AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Loveland, CO

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Loveland? 

With countless tree species that line our neighborhood streets and shady trails through our many parks, Loveland is a city that loves its trees. While we might wish for many of our trees to last as long as our beloved Liberty Tree, unfortunately, all trees are vulnerable to diseases, insect pests, and even the weather. Some of the more common issues we encounter with Loveland’s trees include:

Tree Diseases

Many tree diseases, often non-native ones spread by insects that have unintentionally arrived in the area with nursery shipments or firewood, can damage, weaken, and even kill many of our common trees. Aspens can be particularly susceptible as we have such stunning forests full of them across the Front Range.

• Aspen leaf blight: Attacking our iconic Colorado trees, aspen leaf blight, also called ink spot disease, causes blackish spots on leaves, leading branches to die back. While it is unlikely to kill a tree, it can weaken it, making it more vulnerable to insects and other diseases.
• Cankers: These fungal diseases spread the tree’s bark and interrupt its ability to transport nutrients and water through its internal structure. Aspen cankers are a problem we regularly see in some trees around Loveland, but a variety of tree species can be infected by different kinds of cankers.
• Fire blight: Many fruit trees, including apple, crabapple, and pear, can be infected by fire blight, which can leave trees with browned or blackened leaves and ugly, shriveled fruit. In more severe cases, it can kill affected trees.
• Mistletoe: While we normally have good thoughts about mistletoe and its promise of kisses at Christmas, it is also a parasite that steals water and nutrients from the trees it affects, often killing them in the process.
• Root rot: Spread by insects or from root connections underground, root rot is a collective name for different kinds of fungus which destroy a tree’s root system, eventually causing it to weaken so much that it can easily topple.

Insect Pests

Invasive insects have spread to Colorado from other parts of the world, and attack our native trees. In most cases, our trees have little, if any, resistance to them. The insects themselves lack predators here, enabling their rapid, unchecked spread.

• Emerald ash borer: Since being identified around Denver in 2013, emerald ash borers have devoured the bark of ash trees, quickly limiting their ability to transport water and nutrients throughout the tree’s limbs and branches. Affected trees can die in a few, short months. While mountain ash trees may escape their attacks, other species of ash trees in the area can easily fall prey.
• Tent caterpillars: Creating ugly, caterpillar-filled masses of webs as they feed on leaves and needles of our trees, tent caterpillars can defoliate numerous species of hardwood and softwood trees in Colorado. When they infest a tree, they can occasionally kill it, but more often, they weaken it so it is vulnerable to other hazards. Among their favorite trees are ash, box elder, Douglas fir, ponderosa pines, aspen, oak, and other hardwoods.

Environmental Conditions

While our Loveland weather is generally pleasant, it can cause some issues for our trees. In parts of the area with poorer soil, trees can also be stressed and weakened by their growing conditions.

• Lack of water and nutrients: Our Front Range soil can have less water and nutrients than trees need for ideal growth. Drought conditions in recent years also play a role in stressing trees. Fertilizing and supplemental watering can allow us to have more healthy trees around Loveland.
• Winter weather: Colorado trees must tolerate a substantial amount of heavy snow each winter. Weak and damaged trees may not be up to the challenge, and those with split trunks or structural flaws may also be harmed by heavy snow burdens.

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

The city of Loveland does not routinely help residents with tree removal on private property, though, of course, they do maintain trees in public spaces, such as along sidewalks, streets, and in our parks. If you notice a problematic tree, you can report it to the Public Works Department. While you can’t dispose of logs and large limbs for city pickup, branches that are an inch or less in diameter can be included in your yard debris cart. 

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Loveland?

The laws in Colorado place the responsibility for removing a healthy, fallen tree with the owners of the property on which it fell, regardless of who owned the tree. Luckily, most homeowners insurance policies will pay out on claims for damages caused by such trees falling on your property as acts of God. Often, all or part of your tree removal costs are included. 

If a dead or dying tree falls onto your property, the tree’s owner may be responsible, particularly if you can prove the tree was visibly unhealthy and your neighbor should have known about it, or that you alerted your neighbor to its poor condition.

If you’re a homeowner?

As mentioned, homeowners must normally foot the bill for healthy trees which land on their property; homeowners may not have to pay for the cost of removing a neighbor’s dead or dying tree that has fallen onto their property. 

If you’re a renter?

While many renters are responsible for mowing, shoveling snow, and other regular maintenance tasks, the removal of a fallen tree usually falls outside those duties. Instead, landlords are normally the ones who will need to pay for tree removal. 

If you’re a landlord?

Landlords are typically responsible for the removal of trees on the properties they rent out. As the owners of the affected properties, their liabilities generally follow the same pattern as those for homeowners.

If you’re a neighbor?

When a dead or visibly unhealthy tree falls, it is normally the responsibility of the tree’s owner. However, when a healthy tree falls, the property owner where it has fallen is usually responsible for its removal. A fallen tree can create or worsen difficult relations between neighbors, so it’s wise to keep a close eye on the trees on your property and adjacent lots to prevent damages or injuries. 

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Loveland?

The soil around Loveland, as with much of the Front Range, is mostly silt loam and clay loam. Loam is a great soil for trees to grow in, with plenty of water and nutrients to support good, healthy growth, but not so much water that roots are more vulnerable to rot. Loveland’s more silty or clayey loam can mean that it is a little denser and compacts more readily than other types of loam, making it just a little harder for tree roots to spread out and find the space they need. Especially with the addition of a little fertilizer and compost to enrich and loosen it, our soil is great for growing trees.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Loveland?

In general, the weather around Loveland is good for supporting tree growth. Our main tree issues during warmer weather are caused by drought or near-drought conditions, and when the occasional tornado or severe thunderstorm passes through our area. In colder weather, with our average snowfall of nearly 50 inches each winter, our trees must be able to withstand the added weight of heavy snows. 

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Loveland?

While the majority of power lines in Loveland are buried underground, some neighborhoods still have above-ground lines. Near those lines and in other public spaces, Loveland Water & Power (LWP) maintains public trees on a four-year cycle, trimming as needed and removing dead or dying trees to help prevent outages and limit the opportunity for tree and wire contacts to spark wildfires. 

If you live in a part of town with above-ground power lines and notice a problematic tree, you can report it to LWP at 970-962-3581. If you have a problem with a tree near your service line (from the pole to your home), you will need to arrange for a tree service to take care of it, though LWP will temporarily disconnect the service line so the work can be done more safely.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Loveland?

If you, like many of our customers, have postponed having a tree removed because you are worried it would be too expensive, you’ll be happy to know that the average job will cost about $550. More simple jobs can run as little as $200, while more complicated jobs can cost $1,950 or more, and removing trees that have already fallen will cost you quite a bit below average.

Until we see your specific tree and its location, it can be challenging to make an accurate estimate because each situation presents a unique set of circumstances. There are, however, some aspects of tree removal which most often influence how expensive the job will be, including:

Size and Type of Tree

One of the most straightforward factors affecting the cost of a tree’s removal is its size. Naturally, smaller trees almost always cost less to remove than their larger counterparts. Trees with denser, harder wood, such as oak and hickory, can require more labor and time from us, adding to your cost.

Location and Accessibility

Trees that are easy for us to get our equipment to make a tree faster and easier to remove, reducing your costs. The more obstacles we need to work around, such as your house, garage, landscaping, play equipment, patio, other trees, and utility lines, not to mention your neighbors’ properties, the more expensive a tree removal can be.

Additional Equipment and Services

Some trees require additional equipment, such as a bucket truck, to remove safely. If we need to bring in more equipment, your costs may go up. In addition, added services that many homeowners request, like limb chipping, log splitting for firewood, or stump grinding, may also affect your bottom line. Emergency service outside of standard business hours or on holidays may also cost more than standard weekday tree removals.