members working off the ground to remove the upper sections. Depending on the size of the tree, we’ll require extra equipment and additional workers. A large tree can also take a lot more time to remove, and this can increase the cost of tree removal.
Location
Location can play a large part in the cost of removing a tree. For instance, if the tree is close to your Tallahassee home, we’ll need to brace it and take extra precautions to ensure that it doesn’t end up crashing through your roof.
Another thing to consider when it comes to location is the trees surrounding the one that needs to be removed. You don’t want the dead or damaged tree to damage others that are close by as it’s removed.
Other Services
There’s more to removing a tree than simply cutting it down. You may need to pay an additional cost for the removal of the stump and roots. You might see a charge for removing the tree, or you might prefer to have it chipped to use as mulch in your Tallahassee yard, which can help create a barrier for all the rain and moisture to protect other trees.