Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Baywood-Los Osos?
- 2 Does the City of Baywood-Los Osos Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Baywood-Los Osos?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees In Baywood-Los Osos?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Baywood-Los Osos?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Baywood-Los Osos?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Baywood-Los Osos?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Baywood-Los Osos?
Trees are such an amazing asset to any landscape. Baywood-Los Osos is thankful for having its own amazing trees in its backyard where you can enjoy the shade and enjoy a good book. Some of these amazing native trees are:
- Black Walnut
- Blue Oak
- Box Elder
- Western Sycamore
- Fremont Cottonwood
- White Alder
Sadly, these magnificent trees don’t come without problems. Here are a few of the most common tree problems in Baywood-Los Osos.
Drought
The San Luis Obispo County area sees very little rainfall each year. There is an average of just over six inches for the entire year. From May to October, there is virtually no rainfall which leaves the ground parched and the plants desperate for water. Trees need plenty of water to thrive along with plenty of sun and nutrients. There is a lot of sun in Baywood-Los Osos but not much else to help trees thrive.
The best plan for helping your trees is to offer supplementary water but the state of California and its many counties have watering restrictions in place. How strict these policies are will depend on where you are so be sure to check with your County government so you don’t end up wasting precious water.
You can also do your part to help conserve water by developing good water-conscious habits now. This is good for you, your trees and plants, and your neighbors.
Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), aka Citrus Greening
Citrus Huanglongbing is one of the most destructive diseases of citrus trees all over the world. Sadly, Baywood-Los Osos citrus trees know this problem well. HLB is transmitted by the Asian Citrus Psyllid. The infection brought by these pests causes the trees to develop a blotchy mottled appearance. The fruit from these infected trees is high in acids and abnormally bitter. For an area that depends on the citrus crop being plentiful and great tasting, this can be devastating to their economy. There is no cure for HLB, and the best defense is rapid tree removal to stop the spread of the disease.
Another interesting defense being used in Baywood-Los Osos against HLB is the release of beneficial wasps. While that seems scary, this particular kind of wasp is considered environmentally friendly in urban areas and will only attack the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Humans do not need to worry about being stung. And since most people in the area have some kind of citrus tree, stopping the spread of this pest is good for the entire community.
Does the City of Baywood-Los Osos Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Baywood-Los Osos will take care of maintaining and removing any trees on public lands. However, a tree on private property will need to be dealt with by the owner of that property. It is important to know that the County of San Luis Obispo does require a permit for removing any trees that are not hazardous. There is also a more specific permit required for removing oaks thanks to the oak tree ordinance. This ordinance is in place to protect the beautiful oak trees and to prevent any clear-cutting.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Baywood-Los Osos?
As a property owner in Baywood-Los Osos, you are responsible for maintaining and removing any fallen trees on your personal property. This may make perfect sense to you but sometimes it can get rather tricky when a tree falls across property lines. The State of California has standard regulations for tree removal problems and Baywood-Los Osos follows the same regulations. Consider this short guide when you have questions.
If you’re a homeowner?
As the homeowner in Baywood-Los Osos, you are responsible for paying for the removal of any tree that falls on your property. Your property is considered private property, and you’re fully responsible for caring for that property. Check with your homeowner’s insurance and ask what could be covered for tree removal.
If you’re a renter?
As a renter, you do not own the property that you are leasing. Since you do not own the property you are not financially responsible for removing a fallen tree. However, you may have agreed on your lease to take care of the yard work and that can include keeping a close eye on any problematic trees and informing your landlord of any issues. Contact your renter’s insurance if there is any damage to your private property.
If you’re a landlord?
If you are the landlord and the property owner, you are still responsible for the removal of any trees. This is the case no matter how many properties you own. Your renter may take on the majority of yard work but you can’t hold them responsible for something as big as tree removal and cleanup.
If you’re a neighbor?
It gets more problematic when a tree falls across property lines. In California, you are responsible for the portion of the tree that falls on your property. There are times, however, when one homeowner discovers that the other neighbor knew there was a problem with the tree that fell and chose to do nothing about it. This is a case of negligence and is liable for all the costs of the tree’s removal. The best plan of action is to keep an open line of communication with your neighbor as you sort the problem out and to keep your insurance company well informed throughout.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees In Baywood-Los Osos?
There is no particular soil in Baywood-Los Osos. You can find any number of combinations of the following soil types in your yard:
- Clay Adobe
- Clay Loam
- Loam
- Clay Loam Adobe
These types of soils are generally poorly drained which is good for a drought-ridden area. Poorly drained soils will hold onto moisture longer which is hugely helpful when good moisture is hard to come by.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Baywood-Los Osos?
Baywood-Los Osos sees hot summers with minimal rainfall. This is what we would call a drought and yes, it affects the trees greatly.
Your trees depend on water to survive, and they depend on you to give them the much-needed water. You may need to water your trees to keep them alive. Be sure to check the county water conservation tips and be sure you know the restrictions well. Sadly, the drought conditions can get bad enough that the restrictions are very strict, and you find you just can’t water your trees enough. In those cases, your trees will probably wither and die. It’s unfortunate but it can’t be prevented sometimes.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Baywood-Los Osos?
Fallen Trees and power lines can be a dangerous combination in Baywood-Los Osos. There is the threat of injury or death for anyone who approaches a down tree near power lines, and there is the potential for widespread power outages. Removing trees near power lines requires highly trained electrical professionals. If there is a weather event and there are widespread outages, it is imperative you wait patiently for the power company to clear the trees and restore power.
Maintaining power is so important that the power company follows a structured tree trimming program each year to keep problematic trees and tree limbs away from power lines. This tree trimming program is free to the citizens in the service area. Keeping the area around power lines free is important for maintaining power and also to help stop the spread of forest fires. In such a drought-ridden area, trees or limbs hitting the power lines can spark a fire that will spread and grow quickly over a large area. No power is definitely a hassle but having to evacuate due to a wildfire is probably a bigger hassle.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Baywood-Los Osos?
Tree removal in the Baywood-Los Osos area is going to cost you on average about $661 and may go up to $2,000 or more or be as cheap as $150. Each tree removal job is different and the total cost is dependent on a few factors. Be sure to consider these cost factors when budgeting for your tree removal.
Size and Location
Cutting down trees is a potentially dangerous job and that risk goes up as the tree gets larger. Bigger trees pose bigger risks to our crews who work to take them down. Cleanup of a sizable tree also requires more work and costs more. In short, the smaller a tree is the less it will cost and vice versa.
Location is a similar concept. The location of the tree in question will determine how difficult it is to remove. There is a direct correlation between how difficult a tree is to remove and the final cost. If a tree is less difficult to remove, like a dead tree lying on the ground, it will cost you less. On the flip side, if the tree is difficult to remove, like a tree near power lines or lying on a structure, the more it is going to cost.
Labor and Materials
Falling trees don’t consider our schedules and always seem to fall when it is most inconvenient. Why is it that trees always fall on the weekends or during the holidays? Tree removal that is imperative during these non-work hour times is going to cost you a premium in labor per hour.
If the tree is in a difficult location, or it’s particularly large, our tree removal crew may need to bring specialized equipment and more specialized help. Both of these will add more line items to your bill. Be sure you know what you are doing before you order a major tree removal job.
Any Needed Permits
You need to contact your county government about obtaining any permits needed to remove trees from your property. You especially need to secure a permit if you need to remove an oak tree. Obtaining special permits adds time, effort, and money to your project and will increase the overall cost.