AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Simi Valley, CA

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Simi Valley?

Simi Valley, CA is a beautiful city that sits between Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita in Ventura County. This city is home to over 100,000 residents who get to enjoy the numerous museums, fantastic restaurants, and stunning natural beauty of the area. We place a great value on keeping our city’s trees healthy and beautiful, which is why we believe everyone should be aware of tree issues common to our area. Having at least some knowledge on what to look out for can help everyone work together to keep our city green. 

Three of the most common tree issues we see in the area include foamy bark canker disease, western oak bark beetle, and California oak moth. 

Foamy Bark Canker Disease

Foamy bark canker disease is caused by a fungus that easily spreads from tree to tree by western oak bark beetles. The disease shows up on trees with several beetle boring holes which can ooze a red sap in early stages and a foamy white liquid in later stages. Foamy bark canker disease can lead to a general decline in a tree’s health and it is often followed by death. As of now, there are no cures for trees that have contracted this disease, but we can remove infected trees in an attempt to prevent them from spreading and killing other trees on your property. 

Western Oak Bark Beetle

Oak bark beetles are a nuisance all over the country, and California is home to the western oak bark beetle variety. These beetles like to find dead or diseased trees and bore into the bark to lay their eggs. Once the eggs are laid, they secrete chemicals that reduce a tree’s ability to fight off invaders and transport nutrients, which usually results in a gradual death. The eggs also send out a signal to other bark beetles to lay their eggs in the same tree, which sets off a vicious cycle. 

Once bark beetles have taken over a tree, there isn’t much anyone can do to save it. At this stage, the focus shifts toward preventing bark beetles from spreading to other trees. Because bark beetles prefer trees that have injuries or incurred some type of stress, the best prevention methods are to keep trees well-nourished, hydrated, and pruned during the correct times of the year. Our arborists can help with this.

California Oak Moth

California oak moths can cause significant damage to our trees and plants when they lay eggs that hatch into hungry larva that eats foliage voraciously. When left to their own devices, California oak caterpillars can defoliate entire trees, making it difficult for them to absorb the sunlight they need to grow and thrive. The caterpillars can get up to about one inch long, and they have yellow and black markings along their back. As moths, they have a wingspan of about an inch and a half with a beige or gray color. Males have furry antennae while females do not. 

In most cases, a California oak moth attack isn’t enough to kill a tree, especially ones that are healthy and resilient. Trees can die due to California oak moths, but these trees are still in danger if they sustain repeated attacks over a series of years or if they are weakened by the attack and they succumb to another disease. 

Does the City of Simi Valley Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

We are incredibly lucky to live in a city that helps maintain and remove public trees as efficiently as the City of Simi Valley. The City performs routine maintenance on trees located on public property and removes dead or diseased trees in parks and other public spaces. If you see a landscape maintenance need on city property, please contact the public works department at (805) 583-6400.

Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Simi Valley?

Trees are important to any neighborhood since they provide a buffer for noise pollution. They also add more shade on sunny days and many animals make their homes within them. Nobody likes it when a tree falls over and the situation can be made even worse when there are disputes about who is responsible for having it removed. There are a few general rules about who is responsible for tree removal in a given situation, but it’s always best to talk to anyone who may be involved beforehand to come to an agreement. 

If you’re a homeowner?

Homeowners and landowners are responsible for maintaining their property. This often includes removing trees from their property after they have fallen. As such, it’s helpful to keep trees healthy and strong with regular preventative maintenance to reduce the odds that they will fall over or those large limbs will come crashing down due to strong winds or disease. 

If you’re a renter?

Renters are sometimes responsible for some aspects of lawn care, such as mowing or shoveling snow, but they are usually not expected to get a fallen tree removed from the property unless their rental contract states otherwise. It is the renter’s responsibility to report to their landlord the trees that appear dead or diseased so that they can be taken care of promptly.

If you’re a landlord?

One of the most important aspects of renting out properties is keeping them safe and free of hazards for your tenants and the surrounding community. This includes tree care, both in the prevention stages and in the aftermath of a storm of disease, unless you have a specific clause stating otherwise in the rental agreement. Not taking proper care of the trees on your properties can result in a negligence charge, especially if you were notified of their ill health or hazardous condition ahead of time and failed to take action. 

If you’re a neighbor?

It can get complicated to figure out who is responsible for tree removal when a tree falls from one neighbor’s yard to another’s, but the responsibility to get a fallen tree removed usually goes to the person who owns the property the tree ended up on. This can feel quite unfair, especially if a tree is on a shared property line, so many neighbors discuss these matters in advance and decide to share the costs. 

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Simi Valley?

There are several types of soil compositions in Simi Valley and soil types can vary drastically from one end of a yard to another. Generally, our soil drains poorly but is rich in calcium. Many farmers in the area have to use artificial drainage to ensure that trees and crops don’t get too saturated with water as this can lead to disease and stunted growth. 

Many agencies offer soil testing which can provide you with a detailed report on health aspects of your property’s soil, as well as suggestions for improving soil health with various interventions. These can help your trees absorb more nutrients and stay hydrated, allowing them to stand stronger and more resilient in the face of high winds or disasters. 

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Simi Valley?

We see hot summers, mild winters, and little precipitation in Simi Valley. Our trees get plenty of sunlight throughout the year, though many don’t get as much water as they need. In the event of an extra rainy season, like we tend to experience in the winter, tree roots can be overly saturated with liquid which can provide an ideal environment for fungus and bacteria to foster. For the most part, however, trees do quite well in our climate and appear healthy all year long. 

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Simi Valley?

SCE, our local electric company, performs regular pruning and maintenance on trees to prevent them from growing too close to main power lines. Residents receive notice about this maintenance work in advance. If you see a dead tree, or one whose branches are touching or near power lines, you can call SCE’s customer service line at 800-655-4555. It’s important to stay away from trees that may be touching electrical lines since they can conduct electricity and cause major injuries or death. In cases of power outages or objects caught on power lines, call SCE’s emergency line at 1-800-611-1911.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Simi Valley?

Most homeowners pay about $650 for tree removal in Simi Valley, though there are several factors that we take into account when we calculate the final bill. Your total can fall anywhere between $150 and $2,000, sometimes more. The three most important factors include the size of the tree, special equipment used, and other provided services if any. 

Size of the Tree

For the most part, larger trees will result in larger tree removal bills. This is mostly due to the increased labor hours the work takes to remove trees that are wide and tall. Smaller trees or shrubs generally take us much less time and smaller crews to complete the job.

The Use of Special Equipment

Some tree removal projects can be completed in a simple manner, though most trees that are located near buildings or other property may require special equipment and techniques to remove them safely. Trees that are located in hard-to-reach places also force our crews to use different removal methods and more complicated jobs which entails a bit of extra cost. 

Other Services Provided

Trees that have communicable diseases often have to be removed from the premises since these illnesses can easily spread to nearby trees and shrubbery. In these situations, we usually recommend having fungicides or pesticides applied to your property’s other plants to ensure that they won’t die from the same disease.