AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Norwalk, CT

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Norwalk?

Located along the northern shore of Long Island Sound in Southwest Connecticut, Norwalk may not look like a haven for trees by outsiders. Residents who’ve lived here long enough know how beautiful our evergreen and deciduous trees are in nearly every neighborhood.

Norwalk’s evergreen trees include cedars, pines, spruces, and oaks. Deciduous trees include birch, cherry, walnut, and flowering dogwood as a partial list. The official state tree, incidentally, is the white oak.

Each of these trees brings color to every street corner when they bloom. Yet, they’re also vulnerable to numerous aspects of nature not even the most skilled arborist can control.

The Asian Long-horned Beetle is one of the most insidious in Norwalk due to the beetle going after numerous tree varieties. Connecticut’s Tree Protective Association notes other non-native insects that continue to invade our trees, like the Emerald Ash Borer, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, and Elongate Hemlock Scale.

Many of the tree diseases in the area are some of the same that are seen throughout the Eastern U.S. Reports. Going back 85 years shows that Dutch Elm Disease has continued to plague trees in Norwalk for decades. More common are Oat Wilk, Bacterial Leaf Scorch, and Plum Fox. A more native disease is Thousand Cankers Disease.

Beyond these typical wraths of nature, human beings can cause just as much destruction to our trees. Someone could run their car or truck into a local tree, killing it instantly. Construction crews can also be to blame if they disrupt root systems from a large tree while digging up the ground.

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

Careful consideration is given to trees in Norwalk, with removal only necessary when a tree poses danger. To get the job done, Norwalk sometimes contracts tree maintenance companies if the removal can’t be done with in-house equipment.

Some tree removals are overly complicated and require extra equipment the city doesn’t have access to. Department of Public Works and the Department of Recreation and Parks budgets are used to pay for the contracting when public trees need removal.

Of course, arborists like ours are consulted first in analyzing a tree that appears to be beyond saving. After the tree is disposed of, Norwalk has a program in place to plant new trees using money from the Department of Public Works and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

This procedure adheres strictly to city trees that pose a danger to property or life. Norwalk may contact private residents about trees on their property posing similar risks and set up a removal time. Much of this depends on where the tree is located on a resident’s property.

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Norwalk?

Few want to take responsibility for a fallen tree since it could mean costly cleanup and even money spent repairing damage to a home. Depending on who owns the property, though, someone has to take responsibility.

We encounter many residents who still get confused about responsibilities over a tree. This can vary even for a homeowner.

If you’re a homeowner?

Under Connecticut’s common law, all homeowners are obligated to care for trees that might pose a danger to the public or to a neighbor. A neighbor might warn the other homeowner about this danger. If the warned resident doesn’t take action, it could lead to some legal repercussions.

Overall, this means any homeowner is solely responsible for a tree when it falls on their property. This means every resident has a right to hire any tree care specialist they choose.

There is one exception here. When the tree causes damage to the homeowner’s home, it usually means turning to a homeowners’ insurance policy to cover the damages. In those scenarios, the insurance company surveys the damage and typically hires a tree care company of their choosing for cleanup.

All homeowners need to keep tabs on trees in their yard and take action if it appears even one tree is dying or diseased.

If you’re a renter?

A renter has to go by their rental agreement and what their landlord stipulates about tree removal. For the most part, a renter’s landlord in Norwalk is like a homeowner and has to care for trees on their property posing any hazards.

Any exceptions to this would be if the landlord allows a renter to take care of a tree they planted on their own. Renters need to look at what they agreed to in their rental contract before taking action on a fallen tree located on the property.

If you’re a landlord?

Going by common law again, a landlord has to put in preventative maintenance for trees residing on property they own. It’s uncommon for landlords to force tenants to take care of yards on rental property. This might happen in certain circumstances, especially if the tenant personally planted one or more trees in the yard.

If you’re a neighbor?

Like common law with homeowners, a neighbor must conform to the same thing in caring for a tree. Connecticut’s law states if a tree falls on a neighbor’s property from an ‘Act of God’ (forces of nature), there is no liability on the tree’s owner. The neighbor where the tree fell is entirely responsible for cleanup.

When a neighbor warns a fellow resident about a precarious tree on their property, and it falls, it brings potential legal complications. A neighbor can sue a fellow neighbor if the tree that fell caused property damage.

Another useful tree law exists here. If a tree grows on one person’s land but the branches or roots encroach on the neighbor’s land, the neighbor can cut off branches or roots up to the line of his or her land.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Norwalk?

Not every resident of Norwalk is knowledgeable about soil’s impact on local trees. Everyone should take more interest in soil on their property since it directly affects the tree’s longevity.

What type of soil does the Norwalk area have? Based on soil surveys here, the most important soil here is Windsor Soil. Also known as the official state soil, Windsor Soil is made up of mostly sand, which might not sound good for trees yet is. Trees do well with this, even if sandy soil can easily dry out during hot summers.

Since this soil type does have rapid permeability, everyone needs to provide as much irrigation as possible during Norwalk’s dry periods. Also, because Windsor Soil is low in organic materials and clay, residents should include these in their soil to keep it healthy.

Adding extra fertilizer also helps after planting new trees following the removal of a diseased one.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Norwalk?

The climate of Norwalk does have major temperature extremes between summer and winter. During the summer, it can get very hot for long periods of time. During the winter, heavy rains and snow often hit.

All of that can easily affect trees in dramatic ways. While the city does have an effective emergency management plan in place, it doesn’t stop the reality of local natural disasters. Extreme cold and floods are cited as the most common to happen in Norwalk every year.

A cold snap alone could end up sealing the fate of an already weakened tree. Heavy icicles hanging off of tree branches often stress trees and can split the trunk or knock it over. Of course, excessive water can also wash away vulnerable trees.

Once in a while, remnants of a hurricane or a nor’easter come through the area. When this happens, the demand from residents for tree cleanup becomes an overwhelming job for our team.

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Norwalk?

Norwalk gets its power from either South Norwalk Electric and Water or from the eastern edition of the same company. These utility companies are the ones who take care of the issue of a tree falling on lines.

Our team frequently works with these local utility companies to take care of power lines being disrupted by trees. However, we frequently see too many locals who try to clean up tree debris with their own equipment. This should never be done alone since there isn’t a way to know if the power is off.

Keep in mind that the city of Norwalk usually takes care of cleanup when the tree is on their property. On occasion, we’ll work with the city to help them remove a tree. During times when we work with power companies, we make sure local power is off to ensure complete safety.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Norwalk?

Tree removal costs in Norwalk can vary quite a bit. Average rates are around $799, with the lowest being $280. On the high end, it could go up to $2,118.

Cost factors could vary even more based on these things:

Condition of the Tree

Some trees are in such bad shape, it takes a lot more time for our team to either cut it down or remove debris after it falls. After windstorms, pieces of the tree might be scattered all around, including in other yards.

An overly diseased tree may also require extra care and time to remove due to the risks of human exposure.

Difficulty of Access

Norwalk still has some rural areas where residents live. A tree owned by someone there might fall in an area loaded with other tall trees or brush. As a result, it makes it tougher for our crews to do an inspection.

Using extra equipment to gain access may be necessary, bringing further time put into completing the job.

The Tree Type

The size of the fallen tree usually depends on the type of species it is. Tree type makes a difference in how long it might take to get it removed. Typically, pine trees are the simplest ones to remove, with Eucalyptus trees being the largest.