Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Oregon?
- 2 Does the City of Oregon Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Oregon?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Oregon?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Oregon?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Oregon?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Oregon?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Oregon?
Oregon may be a lovely place full of large, historic trees, but these trees have their share of problems. One of the most insidious pests that plague Oregon’s trees is the emerald ash borer. This tiny green insect, also called Agrilus planipennis, burrows under the bark of ash trees, laying eggs and reducing the tree’s ability to bring nutrients to the crown. The emerald ash borer originally came from Asia and was first introduced to Ohio in 2003.
If you see shiny green insects (about one-third of an inch long) or any of the following symptoms on your ash trees, call us and the Ohio Department of Agriculture at (614) 728-6400 or file a report online:
- D-shaped boreholes (less than half an inch wide) in trees
- S-shaped tunnels under loose bark
- Lots of new growth at the base of a tree (with little to no growth in the crown)
- Splitting, brittle areas of bark
Another invasive insect that is wreaking havoc in Ohio is the European gypsy moth or Lymantria dispar. These insects aren’t picky about the trees they eat, feasting on any deciduous tree they can reach (though they particularly like crab apples, oak trees, and hawthorns). The caterpillars can completely eat the leaves off a tree, starving it of sunlight in the summer. If you see any of the following, call the Department of Agriculture and then contact us to help assess your options:
- Rapid defoliation of a tree (which could be single branches or an entire tree)
- Teardrop-shaped egg masses on vertical surfaces (tree trunks, outdoor furniture, and home siding are common)
- Three-inch brown or black caterpillars with red and blue humps on their backs
- Brown or cream adult moths
One less common (but still significant) tree pest in Ohio is the box tree moth. These invasive moths, also called Cydalima perspectalis, feed primarily on boxwoods, which Ohio has in spades. Thanks to the state’s aggressive quarantine and eradication efforts, these insects have been nearly eradicated in Ohio. But if you find brown and white moths feeding on boxwood in your area or green and black caterpillars, call us to examine the situation and also the Department of Agriculture right away. Your quick action could save your trees.
Does the City of Oregon Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Oregon Tree Commission is more in the business of helping people preserve trees than helping remove them. They may require rerouting sidewalks around trees instead; having a tree removed is a last resort. When they declare that a street tree is hazardous or unhealthy and needs to be removed, the removal comes at the property owner’s cost. There are also a few places in Lucas County where you can recycle your yard waste instead of letting it go to a landfill.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Oregon?
If a tree falls on your property, who’s responsible for removing it? That’s quite a complicated question. While every situation will be unique, there are a few rules of thumb that can help you out regardless of the situation.
If you’re a homeowner?
If you own the land, you own whatever grows on the land, including trees after they fall. But you don’t have to worry about handling it alone; your homeowner’s insurance policy most likely covers damages both to your property and to the neighbors’ property from fallen trees. It likely also covers tree removal. Check with your claims adjuster first, then call us to have the tree removed.
If you’re a renter?
Renting a property means it may violate your lease to remove fixtures (including fallen trees) from the property. Those are entirely your landlord’s responsibility. It’s important to know and understand the terms of your lease, but in general, the first call you should make if a tree falls on land you rent is to call the landlord to let them know what has happened.
If you’re a landlord?
If you’re a landlord, you’re liable for removing fallen trees on your property. You own the land; you’re responsible for the trees. This is one reason why preventive inspections and maintenance are so important and why you should be fully aware of any tree issues that crop up on your property. The cliché about an ounce of prevention definitely applies to tree maintenance: it’s definitely better to fix an issue on your property before it becomes dangerous.
If you’re a neighbor?
The trouble with trees — especially large ones — is that they don’t tend to respect property lines when they fall. If a neighbor’s tree falls onto your property, the damage may be entirely on your land. Your neighbor’s homeowner’s insurance policy will likely cover damages to your property as well. Still, the most important thing is to keep communication open and cordial, no matter how frustrating the situation gets. You both have the same goal — making things right again — so approach your neighbor with that in mind, and you won’t end up starting a feud.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Oregon?
The soil in Oregon was deposited by glaciers millions of years ago. Our soil is full of nutrients but also very coarse and heavy in clay. This is great for many trees, especially native ones, but can also cause impaction issues as the soil settles. Without proper aeration, water doesn’t penetrate the soil properly to get to the roots, leaving trees dehydrated and fragile. The roots can also have trouble growing past a certain point if the soil is compacted.
The proper response to this is to make sure any soil you own is properly aerated; you may be able to do this yourself or call a lawn care professional to take care of it once a year.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Oregon?
Western Ohio is famous for its variable weather. We have heatwaves, severe blizzards, and everything in between. Here are a few of some weather hazards to tree health in Oregon and what you can do about them.
Extreme Heat
It can be very hot and humid here in the summers, and this can cause trees to dehydrate and wilt. The best thing to do to mitigate this effect is to plant native trees well-equipped to handle the heat, such as the Kentucky coffee tree, the northern catalpa, and the river birch. If it’s particularly hot out, look for the following symptoms in your trees:
- Wilted and drooping leaves
- Rust-colored bumps on leaves
- Yellowing, fallen leaves, or needles
- Brown and crispy leaf edges
If you see these in your tree during a heatwave, make sure it’s getting enough water. You may also want to apply an absorbent mulch to the base of these trees to help moisture stay in the ground.
Winter Storms
Being on the shore of Lake Erie means that our winters can be full of extreme, lake-effect blizzards. While all our native trees are hardy to these conditions, there are a few ways to help preserve your trees during these storms. First, regular trimming and inspections will alert you to potential problems before the snow begins falling and will help prevent branches from falling.
You also don’t want to remove snow from branches unless necessary, as snow insulates any branches against extreme cold and wind.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Oregon?
Even dead trees can conduct more than enough electricity to kill a person, so you mustn’t approach a fallen tree near a power line under any circumstances. Instead, you should call Toledo Edison at 1 (888) 544-4877 right away to make them aware of the hazard. Toledo Edison regularly searches for and trim hazard trees in their rights-of-way, but they can’t know everything. Making this report could prevent a major outage or even save someone’s life.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Oregon?
Because every tree removal is different, it’s impossible to give a price for tree removal in Oregon without actually sending somebody from our team to look at the tree. However, on average, homeowners in the area have paid between $150 and $1,950 to have a tree removed, with an average cost around $675. Here are several factors that can make this more or less expensive:
Location of the Tree
Some location factors that can make removing a tree more expensive include:
- The tree is close to a building or structure
- The tree is near power lines
- The tree is on a steep hill
- The tree is in a hard-to-access backyard
- The tree has fallen onto something (such as a building), which means it will require lifting tools to remove it
Some factors of location that make removing a tree less expensive include:
- The tree is easy to reach, with lots of clearance on all sides
- The tree is on flat land
- The tree has fallen into a yard clear of obstructions
Size Matters
The size of the tree is the single most significant factor in the cost of removing said tree. For trees less than 20 feet tall, you’ll likely pay closer to the $250 end of that range. Medium-sized trees (ones that are 20-40 feet tall) will likely run closer to $750. And large trees (anything taller than 60 feet) will be the most expensive to remove, costing up to around $2,000 in some extreme cases.
Complexity of the Job
The more our crews can prepare and plan for tree removal, the less expensive it will be. For instance, removing a dead tree that’s still standing is much easier than taking one that’s fallen onto your yard, which in turn is easier than removing a tree that’s fallen onto a structure. Each layer of complexity requires more people and tools to work on the problem, and each layer of complexity adds to the ultimate cost.
