AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Rancho Cordova, CA

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Rancho Cordova?

Rancho Cordova is a lovely city just outside of Sacramento, and it is home to over 70,000 residents. The city itself offers tons of green space and hiking trails, incredible food, and a unique children’s museum that attracts young families from all over. Rancho Cordova residents pride themselves on having a beautiful community, largely thanks to the trees and shrubbery that line the streets and parks. Having a basic understanding of common tree problems in the area benefits everyone in the community, as it allows us all to work together to preserve our local trees. Three of the most common issues we see in Rancho Cordova include anthracnose, fire blight, and root rot. 

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a group of diseases caused by a fungus, and it leads to dark spots on leaves. During more severe attacks, anthracnose can also cause oozing cankers and unsightly lesions on branches. Affected leaves often shrivel and fall prematurely, though they usually grow back the next spring. Deciduous trees are most commonly affected by the disease, though some vegetables, grasses, and other crops can become infected. 

Anthracnose spreads easily via spores that can travel through the air or wind, and they take hold most often in warm and moist conditions, like our rainy season. The good news here is that anthracnose doesn’t usually kill trees unless the tree is already weak, or it sustains repeated defoliation year after year. Depending upon the type of fungus causing the problem, there are several steps we can take to reduce or eliminate the problem relatively quickly before it spreads to your other trees and plants. 

Fire Blight

Fire blight is a bacterial disease that most often affects fruit trees, such as apple and pear trees, though berry bushes and non-fruiting trees can also be impacted. The bacteria enter trees through blossoms, and honey bees looking to pollinate often carry the disease from one tree to another. After taking hold of the tree, fire blight often shows up as cankers that ooze an amber liquid. Leaves typically turn brown and fall off, and the fruit becomes shriveled and blackened. 

Once fire blight gets into a tree, there is no cure. There are still a few strategies we can employ to try to keep the tree healthy and thriving despite the infection, and we can recommend taking other measures to prevent the spread to nearby trees.

Armillaria Root Rot

Armillaria root rot is another fungal disease that can impact a wide range of trees, shrubs, and more. The most common way root rot is identified is when clusters of light brown mushrooms appear at the base of infected trees or in the grass where roots grow below the dirt. Mushrooms don’t always appear with root rot, but most infected trees will experience leaf death starting at the top of the tree and working its way down. If the fungus gets beneath the bark and is allowed to grow for long periods of time, it can produce mycelial fans. When enough pressure builds up, the bark sometimes bursts and creates oozing cankers. 

Root rot can kill some trees quickly, but it takes years to finally kill other trees. Keeping infected trees otherwise healthy and free of stress may allow the tree to live for a few years, though it’s always important to look for signs that a tree is completely dead and may topple over. 

Does the City of Rancho Cordova Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

We are lucky enough to live in a city that truly prioritizes keeping our city green and beautiful. One unique service Rancho Cordova offers is a stump removal service that removes and grinds an old stump in your yard and replaces it with a free shade tree. If you are interested in taking advantage of this service, you can fill out their online form. The city also has an extensive list of tree care tips and other local resources on the City of Rancho Cordova website. 

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Rancho Cordova?

We don’t like seeing fallen trees in our neighborhoods, as trees provide shade, noise reduction, natural beauty, and so much more. Trees do fall, however, and someone will be responsible for having them removed. Who has to take on that responsibility depends on the unique situation, though there are a few general rules that apply to most situations. 

If you’re a homeowner?

Homeowners and property owners are usually responsible for having a fallen tree removed from their property. As such, performing regular preventative maintenance, such as pruning, is highly recommended to keep trees healthy and strong, preventing them from falling over in the first place. 

If you’re a renter?

Renters are usually not responsible for getting fallen trees removed from the property they are renting unless their rental contract states specifically that they will have to pay for it. It’s common for some renters to be contractually obligated to handle snow removal or other basic lawn care, but handling fallen trees is not typical for renters. 

If you’re a landlord?

Landlords are legally obligated to keep their rental homes safe and free of hazards. Trees that are sick, dead, or fallen over can pose a safety risk to tenants, and it is the duty of landlords to get trees in these states treated or removed in a timely manner. 

If you’re a neighbor?

Nobody knows which direction a tree will fall, and many neighbors have had the unfortunate experience of having a tree from their neighbor’s yard fall into their own. It doesn’t matter where a tree is rooted; where it ends up matters much more when it comes to fallen tree removal. It’s helpful to speak with your neighbors about who handles what ahead of time to avoid arguments, and some neighbors even decide to split the costs in these scenarios. 

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Rancho Cordova?

Soil is an often-forgotten player when it comes to plant and tree health, but it is arguably one of the most important factors in keeping your trees healthy and strong. Soil composition can vary significantly from one end of a person’s yard to another, but our soil tends to have a decent amount of clay and rock. Clay is beneficial, as it helps absorb water and nutrients to keep trees hydrated and nourished, and rock balances it out to provide proper drainage. Too much of either one can cause issues, so it’s best to contact our arborists and have a soil test done on your property to get more specific information about the type of soil you are working with. 

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Rancho Cordova?

We experience plenty of sunny days with warm summers and cool winters, with about 20 inches of rain per year. These conditions allow trees to grow and stay strong, though we do experience droughts that can cause a great deal of stress for trees that are not equipped to deal with receiving little water for months at a time. These conditions are also conducive to fungi and bacteria, as our winters are usually not cold enough to completely kill them off. 

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Rancho Cordova?

Property owners are typically responsible for maintaining and trimming trees near power lines connected directly to your home, but trees growing near main power lines are usually handled by the utility company. If you see dead trees near main power lines, you can contact the SMUD Vegetation Management office by calling 1-916-732-5854. If you see downed power lines or dead limbs entangled in the cords, contact their emergency line at 888-456-7683 or call 911. Do not approach downed power lines or trees that are touching them, as trees can conduct electricity. Getting too close to the scene can lead to severe injury or death. 

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Rancho Cordova?

Most homeowners can expect to pay about $650 for tree removal in Rancho Cordova, but your actual bill may be much higher (up to around $2,000) or lower (as low as $200) depending upon your unique situation. When we calculate tree removal costs, the three most important factors we consider are the size of the tree, where it’s located, and whether we will have to provide other services. 

Size of the Tree

As you can imagine, removing trees that are several feet wide and several stories tall is quite an undertaking. These projects often require us to bring in a larger crew, and they take much longer to complete. Because of the increased labor hours, your final bill for getting a large tree removed will be much higher than if you needed a small sapling removed. This fact may make people hesitate to get a large tree removed from their property, but if it’s diseased or hazardous in any way, it’s in your best interest to get it removed before it falls and causes significant property damage. 

Location of the Tree

Trees that are out in the open are relatively straightforward for us to remove, as we don’t have to worry as much about causing property damage. Trees that are rooted near homes or are in other hard-to-reach places may require us to use more complicated removal techniques, and we may have to use more specialized equipment. These do add an extra cost to your bill, but it’s well worth it to play it safe and avoid having a limb crash through your roof. 

Other Services Provided

Trees may be removed for a variety of reasons, but if you are getting a diseased tree taken off your property, you may need other services to prevent the disease from taking hold of, and killing, other trees on your property. We often recommend having fungicide or pesticides applied to nearby trees to slow or stop the spread of these diseases, or there are dozens of other preventative maintenance techniques we can use to keep the other trees in your yard healthy and looking great.