Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Fairhope?
- 2 Does the City of Fairhope Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Fairhope?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Fairhope?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Fairhope?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Fairhope?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Fairhope?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Fairhope?
Fairhope trees can be threatened by many different pests and diseases that can cause them to weaken or even die. Here are the most common issues we see.
Emerald Ash Borer
This tiny beetle lays its eggs under the bark of ash trees. When the larvae hatch, they feed off of the soft tissue underneath and interrupt the tree’s flow of water and nutrients. It’s very hard to see these pests, but they can be very destructive. If left untreated, a tree can die in as little as 3 years. Symptoms of an infestation include yellow, wilted leaves, and dying branches. If caught early enough, we can spray the tree with pesticides that will kill these beetles and bring your tree back to health.
Fusiform Rust
Loblolly and slash pine trees are most affected by this devastating fungal disease. When infected, a tree can form rust gall and cankers on its branches, causing young trees to become deformed. This disease weakens trees and leaves them with weak branches that are at risk of breaking off and falling during a storm. Make sure you prune away hazardous branches, especially if your tree suffers from fusiform rust.
Brown Spot Needle Blight
This fungal disease affects pine trees in Fairhope and causes a tree’s needles to turn brown and fall off. Each year, the fungus can spread and affect more areas of the tree’s needles, causing many more to fall off. When we encounter brown spot needle blight, we use specially formulated fungicides that kill the disease so your pine tree can grow healthy needles again. If you notice the symptoms of this fungal disease, you may want to call our arborists sooner rather than later so the disease doesn’t spread.
Laurel Wilt
This fungal disease affects redbay trees and other species in the laurel family. When redbay ambrosia beetles carry this fungus to a tree, it can cause the tree’s leaves to wilt and turn red or purplish-brown. The leaves will remain this color for over a year, and eventually, the tree’s entire crown will be covered in dark, dead leaves. The tiny beetles are difficult to see so it’s important to have our arborists diagnose the disease as soon as you notice symptoms of laurel wilt. Unfortunately, there is no cure, but it’s important to keep this devastating disease from spreading to other trees in the area.
Does the City of Fairhope Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The Fairhope Tree Committee established an ordinance that breaks down the rules and regulations that involve trees within the city limits. If you’re building on public or private property (with the exception of single-family homes), community members are required to follow several rules. Some of them include making every effort to protect Heritage trees and including at least 1 overstory tree for every 30 feet of perimeter around a building. Parking lots are also required to have 1 tree for every 12 parking spots with at least 4 different species of trees represented on each site. The city horticulturist oversees each project and can fine anyone who is not in compliance with the ordinance’s rules. If trees are sick or need to be removed, the city horticulturist will give approval for the work to be done.
As a homeowner, you are responsible for hiring our arborists to prune and remove any trees on your property. The city does not fund these services and you don’t need a permit to have a tree removed. When it comes to the trees in the city rights-of-way, the responsibility lies with the city horticulturist. They take care of all the planting, pruning, maintaining, and removing street trees. As a homeowner, you are not allowed to even prune these trees without the city horticulturist’s approval. Any maintenance or removal of these trees will be taken care of at no cost to you.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Fairhope?
With the prevalence of hurricanes in Fairhope, trees can be uprooted without warning. If this happens, it’s important to know where your responsibility lies. Let’s discuss a few common scenarios.
If you’re a homeowner?
As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining all the trees on your property. If one should fall during an unforeseen event, your insurance will take care of the cost. You will only need to pay the deductible.
If you’re a renter?
Renters are not responsible for the maintenance of their home or anything on their property, and that includes trees. If one should fall, your landlord’s insurance will pay for the tree to be removed. If your personal property is damaged during the fall, their insurance will cover the expenses. Sometimes they can be stubborn about this, and if they are, you may need to consult a lawyer to get the payment you are owed.
If you’re a landlord?
Landlords are responsible for the upkeep of all the trees on their rental properties. That includes regular pruning and assessment of your trees’ health. If your trees are healthy and one is uprooted during a storm or other event, your insurance will pay for the tree to be removed. You will only be responsible for paying the deductible.
If you’re a neighbor?
When a tree falls across property lines, neighbors can be left pointing fingers across the debris. Luckily, the law makes it pretty clear. If a tree falls onto your property, your homeowner’s insurance will step in and pay to have it removed. And if your neighbor has a tree fall into their yard, their insurance will pay. It doesn’t matter whether the tree belonged to you or your neighbor. Insurance companies are only concerned with cleaning up their customer’s properties. Things can get messy if your insurance company can prove that your neighbor had neglected the tree that fell into your yard. In that case, your insurance company will go after your neighbor’s for payment.
To avoid these unpleasant disputes, make sure you prune your trees regularly and keep an eye out for signs of sickness or infestation. If you notice a neighbor’s tree in need of attention, let them know before disaster strikes.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Fairhope?
The soil map of Alabama shows that Fairhope is located in the coastal plains. The soils in this area have sandy loam surface layers with clay subsoil underneath. The soil in Fairhope is very low in nutrients and has a low pH. Native trees have adapted to the poor soil health, but a little extra nutrition can go a long way to keeping trees healthy.
Many homeowners and gardeners find success in adding lime to their soil as well as fertilizer. The lime can neutralize the highly acidic soil and fertilizer can provide much-needed nutrients to your trees and other plants. You can also add nutrients to the soil by spreading a thick layer of mulch around your tree’s base. Not only will the organic matter enhance your soil, but it will add a layer of protection around the tree’s base.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Fairhope?
Fairhope experiences tropical storms and hurricanes that bring high winds and flash flooding to the area. In fact, this coastal town has experienced nearly 60 hurricanes in the last 90 years. The city’s trees are tough, but you can do a lot to help them weather these powerful storms. Most often, trees fall because they’re dead or weakened from sickness or infestation. Regularly check your trees for symptoms and have our arborists assess any problems you notice. It’s also important to prune your trees often. Dead limbs pose a risk to your family and your home when high winds blow through.
Since Fairhope is less than 20 feet above sea level, the city is considered to be in a low-lying zone. That means the town is at an elevated risk of flash flooding during strong storms. When flash flooding occurs, soil can be washed away, exposing roots and dislodging trees. When this happens, trees can fall very quickly. Stabilize your trees by making sure they’re healthy and strong. You can also add mulch around your tree’s base to keep the soil from eroding during a heavy downpour.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Fairhope?
According to the Fairhope Tree Committee’s ordinance, the Fairhope Public Utilities Electric Department will prune all of the street trees that are near power lines. If a tree is interfering with power lines and needs to be removed, they’ll take care of the job at no cost to you. If you notice an electrical emergency, you can call them at (251) 928-8003 and they’ll send someone out to assess the problem immediately.
As a homeowner, you are responsible for calling us to prune the trees around your service line. This power line that connects to your house is not the city’s job to maintain. They will, however, shut power off temporarily, so we can safely remove any nearby branches.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Fairhope?
Tree removal in Fairhope will cost you around $500 on average, but your cost will vary between $200 and $1,900, depending on several factors. Some of them include:
Tree Size
When you call us for a quote, we’ll measure your tree’s height and the width of its trunk. Large trees with lots of foliage are going to take more of our workers and time to remove, and that’s going to cost more. This factor will probably be the biggest influence on your final cost.
Tree Location
If your tree is near your home or other building, we’ll need to work around these obstacles with care. Our arborists take additional safety measures to keep your home from being damaged and this will complicate the process. Expect to pay more if your tree is near obstacles that our arborists will have to carefully work around.
Stump Grinding
Our arborists typically don’t include stump grinding in their tree removal rates, so if you want us to take care of your stump, we’ll add on an additional charge. The good news is that it’ll cost far less to have our professionals take care of the job than it would take for you to rent a stump grinding machine to do it yourself.
