Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Paradise Valley?
- 2 Does the City of Paradise Valley Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Paradise Valley?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Paradise Valley?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Paradise Valley?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Paradise Valley?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Paradise Valley?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Paradise Valley?
Trees add to your home’s property and provide shade on the sunny Paradise Valley days, which can help reduce your air conditioning bill. Many of the trees and shrubs found in Paradise Valley are part of the community’s efforts to promote a desert vegetation environment. To help keep our community’s trees healthy, it requires regular maintenance and early identification of the following common disease or insect infestations.
Asian Citrus Psyllid
The Asian Citrus Psyllid, or ACP, is an insect that seriously damages Arizona’s citrus plant and related plants. In addition to damaging foliage, psyllids are carriers of the bacterium that causes Huanglongbing (HLB) disease or greening citrus disease. It is important to identify a psyllid infestation early to prevent the spread of HLB disease to neighboring citrus trees. New growth with burnt tips or twisted leaves is a common way to identify ACP in your citrus trees.
Sooty Canker
Also referred to as branch or limb wilt, it is caused by the fungus, Hendersonula toruloidea. It only invades sunburned bark or damaged areas on the tree’s trunk or branches. You can identify sooty canker by the black canker that develops underneath the bark and wilted and brown leaves on the branches in the summer. Trees that are unprotected from the intense Arizona sun are highly susceptible to infection. Catching the fungus early and removing infected branches is the best chance of preventing the main trunk from becoming infected and killing the tree. Common trees susceptible to sooty canker are Arizona fruit and nut trees.
Wood Rots and Decays
Affecting conifers, deciduous trees, and hardwoods throughout the forest areas in Paradise Valley, wood rots and decays create safety hazards for the community. It infects the older, central wood of stems and branches and is often difficult to identify until the heartwood is destroyed. With the slow progression of wood rot in wounded areas of a tree, it can go undetected for years. The common giveaway of an issue is shelf-shaped fungal structures appearing along the main trunk or infected branches. Infected branches should be removed promptly to prevent damage or injury if they fall.
Does the City of Paradise Valley Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
To help preserve the natural features of Paradise Valley, the Town of Paradise Valley has a Native Plan Preservation Ordinance to ensure native trees over four inches in caliper are relocated on or off-site if they must be removed from the property. The only exception is if the tree is unsalvageable due to disease or damage. While the town has rules for the removal of mature trees, it is the responsibility of the property owner to take care of the expense of removing trees with issues. The International Society of Arboriculture’s certified arborist on the town’s Public Works staff provides the care and manages the removal of any trees on the approximately 43 acres of median islands, rights of ways, Goldwater Memorial, and sections of the Kiva Elementary School athletic field.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Paradise Valley?
When a tree falls in Paradise Valley, the property owner must handle the removal and related costs for the fallen tree. It sounds fairly straightforward, but if a tree falls onto neighboring properties or on a rental property, it can become unclear who is responsible. For a deeper understanding of each of these situations, we’ve broken them down for you.
If you’re a homeowner?
As a homeowner in Paradise Valley, there is no question that fallen tree removal on your property is your responsibility. Many enjoy the benefits of owning their own home, but they must also deal with the maintenance and issues that arise. Check with your insurance company before having tree removal work done to see if they will help cover part or all of the cost to have the fallen tree removed or any damage caused repaired.
If you’re a renter?
Like other maintenance and repair issues with your rental, the landlord or property manager is responsible for fallen tree removal. Contact your landlord if a tree falls on your rented property and make them aware of any potential safety hazards due to branches or damaged trees as soon as you notice the issue.
If you’re a landlord?
Owning rental properties in Paradise Valley can provide additional income in your pocket, but it also comes with any maintenance or repairs needed for each of your rentals. This includes the cost of fallen tree removal services and ensuring trees are properly maintained and trimmed. Regularly inspecting and pruning trees on your rental properties are the best preventive measures to avoid unexpected tree removal expenses.
If you’re a neighbor?
One of the most debated topics over tree removal and maintenance often happens between neighbors. As a civil dispute, it is up to the neighbors and, if desired, their attorneys to decide who should handle the cost and process of the fallen tree removal. It is usually the responsibility of the property owner where the fallen tree was growing. If the tree was on a property line, it can be more difficult to decide how to cover the tree removal expense. The key to keeping a good relationship with your neighbor in this situation is to keep all lines of communication open, from getting tree removal estimates from our team to what insurance will cover.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Paradise Valley?
Arizona soils can cause many challenges for the community’s trees with high alkalinity. Much of the soil in Paradise Valley has a pH between 7 and 8.5. While many native trees and fauna have adapted to these conditions, newly introduced trees and plants can struggle. One of the issues with alkaline soils is the lack of nutrients, including iron and zinc. The fruit and nut trees in Paradise Valley are affected the most by zinc deficiency. It is identified by small curved leaves with wavy edges, dark veins, and yellowish blades or when only small bunches of leaves appear at the end of branches. Most residents put additives in the soil to help correct these deficiencies.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Paradise Valley?
Paradise Valley is a true paradise with plenty of blue skies and warm weather. On average, the city enjoys 294 sunny days each year. With below-average rainfall than most of the United States, at around 7 inches, the trees and vegetation are affected. The combination of lack of rainfall and extreme heat create an environment for fungi to attack the root systems of trees in Paradise Valley and cause sun damage to their foliage. With proper irrigation and sun protection, you can keep your tree’s health in good shape.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Paradise Valley?
Residents are responsible for pruning and maintaining trees and vegetation growing on their property near overhead power lines. However, when the branches are growing on or near the lines, you should call your local electricity provider. Arizona Public Service (APS) and Salt River Project (SRP) are the two electricity providers for the Town of Paradise Valley. If you notice dead trees near the power lines, call your provider to have a specialty-trained line clearing professional safely remove trees that threaten public safety. Reporting dead trees near power lines in Paradise Valley reduces the chance of a power outage caused by fallen trees and can help prevent wildfires due to sparks from branches or trees touching the overhead lines.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Paradise Valley?
Whether you have a diseased, dying, or fallen tree on your property, you should hire a professional tree service to help with its removal. Homeowners in Paradise Valley pay an average of around $480 for tree removal. The actual cost for your tree removal job could be anywhere from $150 to around $2,000 depending on the following factors.
1: Tree Size
Naturally, the size of the tree to be removed affects the cost. Taller trees will require more equipment and time to safely remove than those that are shorter. If you have an 80-foot tree, you can expect to pay a significant amount more than removing a 25-foot tree.
2: Tree Condition
If the tree has already fallen or must be cut down, it will affect the original estimate for the job. Also, if a tree is still standing but infected with severe disease or has major damage, the removal cost could be higher. This is because it increases the risk of something going wrong during the removal process since the tree is in delicate condition. When a tree has already fallen, it can reduce the labor and equipment required to remove it from your property, hence lowering your tree removal cost. The only exception to this is if the fallen tree is on a building or structure.
3: Tree Removal Timeline
If you want to save on tree removal costs and are not in a rush, you can wait until the off-season to often receive a cheaper quote than during a tree removal company’s busy season. However, we understand that you can not always wait to have a tree removed from your property, especially if the tree has fallen on a structure or blocked a roadway. In these emergency situations, your price quote will often come at a premium because additional equipment or labor may be required to remove the tree quickly.
