Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Modesto?
- 2 Does the City of Modesto Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Modesto?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Modesto?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Modesto?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Modesto?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Modesto?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Modesto?
Storms, extreme temperatures, pests, and diseases can wreak havoc on trees. This is no different for our beloved Tree City. Canopies of cottonwoods, oaks, walnuts, elderberry, ash trees, etc., have been sustaining a beating from harsh weather, disease, and pest infestation. These leave the trees weak, diseased, and sometimes on the verge of death.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose may not be a fatal tree disease per se, but it does ruin the aesthetic appeal of the infested trees. Common among ash trees, it thrives mostly during wet weather.
It’s a fungal disease that attacks emerging leaves during spring. The condition cannot survive in hot weather. Hence it disappears when summer sets in. Usually, the infected leaves drop, and new ones emerge.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe may be great for the festive seasons, but they leave a trail of destruction wherever they grow – on trees. A parasitic plant, mistletoe is responsible for the death of many trees in our city.
A person who is not familiar with their destructive qualities might admire their resilience, seeing them on the trees they perch on. This is because they remain green even when the tree is dying.
Usually, the fruit seeds of a mature mistletoe are dispersed by birds or other agents. Upon landing on the host tree barks, the seeds reach in for water and nutrient supply from the inner tissues of the tree.
After germination and maturity, they shed off more seeds, and the process of perching and feeding continues. Eventually, they rob the tree of its nutrients and water, and it enters a slow death process. If a drought season follows the infestation, the tree’s survival rate becomes minimal.
Aphids
Aphids are another common threat to tree canopies in Modesto. They feed in colonies and feast on trees’ foliage, leaving lasting destruction on trees. Unlike most tree pests of this size, aphids are easy to notice due to their group activities.
An adult aphid can reproduce about 80 offspring per week. So they can spread pretty quickly. They also leave honeydew on the leaf surface, which causes black mold.
Does the City of Modesto Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Modesto City has a strict tree ordinance in place that seeks to protect against unnecessary tree removal. The community forestry division is responsible for maintaining public trees on rights-of-way, including their removal. Anyone intending to remove trees either on private or public property must seek a permit from the city authorities.
Nonetheless, they offer tree removal assistance on private property, but you have to meet the removal cost. This means that once the city approves your request, you can either call the Community Forestry Division (CFD) at 209-342-2253 or hire a government-approved vendor like Tree Triage to remove the tree. The same applies when you want to remove a stump, a mistletoe, or even roots.
However, note that there are circumstances under which the city may enter your land and remove trees they consider hazardous, i.e., the trees are likely to cause harm to the public or are generally a public nuisance. They may also remove any diseased and pest-infested trees to prevent spreading to neighboring public trees on the rights-of-way.
According to Modesto’s code of ordinances, the director of public works gives you the prior notice in writing. If you fail to take the necessary actions, they come in, remove the tree, and bill you the cost. It’s often much cheaper to have our specialists perform the work for you!
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Modesto?
If trees planted on rights-of-way fall, it’s the community forestry division’s responsibility to remove them. You can report a fallen tree by calling 209-342-2253.
For trees on private property (regardless of who planted them), the responsibility applies as follows.
If you’re a homeowner?
Homeowners are responsible for taking proper care of the trees on their property. This includes removing any hazardous, insect-infested, or diseased trees that threaten public safety or the tree health of neighboring trees. In case you ignore such a tree, and a storm falls it, you should be responsible for paying any resulting damages. However, if a healthy tree falls following an act of nature and destroys insured property, the insurer should cater for the removal costs.
If you’re a renter?
In most cases, renters are exempted from major tree maintenance responsibilities, like removal. Unless you’re living on a shared property, where the landlord takes care of ground maintenance, you may be expected to perform minor tree care, like leave collection. But that’s as far as it goes. Fallen tree removal is the responsibility of the owner or their insurer in case it damages the property.
If you’re a landlord?
As the property owner, the landlord is responsible for removing fallen trees. If the tree damages the property, the insurance compensation should cover part of the removal costs.
If you’re a neighbor?
If your neighbor’s trees shed leaves on your property, it’s your responsibility to clear them. The same applies to any overhanging branches and encroaching roots. You can trim the leaves as long as you don’t sever the plant.
In the same way, if the tree falls on your property as a result of an act of nature, like an earthquake or a storm, the law does not obligate the neighbor to remove it. If any property gets damaged, your insurance compensation should cater to the tree’s removal costs. However, if the insurer establishes your neighbor had neglected the tree before the storm, they can pursue them to recover their expense.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Modesto?
Soils vary in depth, texture, acidity, and water retention. All these factors combine to determine the suitability of the soil for tree growth. For instance, clay soil is excellent in offering support to tree roots. But too dense clay inhibits better growth by binding nutrients and hindering their absorption by plants.
On the other hand, sandy soils are extreme, with larger grains that allow smooth water and nutrient flow. However, a region with sandy soils and highly windy or stormy weather may have increased incidences of fallen or uprooted trees. Loamy soils fall in the middle with the right balance of texture and water retention.
Modesto soils are predominantly loamy with variant textures, ranging from sandy loam to clay loam. They are well-drained soils that provide ideal properties for tree growth and support.
There’s always an interdependent relationship between trees and soils. For instance, trees shed off leaves and other dead parts, which decompose and increase soil fertility. They also reduce water runoffs that erode the soil. Owing to this enriching relationship, Modesto soils have continued to support optimal tree health for years.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Modesto?
Our city has a mild climate, with rainier winters and hotter summers. However, droughts and storms rock the region once in a while, leaving devastating effects on trees.
After prolonged dry weather, the drought-stricken trees are left at the mercy of diseases and pests, which ravage them further. When storms blow over the city, the trees are too weak to withstand the force, and many of them are broken or blown off.
Excess rainfall, especially during the winter, is damaging to trees. On top of washing off nutrients from the soil, it causes root rot in many tree species. Loss of nutrients weakens the trees’ health, while root rot may cause tree death if you fail to remove the affected roots.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Modesto?
Modesto city has a strict tree ordinance that seeks to discourage tree removal. But when it comes to hazardous trees, like those near power lines, safety supersedes preservation and becomes a priority.
Dead trees pose a significant threat as they’re highly susceptible to falls in the event of a storm or if the roots become too weak to support them. This can lead to power shortage, fires, and property damage.
Vegetation management near power lines is the responsibility of the respective utility companies. If you have any dead trees, say, near a PG&E power line, or there’s a neighboring dead public tree near the line, you should contact them right away for immediate removal.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Modesto?
Tree removal in Modesto is relatively expensive compared to other parts of the nation. Though the cost you pay will depend on several factors, in most cases, it will range between $400 and $2000, with the average removal cost being around $1200. That’s way above the national average, which averages around $850.
We base their quotes on the below factors:
Size
It goes without saying that the bigger the tree is, the higher the removal cost is likely to be. For instance, removing elderberry might cost you anywhere between $300 and $600. On the other hand, the removal cost of an extra-large oak will likely go above $1000.
In a nutshell, you’re charged based on the labor and time spent doing the job. Again, a large tree may require that we use complex removal techniques, like climbing and roping pieces down or the use of special equipment. All these add up to the cost.
Location
The tree’s location is also a factor that affects the quote you get. For example, if the tree is in dangerous or difficult-to-access terrain, our arborists might end up charging you more.
Also, trees near buildings are riskier to remove, hence costly. The explanation behind this is that we need to have insurance to cover any damages that may take place during the exercise.
Tree Condition
In most cases, fallen trees will cost you less to remove compared to standing trees. However, there is an exception to this. If the fallen tree is atop a building, then the risk of further damage is high. So you might pay more.
In the same way, our specialists may charge you more for removing a healthy tree. This is because sawing down a dead tree is much easier than a living and sturdy one. Again, this might not apply if the dead tree is too fragile for regular removal. In the latter case, you may end up paying a higher cost as special equipment will be necessary to get the tree down safely.
