Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Atascadero?
- 2 Does the City of Atascadero Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Atascadero?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Atascadero?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Atascadero?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Atascadero?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Atascadero?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Atascadero?
Maybe you’ve noticed that your tree has yellow leaves, a thinning trunk, or holes in the branches. These are symptoms of ill health caused by the following issues.
Pests and Diseases
According to the Tribune, Sudden Oak Death disease was first officially reported in San Luis Obispo County in 2017. This disease affects tanoaks, coast live oak, and other oaks found in Atascadero. It is spread through pests and insects from California bay laurel leaves to oak trees.
You may also find leaf rust which is characterized by leaves with yellow spots. Trees in Atascadero may also be caused by bacterial and fungal infections.
Common tree pests include beetles such as ladybirds, ground and weather beetles, mites, wasps, etc.
Stunted Growth
This is mainly caused by pest infestation and tree diseases. When these are not present, stunted growth is a result of excess or insufficient water, poor planting methods, such as planting the tree too deep in the soil, and excessive pest feeding.
Overgrowth
Overgrowth is more often caused by human neglect than diseases or natural occurrences. For example, when you don’t mix water with growth inhibitors and you can’t trim the tree as it should be trimmed, you’ll likely end up with low-hanging branches that touch your roof or interfere with the space in your yard.
Adverse Weather
Poorly maintained trees, diseased trees, or trees laden with overgrown branches are the first to fall in a storm or wind gust. However, healthy trees can be felled by tornadoes, windstorms, or be burned down by wildfires. Heavy January rains in Atascadero also fell trees, causing soil moisture saturation and breaking tree limbs.
Atascadero has an earthquake index of 6.12 and is ranked at number 978 in California according to USA.com. These earthquakes are detrimental to trees and forest covers.
Does the City of Atascadero Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Atascadero assists in removing a tree after storms or other natural disasters affecting many homes. However, the removal of any of the 12 protected trees that are native to Atascadero requires a permit from the city authorities.
City authorities in Atascadero will trim public trees from time to time, especially if the trees are interfering with public property.
However, if you need assistance removing any healthy tree, the city can help you do that in two scenarios.
- When the tree is on public property and is interfering with the use of the property such as blocking a road or reducing visibility on roads
- When the tree is on private property but part of it encroaches on public property interfering with the use of sidewalks, roads, etc.
We can help you to remove your tree without a permit in emergency situations according to the Atascadero Tree Ordinances. ’’Emergency situation’’ in this case means a tree condition that makes it a public hazard. You need to report these situations to the City within 48 hours. However, mitigation fees still apply.
Additionally, Atascadero’s local government will assist in removing a tree that is hazardous, located in a fire zone, blocks a neighbor’s view, grows beyond the maximum allowed height, a prohibited tree, or one that is used as a boundary marker.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Atascadero?
From time immemorial, fights about trees among neighbors have almost always been about fallen trees or branches that extend over the boundary line. This is what Atascadero law says about fallen trees.
If you’re a homeowner?
You own any tree within your compound as long as the trunk or trunks are found within your compound’s boundaries. If a tree trunk is on a boundary line, it belongs to you and your neighbor, and you share the responsibility of maintaining it.
If a tree falls, regardless of where it is located, the debris that ends up within your property line is solely your responsibility. Your property deed includes CC&Rs that determine tree nuisances and rights. Your insurer can pay for the damages you incur over a tree that falls from natural causes, and we’ll remove it for you.
If you’re a renter?
If your lease has a landscaping addendum, you may be required to maintain your lawn and water it. Taking care of trees or removing them is the property owner’s responsibility including removing a fallen tree or branches.
You can sue your landlord for damages if a tree limb damages your property and you have proof that your landlord was neglectful. However, these cases are handled depending on peculiar circumstances surrounding a case.
If your lease covers acts of God, you can be compensated for damages caused by trees that fall from natural hazards.
If you’re a landlord?
In case a fallen tree damages your tenant’s property, your insurer will deny you damages if your policy includes a section about covering acts of God. The best thing to do is cooperate with your insurer or find a lawyer.
If you’re a neighbor?
Tree limbs that end up on your property as an act of God are your responsibility. Check for any signs of decay or disease. These signs will help you prove that your neighbor was negligent so that they can pay you for the damage.
We can conduct these inspections for you to determine neglect. However, if your neighbor was not neglectful, we can help you remove it, and you can pay us through your insurer or your own money.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Atascadero?
According to the City of Atascadero Local Agency Management Program, Atascadero has mostly steep ground slopes with the soils consisting of a mixture of fine granules of clayey and silty soils and coarse granules of sandy to gravelly soils. These soils are shallow and non-existent in some of the Western mountainous regions. The landscape is oak woodland, oak savanna, and riparian. It is easy for shallow soil to get waterlogged during heavy rains. Also, nutrient uptake is poor.
The good news is oaks do well in shallow soils compared to other trees. Atascadero is filled with oaks–blue oak, leather oak, valley oak, desert oak, coast live oak, and scrub oak–which are native to the area and make up part of the protected trees in Atascadero.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Atascadero?
Trees adapt to the climatic conditions of the regions they grow in. However, a change in climate stresses trees a lot.
Atascadero is in plant hardiness zone 9a. It has a hot summer Mediterranean climate which is characterized by extreme temperature variations on the same day. The city only gets 21 inches of rain per year, less than an inch of snow, and 290 days of sun. The highest temperature in the year is during summer in August–88 degrees. December nights fall as low as below freezing.
January rains are heavy and typically accompanied by strong winds. Trees suffer the most during this time. The diseased and poorly maintained ones are usually the first victims of the hazardous weather.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Atascadero?
Only certified arborists like us are legally allowed to remove dead trees near power lines in Atascadero. Because dead trees are very unstable, we’ll use cranes to remove your dead tree for you before it collapses and causes great harm.
As a rule of thumb, the authorities will remove a tree that is posing a hazard to the public. Utilities are also required by the National Electric Safety Code to take care of trees near power lines and remove them when they interfere with utility services.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Atascadero?
The average cost of removing a tree in Atascadero is $1,036–19% above the countrywide average of $871.
Typically, if a tree is dead, poses a danger to the public, is too close to your house, or is considered insignificant because it’s small, we can remove it without a permit according to Atascadero tree ordinances.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to pricing tree services. Ideally, the cost of removing a tree will be determined by the size, ease of access, equipment required, and any additional services. Here’s what you need to know about how these factors affect the cost of removing trees in Atascadero.
Size
Oaks grow to tremendous heights and automatically fall under the category of big trees. Typically, you’ll pay a minimum of about $500 and a maximum of $2,000 for big trees. Small trees only cost about $200. We offer discounts to senior citizens.
Access
We’ll inspect your yard to determine what it takes to access the tree and the right equipment for the job. For example, if your tree is about 10 feet to a road, utility line, or another building, it will be harder to access than a tree surrounded by open space. This hikes the price.
Tools and Equipment
Every piece of equipment has its price. The use of ropes and a power saw cost less than the use of bucket trucks and cranes.
Additional Services
Stumps are rarely included in the price for removing a tree. If you want the stump removed, you’ll pay additional costs. We offer free consultations to help you determine what you need and how much you need to pay for it.
We’ve served thousands of clients since we launched our company thirteen years ago. Our motto is to give you efficient, quick, and expert services. We admit that the cost of removing a tree is costly for most people. However, it is affordable considering the risk of trying to do it yourself or hiring untrained people.
