Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Ellenwood?
- 2 Does the City of Ellenwood Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal In Ellenwood?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Ellenwood?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Ellenwood?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Ellenwood?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Ellenwood?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Ellenwood?
The trees in the bigger Atlanta area thrive in this environment normally. On occasion, diseases and infestations creep up and take over when we least expect it. Some of the more common issues in this area include bacterial and fungal infections as well as insect infestations.
One issue we see often is a beetle infestation. There are a few different species of beetles seen here, like the elm leaf beetle, Japanese beetle, and the flea beetle. These pests attack the tree’s leaves, consuming all the green areas, and leaving just the vein part. Eventually, you’ll start to see more reddish-brown leaf parts with a skeletonized appearance.
The next issue we sometimes see is Bacterial Wetwood. Water-soaked wood in the tree will form numerous bacteria, which then makes it smell sour. The bacteria cause fermentation, which results from the tree splitting due to the gas build-up inside. You’ll notice a vertical streak of a liquid substance oozing from wounds located in the tree.
Fungus grows and thrives in warm, wet climates during spring, summer, and even mild winters, causing Fungus and leaf spot issues. To know if your tree is infected, look for the browning of the leaves and shoots, dieback, which spreads from the bottom on up, and tiny lesions along the veins of the leaves.
All of these problems can be easily treated, provided it gets diagnosed quickly. Our tree specialists will know the signs and how best to combat infections and infestations.
Does the City of Ellenwood Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
As far as removal is concerned, the City of Ellenwood will only handle the trees that are on city property. Any trees that reside on your lot are your responsibility, and you need to take care of any trimming or removal as necessary. However, it’s important to note that in some cases, a permit is required to have trees removed from a property. It’s not always necessary, but you should check before removing any.
The most common instance where residents of Clayton County would need one is if you choose to remove 6 or more trees on a single-family residential lot. You can generally remove 5 trees or less with no permit, though. If it’s needed, simply fill out an application.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal In Ellenwood?
Trees offer plenty of shade from the hot sun and can filter the wind from causing too much damage to our homes and other structures on the lot. However, on occasion, they can be hazardous as well. A weakened tree can get uprooted in a windstorm or limbs can get knocked off, which might send it on a path straight to one’s lawn or worse, their home. When that happens, who’s responsible? Let’s take a look at a few scenarios.
If you’re a homeowner?
If it’s your tree that falls over onto your lot, you will need to take care of it. If it’s your tree, but it falls onto your home, you will need to contact your insurance agent to see just what is covered when a situation like this happens. Some policies will cover all or most of the damages to the home or other structure on the lot.
Here, in Ellenwood, residents take pride in their homes and their yards. It wouldn’t hurt to be courteous and have your trees inspected by our arborists now and then, to see if everything is going well, or if you should consider trimming some branches, so they don’t break off and fall onto your neighbor’s property.
If you’re a renter?
If the tree is on the property owned by the landlord, they should take care of the tree removal and the damages done to the structures on the lot. However, they are not responsible for any damages that might have occurred to your personal items. Your own renter’s insurance should cover them.
Also, no Georgia law states the landlord has to conduct any inspection of the trees on the lot. If a tree falls over due to being weak from a disease, they would be held responsible if they were aware of the condition of the tree. The problem with that is that it’s very hard to prove that they would’ve been aware of the tree’s condition to begin with.
If you’re a landlord?
Technically, you should be the one to handle the removal of a tree that’s located on your lot and falls over in your yard. Of course, if the tree fell onto the home that you rent out, your homeowner’s insurance should cover a portion of the damage costs. Depending on your insurance terms, they may pay for a portion of the tree removal as well. If it’s not covered in your policy, you should call us to take care of the situation.
While no law says you have to inspect the trees on the lot, it would be a good idea to do that for your own sake. Trim the branches that are growing off your property and remove any diseased tree that can’t be treated. That way, you keep the trees thriving, and you can prevent accidents from happening in the future.
If you’re a neighbor?
Here’s where it can get a little tricky. If your neighbor’s tree falls onto your home, you take care of it through your insurance. However, the insurance company may investigate and decide that it was the neighbor’s fault for neglecting a diseased tree. They might decide to go after the neighbor for reimbursement. Leave that to the insurance company, though. Don’t try to start anything with the neighbor and risk harming the relationship you have with them.
It’s always best to keep trees trimmed, so you don’t have branches breaking off and causing damage to other people’s property. If the tree sits on both your lot and your neighbor’s, it becomes the responsibility of both of you. Then you’ll need to discuss how you want to go about taking care of it. Will you split the tree trimming costs or pay every other service call?
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Ellenwood?
In the surrounding area of Atlanta, some trees can suffer from poor drainage. While heavy rains are often the culprit, it’s not always the case. Having even the smallest amount of water sitting at the base of the tree is enough to cause the roots to rot and weaken, increasing its chance of getting a fungal infection, thereby setting it on the path to destruction, unless treated.
Another issue with the soil we see in the area is the organic clay mixed in. They can make the soil too compacted, limiting the amount of water and air the tree’s roots can take in. If the leaves of the tree release water droplets faster than the roots can take water in, the tree will start to wither and dry out.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Ellenwood?
Trees in Ellenwood don’t usually have weather issues, except for strong winds due to summer storms. On occasion, though, the hot summer temperatures can wreak havoc with the trees. If there isn’t much rainfall and the tree is subjected to hot temperatures, then the roots will struggle to provide the necessary nutrients to their leaves. The longer it struggles, the weaker the tree becomes, which can cause any number of fungal or insect problems.
Wintertime can cause issues as well. Young trees that are newly planted can get sunscald from the freezing temperatures, winter sun, and exposure to the wintry wind. The bark will start to crack, which leaves it vulnerable to infections. Ice storms can be hazardous to the tree as well. Too much ice on the branches, and they will start to bow and break off.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Ellenwood?
When a tree or its branch falls onto a power line, it becomes too dangerous for you to handle. In that case, you will need to contact the power company to handle the situation. The power lines are charged with a lot of power that could cause serious injury. It can also mess with the power in the homes nearby. The power company knows how to handle the situation safely.
If you notice a tree has grown around the power line, no matter if it’s located on your yard, a neighbor’s, or on city property, let the power company know. They need to extract the branches away from the electrical line to prevent any potential damage from occurring in the future.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Ellenwood?
Each tree removal project in Ellenwood will depend on many different factors. Overall, though, you could expect to pay approximately $100 to $400 for a 30 to 40-foot tree. For an extra-tall tree, which is around 80 to 100 feet tall, you could pay around $1,400 to $2,000 or more. If you choose to have the stump ground up, it could cost an extra $80 to $300 depending on the size.
There are a few common factors that affect the final bill for your tree services.
Clean-up and Hauling
One of the biggest factors to determine the cost of your tree removal project is whether you want the wood hauled away or if you want to handle it yourself. While it’s convenient to have our arborists take care of the clean-up and get it out of your yard, it could save you some money if you choose to keep the wood. Hauling the branches and chunks of wood away could cost you $150 to $300 more, depending on the amount that needs removing.
Trimming vs Cutting Down
Some people want to just get rid of a tree, but it’s likely to cost quite a bit more. If you can, consider trimming away the branches and limbs that aren’t useful or are potential hazards. In most cases, you can get by with just a trimming job, but there are times when the tree just can’t be saved and needs to be removed.
Trunk Diameter
The larger a trunk is in diameter, the more work it will take to cut it down. That, of course, means that the price of the job will go up. The smaller the tree is in diameter, the cheaper it will be for you, provided it’s not in an inaccessible spot.