Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Bradenton?
- 2 Does the City of Bradenton Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Bradenton?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Bradenton?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Bradenton?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Bradenton?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Bradenton?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Bradenton?
Trees are important to residents of Bradenton, Florida. That’s because so many of those trees look beautiful during the blooming season. Most of those trees are of the flowering variety, something surprising even those who live in the area.
Some well-known flowering trees in Bradenton include Royal Poinciana, Jacaranda, Trumpet Trees, Orchid Trees, Bombax Ceiba, and Silk Floss. All of these are considered quite exotic, but give everyone a thrill seeing them in local neighborhoods. Trees like this only add to the high livability index Bradenton already enjoys.
Other trees seen here and throughout Central Florida:
- Live Oak
- Bald Cypress
- Florida Pine
- Florida Maple
- Flowering Dogwood
Of course, the palm tree is another common tree seen in this part of Florida. As beautiful as those are, they and other tree species in the area suffer their share of problems.
In recent years, a disease called “lethal bronzing” attacked local palm trees, creating a horrific situation. Many of these palm trees turned into dried crisps as a result.
It’s caused by an insect called treehoppers that get infected from the sap of other palm trees, hence, spreading the disease to all other trees. Local officials have tried to take care of the problem, yet it isn’t easy to control.
Lethal bronzing is far from the only issue potentially afflicting trees in Bradenton. Other problems occur as well, from nature and human beings.
Tree Blight
Another typical problem in Florida trees is tree blight, caused by bacterial or fungal infestations. These usually discolor ornamental trees, turning many of the leaves yellow or brown.
Taking care of this problem has to involve a professional tree care specialist for a diagnosis. Unfortunately, far too many people let tree blight continue, usually leading to tree removal.
Dutch Elm Disease
Yet another common tree disease is Dutch Elm Disease, or (ironically) DED. It’s spread by elm bark beetles and can also turn tree leaves to yellow or brown.
While it’s not commonly seen in this part of Florida, many arborists are on the lookout for it. Florida Elm trees are very prized here and can grow as high as 80-feet tall.
Weather Events
Everyone who lives in Florida knows the weather can always be a problem. From hurricanes to floods, anything can happen to affect trees. We’ll explore more details of how weather affects trees in Bradenton later.
Construction Crews
One of the biggest disruptors of trees is construction crews damaging tree roots. Many construction companies don’t realize digging up ground as much as 20 feet away from a large tree can harm a tree’s root system.
When roots are disturbed, it leads to slow tree death.
Does the City of Bradenton Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Manatee County has some specific rules in place now on removing dead or dying trees. Started in 2019, House Bill 1159 stipulates that no one needs a permit to remove a tree from their property if they have documentation from the International Society of Arboriculture. The resident can also have documentation from a Florida licensed landscape architect stating the tree poses a threat to the public.
In this case, Public Works can come and take care of the tree if it’s on city property. Most residents have to pay for a tree care service to remove a tree falling over on their own property line.
Even though residential owners are not required by law to replace a fallen tree on their property, Homeowners Associations might be different. Everyone needs to check their specific HOA rules regarding this.
Overall, the local government in Bradenton prohibits any dangerous tree from staying in place in public places. You just need approval before you hire a tree care service to remove or prune your tree.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Bradenton?
The circumstances behind a fallen tree are sometimes a little complicated in who becomes responsible for removal. If you’re a homeowner, you’ll likely have different responsibilities if the tree isn’t on city property.
When you’re a renter or landlord, other responsibilities might apply. A tree from a neighbor’s yard is also going to bring other potential complications, perhaps legal.
If you’re a homeowner?
Any tree that falls on your property is going to become your responsibility in Bradenton, even if property lines might pose confusion. Bradenton sometimes plants “right of way” trees in front of residential property, albeit required 25 feet away.
If a tree falls on your property and causes damage, you should turn to your homeowner’s insurance policy if you have one. They’ll pay for damages caused by that fallen tree. They also usually hire a tree service to clean up the fallen tree debris.
If you’re a renter?
Those of you who rent may not be responsible for a fallen tree, as long as your landlord explicitly states this in the lease contract. They’re the ones generally responsible for damages and the cleanup.
Any exception would be if you planted the tree that fell. Your landlord may stipulate if you plant the tree, you’re responsible if it falls. However, read your leading contract carefully to make sure your landlord is truly the one who has to clean up the mess.
If you’re a landlord?
Again, it depends on the rental contract you give your tenants. Preventative maintenance is usually an automatic part of rental agreements, though not always.
Maintaining trees with yearly pruning is important to ensure a tree doesn’t become a hazard to your tenants or others. Perhaps you’d prefer adding a lease addendum where your tenants are responsible for yard upkeep.
If you’re a neighbor?
As all Florida law firms confirm, a neighbor can prune any overhanging branches without incident if their neighbor’s tree hangs over their property line. You have to pay for the pruning if your neighbor’s tree branches are becoming a nuisance over your yard.
Things get more complex if your neighbor’s tree goes over on your property. If you warned them about their diseased tree and it fell over on your side, they’ll be responsible. Sometimes this means a lawsuit if the tree caused damage to your home.
A live tree falling on your property from a neighbor’s property means the owner isn’t responsible. You’ll have to take care of any damages and the cleaning up of the debris.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Bradenton?
Soil is very much responsible for how trees are affected. Bradenton’s soils are described as very deep, poorly drained, and moderately permeable. These soils are easy to flood and could put pressure on tree roots as a result.
Using mulch is a common practice in Bradenton to help offset this problem. It helps bring a buffer system to avoid soil compaction. A lot of trees in Bradenton suffer from soil compaction due to the use of heavy construction equipment disturbing root systems.
All tree roots need proper spacing so they aren’t disturbed. Unfortunately, not every tree in the city has been safely planted away from underground utilities.
Most important with your tree soil is to provide water as often as possible, especially after planting a new tree.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Bradenton?
Weather is one of the worst things to happen to trees in Central Florida. Bradenton can get the brunt of hurricanes and other wind storms far too often. What makes the city unique, though, is they haven’t had as much damage from hurricanes as surrounding Florida cities.
Wind storms don’t rip through the area from time to time. Bradenton is also susceptible to the torrents of rain hitting this region of Florida now and again.
All of these factors lead to potential threats to trees. A mere wind blast as little as 60 mph can bring a tree down in an instant. Plus, when a flash flood occurs, it can uproot trees in hours, leading to a major mess.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Bradenton?
More bad weather has a direct effect on how trees in Bradenton go over on power lines. The wind isn’t always a factor, however, as you already saw with weakened tree roots.
What happens if a tree goes over on power lines near your property? First, never attempt to clean up tree debris when you see it over power lines. Your potential for getting electrocuted goes way up, especially if you have little to no experience cleaning up a fallen tree.
Trees going over on power lines are usually the responsibility of the power company to take care of the debris. This is more likely if the tree was on city property. Your power company could bill you if you have a diseased tree falling over on their power lines.
Either way, it’s best to let professionals handle situations like this, no matter if the power went out due to the tree going over.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Bradenton?
What you pay to have a tree removed in Bradenton is going to vary based on the situations involved.
Types of Weather Events
Bradenton’s potential to get occasional nasty weather can lead to messy work when trees fall. After a major storm, tree removal may be a long and arduous job. Chances are good, the work could prolong for several days, if even required waiting until the weather calms.
If this happens, costs can go up for labor time.
Size of the Tree
A lot of older trees still exist in the Bradenton area. These can be very complex to remove based on their trunk size and the amount of foliage. When adding in stump removal, expect to pay up to $100 more.
Overly thick stumps can take a full day to remove off your property. Trees over 100 years old are good examples.
The Pricing of the Tree Service
All tree services are going to have different pricing tiers. Most of them have average pricing categories, with the average in Bradenton being $554 and the lowest being $469. Some tree removals could cost as much as $639.
Always look for fair tree service pricing, no matter what the situation is.