Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Snohomish?
- 2 Does the City of Snohomish Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Snohomish?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Snohomish?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Snohomish?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Snohomish?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Snohomish?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Snohomish?
While Snohomish is home to a wide variety of decorative and fruit-bearing trees, it’s also home to several different diseases, fungi, and pests that can weaken, stress, or even kill your trees. Some of the most common issues that can lead to tree removal include:
Annosus Root Disease
Annosus root disease infects western conifers. This fungus grows in logs and stumps before spreading to adjacent live trees. It commonly spreads through touching root systems and leads to root rot that makes the infected trees more likely to topple over. Root rot and other fungal diseases predominantly attack previously weakened trees, so too many infections can kill trees or indirectly lead to premature tree death.
Swiss Needle Cast
Swiss needle cast is a fungal disease that widely affects Douglas-fir trees in western Washington. Caused by the spread of Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, the spores latch onto the underside of the needles and cause premature dieback. The infection grows throughout the late summer and fall, making the needles turn brown and reducing their ability to photosynthesize.
Leaf Blight
This is another common fungal disease in Snohomish, caused by the Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis fungus, which spreads across twigs and leaf buds before infecting new foliage. The symptoms are most visible in older foliage, so it’s a difficult fungal infection to get ahead of. Over time, this infection will turn leaves a blotchy brown, leading to reduced growth and tree stress that makes it more vulnerable to other infestations and diseases.
Pest Infestations in Fruit Trees
Snohomish and the surrounding area are home to plenty of fruit-bearing trees. These trees are particularly vulnerable to pests, such as apple maggots and spotted wing drosophila. If you have fruit-bearing trees that grow close together, it’s important to monitor them for any signs of infestation so you can catch developing problems early on.
Does the City of Snohomish Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The city of Snohomish does not assist in removing trees on private property. However, under general circumstances, owners of single-family residential property lots do not have to file a permit before having a tree cut down and removed from the property. The city also manages tree maintenance, including growth and sustainability programs, trimming, and even tree removal as needed, for trees in public spaces and along streets.
Snohomish County is responsible for trees on land that the county owns, such as roadways and property with county right-of-way. If there are hazardous trees on county land, you can contact Snohomish County’s Public Works department, and a certified official will inspect the tree to determine the best next steps. Private property owners also need to have a professional tree assessment and seek approval from their HOA to remove potentially hazardous trees adjacent to their property, especially if the tree is in a Native Growth Protection Area (NGPA) or Critical Area Protection Area (CAPA).
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Snohomish?
A growing tree on your property is your responsibility, and your neighbor’s trees are their responsibility. However, once a tree falls over, it can be less clear about who is responsible for moving it. See which of these common scenarios most applies to you.
If you’re a homeowner?
If a tree, whether the tree was originally yours or not, falls onto your property, it becomes your responsibility to manage and remove it. However, that responsibility may ultimately fall to your homeowners insurance provider. We recommend contacting them for an assessment, as they may cover a portion or all of the tree removal costs. You can also document any damage caused by the falling tree and report it to your insurance provider.
If you’re a renter?
When you rent a residential property, such as an apartment or a house that you don’t own, you’re not responsible for managing tree removal if a tree falls on the property. Instead, you can report the incident to your landlord or the property owner for them to handle. But if the tree damaged some of your personal property when it fell, your insurance provider may provide funds to repair or replace the affected belongings.
If you’re a landlord?
Because you own the property the tree fell on, even if you don’t live there at the time of the incident, you’re responsible for arranging and paying for tree removal. However, those costs and obligations may be passed on to your insurance provider. We recommend contacting them as soon as possible so you know what costs are covered under your policy. The sooner you can have the tree removed, the fewer safety risks it will present to your tenants, and the less likely it is to invite pests and tree diseases onto the property.
If you’re a neighbor?
Even if a tree wasn’t originally on your property, it becomes your responsibility to remove once it falls on your land. However, similar to any other tree falling on your property, your insurance company may pay for all or a portion of the costs, and they may arrange for tree removal entirely on your behalf.
But if the tree fell because of the original owner’s active negligence or lack of appropriate care for the tree, they may be liable for covering some or all of the costs, too.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Snohomish?
Western Washington has plenty of Tokul soil, which is also the state soil in Washington. This soil type has high concentrations of glacial till and volcanic ash. Because of this, it is high in nutrients and can promote excellent tree growth. Tokul soil is considered one of the most productive soils around the world. Not only can the soil hold a lot of nutrients, but it can also clean water and has advantageous drainage properties for ensuring trees can access plenty of water.
One limitation of Tokul soil in Snohomish County is that it has a cemented or tightly compacted layer approximately 30 inches below the surface that can limit root growth. As a result, trees may be more likely to fall over or have crowded root systems that intermingle with adjacent trees and increase the risk of root rot spread.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Snohomish?
Snohomish sees relatively mild weather all year round, with short summers that linger in the high 70s and longer winters that can stay below freezing for long stretches but rarely sink past 26°F. The area has plenty of cloud coverage throughout the year, meaning there’s very little risk of sun scorch. However, the wet and humid climate all year long can increase the risk of root rot and other infectious developments.
While Snohomish sees mostly wet days across the calendar, precipitation can vary from month to month, with the driest period in July and the wettest period in November. We recommend that property owners monitor their trees during these periods to ensure the trees receive enough water in July and aren’t flooded in November.
Snohomish also sees relatively mild winds over the year. Since tree root systems may have poor root development due to root rot or the concrete layer of Tokul soil, this is advantageous for tree growth. There’s relatively little risk of a tree being blown down during a windstorm.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Snohomish?
The main electricity company that serves Snohomish and the wider Snohomish County is Puget Sound Energy. This company provides power and is responsible for maintaining safe conditions around the area’s power lines. This includes trimming, shaping, and even removing trees that could otherwise jeopardize the power lines and risk an outage. If you see trees near or leaning against power lines in your area, we recommend contacting Puget Sound Energy rather than taking any action on your own. These areas can be extremely dangerous, as people can be electrically shocked by touching trees in contact with power lines. If there’s an emergency, you can also report the unsafe conditions to the city of Snohomish.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Snohomish?
Tree removal costs can vary widely depending on the size of the tree, the nature of the tree removal project, and even the location of the tree in relation to other structures and trees nearby. When you call our team, we can provide a specific price estimate for your tree removal project so you know the price before work begins. Most homeowners pay between $150 and $2,000, with an average cost of around $690. If you have a tree on your property that you would like to have removed, keep these key factors in mind:
Tree Condition
Removing a healthy tree that is still standing will often be more expensive than removing a tree that has already fallen over. This is because assessing the tree, filing for a tree removal permit (if needed), and cutting down the tree according to industry-standard safety practices will take more time and resources. If your tree has extremely contagious pests or infections, removing the tree and disposing of it properly to mitigate the risk of spread can also create additional costs.
Tree Size
Larger trees require more equipment and time to break down into moveable pieces. They also require more of our trucks (or more loads) to fully carry away. Extremely tall trees reaching 80 feet or higher or trees with full foliage will be more expensive to remove than smaller 20-ft trees or trees with no foliage and few branches.
Time Constraints
We offer 24/7 emergency tree removal services for property owners who need their trees removed as quickly as possible. However, fast tree removal during weekends, holidays, or periods of high demand can result in additional charges.
