Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Chippewa Falls?
- 2 Does the City of Chippewa Falls Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Chippewa Falls?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Chippewa Falls?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Chippewa Falls?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Chippewa Falls?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Chippewa Falls?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Chippewa Falls?
With Wisconsin’s rich natural ecosystem, we do see many of the same issues with our trees here in Chippewa Falls that occur in the forests around the state. We’ve seen all sorts of problems with trees here in Chippewa Falls over the years, but some of the most common ones to look out for are:
- Gypsy Moths
- Japanese Beetles
- Anthracnose
- Cedar Apple Rust
- Oak Wilt
- Needle Blight
Does the City of Chippewa Falls Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Unfortunately, Chippewa Falls doesn’t offer any assistance with tree removal problems to private landowners. There is, however, also no requirement for a permit to remove trees on your own property unless it’s for commercial harvesting of resources.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Chippewa Falls?
Under the laws here in Wisconsin, the landowner on which the tree grew is always responsible for the tree’s removal after it’s fallen. This means that regardless of where a tree ends up when it falls, its original owner will always have an obligation to remove it. If a tree of yours falls across property lines, then it’s your responsibility to have it removed or compensate that property owner for any costs incurred during its removal.
It’s worth noting that while you’re responsible for the cost of removing a tree of yours that falls here in Chippewa Falls, you often won’t be financially responsible for any damage it may cause while falling. Insurance companies typically consider this a no-fault accident and will fully compensate any harmed parties fully for damages. If you had some sort of prior warning that the tree was in danger of falling, like a notice from the city or even from a neighbor, then it’s likely your insurance company could make the case that you were negligent in the tree falling. In this case, you could wind up being on the hook for any damage the tree caused.
If you’re a homeowner?
If you own a home here in Chippewa Falls, the trees on your property are an important part of what makes your home special and unique. They add to the comfort and beauty of your property and can provide a serious boost to value over time if they are encouraged to grow strong and healthy. Trees do require a little care, though. If your trees continue to benefit your property for years to come, you’ll have to take care of routine maintenance on them, which also includes removing fallen trees when necessary.
Fallen trees left to sit on your property can pose a serious threat to the ecosystem on your land. Pests and diseases could flock to the decaying tree and spread quickly to other healthy trees on your property. While no one likes to lose a tree on their property, quickly removing trees that have fallen is key and keeping the rest of your trees healthy so that you don’t lose any more.
If you’re a renter?
If you’re a tenant at a rental property here in Chippewa Falls, chances are the responsibility to remove fallen trees is your landlord’s and not yours. Even if you’re required to do regular property upkeep such as lawn care, trees usually don’t fall within that scope. The law in Wisconsin tends to consider trees permanent fixtures on a property, more similar to buildings than temporary features like grass. Just like your landlord has a responsibility to maintain the buildings on the property you rent, they are responsible for maintaining the trees and removing fallen ones promptly.
If a tree falls on your property, your first call needs to be to your landlord. Whether they want you to work out the details or call us themselves, they should be the only ones making decisions about the trees on the property. They must remove safety hazards and nuisances like fallen trees promptly under Wisconsin rental code.
If you’re a landlord?
If you own a rental property in Chippewa Falls, it may be tempting to leave the removal of fallen trees to your tenants. Unless it’s specifically stated otherwise in your lease agreement, trees are typically the responsibility of a property owner here in Wisconsin.
Even if your tenants were legally responsible for the care of your trees, you wouldn’t want them to be. The trees on your property constitute a serious portion of the investment value of your property. Letting tenants make decisions about the care or removal of your trees potentially gives control of the future of your property to someone with no vested interest in that value.
Taking care of any tree maintenance or removal issues promptly on your rental properties will help avoid any situations in which tenants feel the need to take matters into their own hands with your property. Communicate clearly with your tenants about your plans regarding the trees on your property so that they always know that you are on top of the issue.
If you’re a neighbor?
If you have a neighbor here in Chippewa Falls who needs fallen trees removed, they must remove those trees even if they’re just sitting on their property. Our nuisance laws exist in the Chippewa Falls city code specifically to avoid hazardous clutter like fallen trees piling up on the private property.
Not only is a fallen tree in your neighbor’s yard an eyesore, but it could potentially decrease the value of your property over time as its effects on the surrounding ecosystem slowly spread to your yard. Pests and diseases commonly group around decaying plants and can easily spread to the trees in your yard. It’s always best to try to resolve issues with neighbors by communicating with them first, but if you’re unable to come to a resolution with your neighbor, the City of Chippewa Falls may be able to help.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Chippewa Falls?
Our soils around here in Chippewa Falls are pretty great for growing just about anything. The soils around here that are great for agriculture and trees are typically silty Antigo or Menahga loams. These soils were created by winds stripping silts and clays from melting glacier fields around 11,000 years ago and depositing it here, along with sediment and sand left in the glaciers’ wakes. This gives our soils an incredibly nutrient-rich silt-heavy top layer, anchored by a deep gravel and sand underlayer to ensure excellent drainage all the way to the deepest of roots.
This can sometimes pose some problems for younger trees, however. Saplings or trees with shallower roots could commonly miss out on rainwater to larger trees in their vicinity because our soil is so well-drained that the water just sinks too deep too fast. Our heavily aerated and well-drained soil is a big asset for farmers and large trees, but small root systems may require some extra water or care to ensure they get what they need.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Chippewa Falls?
The weather here in Chippewa Falls can easily put some stress on trees that could lead to health problems. Our warm summers see plenty of rain, and our heat doesn’t get to the point that it will harm trees. The real threat to trees, however, often falls around our winter and spring.
Our winters here can get cold. It’s not uncommon to see temperatures stay below freezing for days at a time at the height of winter. Our winters stay pretty moist, which means that trees will keep getting the water they need from rainfall and snowfall runoff. The problem is that winter rainfall combined with freezing temperatures can regularly lead to serious ice on your trees. Trees that are structurally vulnerable or in ill health can regularly splinter or fall under the increased weight of snow and ice.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Chippewa Falls?
Trees should never be planted or allowed to grow in a way that they can threaten overhead power lines. Even a single limb falling across transmission lines could have terrible consequences and should be avoided at all costs. If you have dead trees encroaching on the space of power lines on your property, you need to call Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative right away. Any threat to transmission lines is a risk of interrupting power supply to thousands or starting dangerous fires. Only utility technicians have the training and tools necessary to mitigate the risks of power lines, and they are the only ones who should perform any work near them.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Chippewa Falls?
Our community was founded on trees, and as such is usually pretty affordable to have trees removed here in Chippewa Falls. Simple and straightforward removal jobs can commonly be as low as $140, but tree removal cost can vary greatly depending on a couple of factors though about the specific tree you need to be removed.
Size of the Tree
The size of your tree is probably the single biggest factor that could determine the cost of its removal. Smaller trees can be straightforward jobs that we can handle with minimal resources, but really big trees could require a lot of logistical planning, extra tools, and safety precautions to ensure a smooth and efficient removal.
Big trees have some serious weight, and they not only can pose a serious risk to us as we work to remove your tree but also to other trees and buildings on your property. Large trees may be more costly, but it’s worth the extra effort planning to guarantee they’re removing your tree doesn’t cause any other damage to your property.
Health of the Tree
Even if the tree that you need to be removed is dead, its health can still affect how easy its removal is. Trees that have sat dead a long time can commonly be rotted. These trees will splinter in unpredictable ways, which will often force us to take extra safety precautions. If your tree died due to an illness, then we might need to take extra steps to prevent the pathogen that brought your tree down from infecting other trees nearby.
Accessibility of the Tree
Where your tree is and the specific circumstances under which it grew could also affect your tree removal cost. Trees growing near other trees may force us to take extra care during removal to ensure that we don’t damage your healthy trees. Trees growing near buildings could easily cause damage during removal and will require extra precautions to prevent you from incurring any extra costs from damages. These extra steps could potentially amount to a more costly removal.
