Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Apopka?
- 2 Does the City of Apopka Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Apopka?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Apopka?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Apopka?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Apopka?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Apopka?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Apopka?
Apopka is a city in Orange County, Florida, and a part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka comes from the Seminole word Ahapopka which means “potato eating place.” But it is also often referred to as the “indoor foliage capital of the world” because of its extensive greenhouse nurseries.
As a result, trees, plants, and the vegetation in the area are highly coveted, and residents do whatever is possible to keep their trees healthy and safe. However, before these property owners and homeowners can take preventative action to ensure their foliage remains protected, they first need to learn about some of the more common tree issues in the area. Typically, these problems include the following:
Fusiform Rust
The fusiform rust tree disease is one of the most destructive diseases in the southeast, which stems from a fungus called Cronartium quercuum. Usually, native pine trees are especially susceptible to the disease, with the loblolly often sustaining the most severe damage.
Some of the more common symptoms of this disease include:
- Yellow-orange blisters that form on the galls
- Cigar-shaped galls that appear on the tree’s main stem
- Rust-colored spots that you find when tree branches break
However, because the fusiform rust can pose a safety hazard due to its stem breakage, removing these trees in urban areas is often required. Otherwise, an effective form of treatment involves removing the bark from the infected stem.
Laurel Wilt
The laurel wilt is a deadly fungal disease that affects the swamp bay, avocado tree, redbay, and other trees in the laurel family.
Some of the common symptoms associated with this disease include:
- Dark streaks that appear underneath the bark
- Green wilted leaves in the canopy quickly turn brown
- Tiny holes with sawdust tubes that begin appearing on the limbs and trunk
The best way to take care of this issue is to call us remove the infected tree to slow down the spread of the disease. Removing the tree means that it either needs to be burned or chipped, including the stump.
Brown Spot Needle Blight
The brown spot needle blight is a fungal disease that affects the longleaf pine caused by Scirrhia acicola. Generally, when this fungus infects young seedlings, they end up dying. However, if the fungus infects seedlings later, they tend to overcome the disease as the tree grows.
Symptoms often associated with brown spot needle blight include:
- Infected needles that are green at the base but dead at the tip and also look like they have a scorched appearance
- Brownish spots or small yellow spots with a purple margin that appear on the needles
- Needles that are killed by the disease and appear to be embossed
We can treat young trees in the nursery with brown spot needle blight with certain fungicides in some cases. However, we need to prune outdoor trees with the disease carefully, and a copper-based fungicide needs to be applied.
Does the City of Apopka Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Apopka takes numerous actions to protect and maintain its trees. The City’s intention for these standards is to preserve the visual and aesthetic qualities of the area, preserve the natural environment, increase the control of erosion, and conserve energy by reducing heating and cooling costs.
That is why city maintenance crews are often responsible for pruning, planting, maintaining, and removing trees, plants, and shrubs within the illumination lines of streets, lights, avenues, alleys, lanes, squares, and public grounds. Maintaining the vegetation ensures public safety and preserves or enhances the symmetry and beauty of public grounds.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Apopka?
In Apopka, property owners are responsible for maintaining their vegetation, including their private trees. However, when it comes to figuring out who is responsible for the costs associated with removing a fallen or dead tree, the answer is not always as obvious. Consider the following circumstances:
If You’re a Homeowner?
Under Florida’s laws, the tree’s health will often determine who is responsible for the damages that it creates if it falls. For example, if a tree falls because of natural causes such as a severe storm, the property owner of the place where the tree has fallen is responsible for removing the tree. However, if a dead or a dying tree falls onto neighboring property and causes damage, the person who owns the property where the tree was is responsible for these expenses if they noticed the tree was dead or sick.
If You’re a Renter?
In general, a landlord and a renter will agree before the renter moves in and decide how each party will take care of the property. Yet, suppose the contract does not mention issues that arise. In that case, the landlord will often be responsible for making necessary repairs, while the renter will be in charge of cleaning up and maintaining the property. As a result, if a tree falls, it will likely go beyond the scope of the renter’s responsibilities and become the landlord’s issue.
If You’re a Landlord?
As mentioned above, landlords tend to be responsible for a fallen tree since they own the tree. Consequently, landlords will be on the hook for the costs associated with the fallen tree, including the removal expenses.
Yet, before a landlord does anything about the situation, first, they need to contact their insurance company. Many times when a tree falls because of natural causes, the landlord’s insurance policy may cover the damages unless the policy does not extend to “acts of God.”
If You’re a Neighbor?
Florida’s laws are based on the legal theory of negligence, meaning that property owners from where the fallen tree originated will often be accountable for the fallen tree if they knew or should have known the tree was dangerous. On the other hand, if a tree falls onto a neighbor’s yard due to a natural occurrence, the property owner will usually not be responsible for the damages it causes or its removal costs.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Apopka?
The soils in Apopka tend to be sand, clay, and peat-based. Although the sandy soils drain water more quickly, plants and crops can still grow with enough irrigation and rain. However, this soil type is also known to have low moisture and nutrient-holding capacity, demanding that you water plants more frequently and use fertilizers. Fortunately, when these methods are applied, and the plants and trees get plenty of Florida’s sunshine, they can photosynthesize well and grow quickly.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Apopka?
It is important to remember that climate plays a massive part in soil formation. As a result, local moisture and temperatures influence the rate at which parent material will weather into the soil. Wet conditions and warm weather typically enhance these weathering rates, which are common climate conditions in Apopka.
In addition, these specific conditions also accelerate the breakdown of organic residues in the soil, which is often why the sandy soils in the area are lower in organic matter compared with soils of midwestern and northeastern states where the climate is humid but usually cooler.
Since Apopka’s climate is milder than other parts of the state, freezes are not very common during the winter months, and the seasons tend to be more subtropical, meaning warm falls, hot summers, and mild springs and winters. That is why if you are thinking about planting a tree in the area, you should consider the following varieties which are known to handle Apopka’s weather best:
- Florida Maple
- Loblolly Pine
- Tabebuia
- Bald Cypress
- Southern Live Oak
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Apopka?
If shrubs or trees grow too close to power lines, it can cause many issues and problems, especially when it comes to power outages. That is why utility company’s such as Duke Energy use progressive tree care practices to help minimize outages during storms and balance needs for reliable electric power with sensitivity for the environment.
Generally, Duke Energy tree crews will start trimming at the substation and work their way down the power line. They will also be responsible for cleaning up all the debris associated with these maintenance activities.
If you have any questions regarding trees near your power lines, make sure you contact Duke Energy and speak with a representative about the issue.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Apopka?
Tree removal services in Apopka will often cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on how complex the job is. However, in general, the overall price of a tree removal project will fluctuate based on numerous factors, including the tree’s size, the tree’s location, and the tree’s health.
Tree Size
Generally, larger trees will usually require that we use more specialized equipment and precautions that can impact the cost of a removal job. For instance, in Apopka:
- Removal of medium-height trees, from 30 to 60 feet, can cost anywhere between $150 to $850 or more.
- Removal of tall trees, from 60 to 80 feet, may start at $500 and cost up to $1,500 or more.
Accessibility
Another critical factor you will want to be aware of is whether the tree is accessible. For example, if the tree is:
- Behind a fence or a garden
- On a slope
- On a small property that is difficult to access
Then you can be looking at costs that are significantly more substantial since these factors can create many issues for our tree removal professionals.
Tree Health
Finally, if you have a dying, diseased, or dead tree, it may require that we use increased safety measures and special equipment to ensure that we prevent injury when removing the tree. Consequently, this special care can increase the overall costs of the tree’s removal.