Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Inverness?
- 2 Does the City of Inverness Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Inverness?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Inverness?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health In Inverness?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Inverness?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Inverness?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Inverness?
You’ll find plenty of healthy trees in Inverness, especially oaks and scrub pines. Most property owners are eager to care for the trees on their land. Their trees offer many benefits, including lowering utility bills and increase a home’s value. However, sometimes it’s necessary to remove a tree. These are the three most common reasons people contact our tree removal service:
- Trees are blocking development and land improvement. Trees grow thick and fast in Central Florida. Without clearing them, it would be impossible to find space to build our homes, shops, schools, and businesses. Land clearing is one of the most common reasons for tree removal in the area. That could mean clearing multiple acres for a large development or removing one tree so you can expand your kitchen. If you don’t remove enough trees, it can cause damage to your foundation, roofing, and plumbing system in the future.
- A storm damaged the tree. Inverness can experience some incredible storms, suffering from anything from hurricane winds to major flooding. All these local weather conditions can have an impact on our trees. Wind and heavy rains can strip branches from the trees and even bring down large limbs. Floodwaters and hurricanes can uproot fully-grown trees and cause major damage. Even a single lightning strike can kill a large tree immediately. Trees damaged by a storm need to be carefully evaluated to determine if they are a safety risk and if they need to be removed before the next storm arrives.
- A tree is diseased or infested with pests. There are many diseases and invasive pests attacking trees in Inverness. Fusiform rust is common, caused by a fungus that attacks loblolly pines. You can find several species of destructive bagworms in Florida, too. These worms eat the inner bark of the tree, eventually causing enough damage to kill it. If you inspect your trees regularly, you may be able to spot disease or a pest before they can cause too much damage. Often, though, it’s necessary to remove the tree because it’s starting to die. Removal can also help prevent spreading the disease or pest to other trees growing nearby.
Does the City of Inverness Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Inverness cares for and maintains the trees in public spaces. That includes street trees, trees in parks, and any trees on city-owned property. They do not offer assistance in tree removal problems or any tree removal disputes between neighbors. These disputes will have to go through the legal system.
If you do see any trees on public property that need trimming or removal, you can contact the Community Development team. They’ll coordinate with the Public Works staff to get the issue resolved.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Inverness?
Florida property law has plenty to say on this topic. That’s because fallen trees are common, especially after a big storm. It’s important to know who is responsible for both the cleanup and the damage.
If you’re a homeowner?
You are responsible for the cleanup of any trees that fall on your property. However, you may also be responsible for trees that fall on your neighbor’s property if you knew they were at risk of falling. This means if you had previous knowledge that the tree was diseased, damaged, or dead, then you might be liable for both the removal and repairs. If you believed the tree was healthy, though, then Florida law treats that as an act of God that you had no control over. Your neighbor will need to pay for the removal themselves.
If you’re a renter?
Renters make up about 25% of the Inverness population. None of them are responsible for the trees that fall on their rented properties though. Trees remain under the ownership of the landlord, who will be responsible for their care as well as their removal if they fall. Tenants should report a fallen tree to their landlord or property management company right away. Tenants should also be able to make a claim for any damage done to their personal property through their renters’ insurance.
If you’re a landlord?
Landlords remain responsible for the trees on their rental properties, even if tenants are living there. This means if a tree falls on your property, you’ll need to arrange for and pay for the removal. It’s important that you have trees inspected regularly to ensure they aren’t a risk to your tenants. Otherwise, you may be liable for damages if the tree does fall.
If you’re a neighbor?
If your neighbor’s tree falls onto your property, it’s likely that you will be responsible for the removal. That’s because Florida law considers most fallen trees to be an act of God, or something unavoidable and unpredictable. This protects homeowners from paying for expensive repairs for something that wasn’t their fault. It also prevents homeowners from preemptively cutting down healthy trees for fear of a repair bill if it falls. However, there are exceptions. If you can prove that your neighbor knew the tree was at risk of falling before it fell, then they could be liable for the removal and any damage.
In either case, you should be able to make a claim on your homeowners’ insurance to help cover the cost of the removal and any damage done to your property.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Inverness?
The soil in Inverness is deep, mostly level, and very sandy. It’s good soil for crop cultivation, which is why there is so much farmland in the area. In particular, watermelons and citrus grow well here. The sandiness of the soil helps it to drain off our high amounts of moisture quickly, preventing issues like root rot.
Trees that like our soil include oaks, scotch pines, and poplar trees. Trees from other areas may grow best in soil with high amounts of clay or silt. These soils retain a higher level of nutrients. So non-native species of trees can struggle to grow in our sandy environment.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health In Inverness?
Inverness experiences extreme weather conditions, all of which can have an impact on the health of our trees. We get over 55 inches of rainfall a year, which is well above the national average. Native trees enjoy this extra moisture, especially in our sandy soils. Trees also enjoy our temperate climate, lack of freezing temperatures, and plenty of humidity.
However, our weather can harm trees as well. Inverness has a hurricane season that lasts roughly six months out of the year, and during this time we can battle heavy winds, rains, and flooding. These conditions can severely damage and even kill trees. It’s important to call our arborists to inspect your tree after every storm for signs of damage, including broken limbs and damage to the trunk or roots.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Inverness?
Florida Power and Light (FPL) provides energy to Inverness. They also maintain all the trees around their power lines, including those on private property. You should contact them to report issues such as:
- A dead tree close to power lines
- A living tree growing too close to power lines
- A fallen tree near or on power lines
You can reach FPL at 1-800-4OUTAGE. They’ll dispatch their line-clearing professionals to assess and remedy the situation. In the meantime, you should stay away from the tree and the power lines, even if you think the power lines are dead.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Inverness?
The average cost for tree removal in Inverness is around $650. However, you can pay anywhere from $200 to $1,900 or more for tree removal. Factors like these will help a tree removal service determine the cost:
The Size of the Tree
The bigger the tree, the more you’ll pay for its removal. This goes for height as well as the spread of the branches on the tree. For example, a flowering dogwood, a common ornamental tree in Inverness, grows to around 30 feet tall and can have a 30-foot spread. This would cost you between $400 and $600 to remove. A live oak tree can reach up to 80 feet tall and 100 feet across. This would be one of the largest trees to remove, so you can expect to pay closer to $2,000 to remove it.
Accessibility to the Tree
If your tree is in a hard-to-access space, then you’ll pay more to remove it. This includes trees that are close to other trees, adjacent to structures, and near power lines. This adds to your cost because the removal will require more manpower, time, and equipment from our team to get the job done safely.
Emergency Tree Removal
Emergency tree removal can be up to four times the cost of routine tree removal. This is because we often need to pay for additional labor to keep up with demand, and we need to cover the costs. Tree removal after a hurricane is an especially busy time. If you can safely wait, you may end up getting a deal. However, you should never delay emergency tree removal, as it could put the people around the tree at risk of a serious injury.
