AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Jupiter, FL

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Jupiter?

Jupiter is located in the northern part of Palm Beach County in southern Florida. This beach town attracts visitors from all over who come to enjoy its natural attractions, including the surf, various trails, and the unique Loxahatchee River, which is home to several endangered species, including the manatee and the wood stork.

As would be expected in a town in southern Florida, palm trees make up an important part of the landscape. Unfortunately, however, in recent years, palm trees in Jupiter have been found to be suffering from a specific type of blight: Lethal bronzing disease (LBD).

Lethal bronzing disease was first discovered in Florida in the Tampa area in 2006 but has since spread to all parts of the state, from Miami in the north all the way to Jacksonville. The disease is believed to have originated in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and possibly spread to this country as a result of Hurricane Wilma.

This disease is spread among palm trees by an insect called the American palm cixiidae, also known generically as a treehopper. These insects inject bacteria into the trees when feeding on sap from the palm leaves. The bacteria then multiply inside the tree, clogging the arteries used to circulate nutrients.

Unfortunately, once a tree is diagnosed with lethal bronzing disease, it must be removed in order to try to prevent further spread of the disease. Trees that were near the infected tree should be injected with preventative antibiotics every few months to try to stop the spread of the disease.

If you are the owner of a palm tree that is diagnosed with LBD, feel free to reach out to us here at Tree Triage, and we’ll be glad to be of assistance.

Additionally, tropical storms and hurricanes are common in Florida. The strong winds and flooding that accompany these storms can tear down entire trees or knock out limbs that may end up killing the tree.

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

The City of Jupiter does not provide any assistance, financial, or otherwise with tree removal problems on private property. They state that “If it is on your property, it is the property owners’ responsibility to remove it, since it is on private property. You do not need a permit to remove a dead tree. Depending upon where you live, you may need to replace it.” However, they do recommend that if you need to trim or remove a tree from your property, you should contact an ISA-certified arborist, like Tree Triage.

If you are concerned about a dead tree in a right-of-way or alleyway, the city recommends that you contact the Public Works Department at 561-748-2730.The Public Works Department is responsible for landscape maintenance and grounds maintenance on city-controlled property.

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Jupiter?

A general principle in issues related to trees is that a tree is yours to deal with if it is on your property. As a result, if your tree were to fall over due to disease or storm damage, you would be responsible, as the landowner, for having it removed. Of course, life is never quite as simple as we would like it to be, so there may be other factors to consider when it comes to tree responsibility. Homeowners, renters, and neighbors may all have different views of the subject.

If You Are a Homeowner…

As mentioned above, homeowners can generally expect that if a tree on your property falls over, you will be responsible for paying for its removal. Nevertheless, it never hurts to check your homeowner’s policy to see if it might assist with your costs in that regard. Many insurance companies cover at least part of the costs of tree removal, particularly if your house has been damaged, although you would also want to consider things like deductibles before deciding whether or not to take advantage of any insurance assistance.

If You Are a Renter…

Renters in Jupiter should not expect to bear the cost of removing any fallen trees at their homes. That is the responsibility of the landlord since he or she is the property owner. Should you see an issue with a tree on the property you are renting, it would be best to contact your landlord as soon as possible so that they can take care of the problem.

If You Are a Landlord…

Because they are the property owner, a landlord will be expected to pay for the removal costs of any tree rooted on his or her property that has become diseased or has died.

If You Are a Neighbor…

Now, this is where things can get complicated. Generally speaking, issues regarding trees and neighbors are considered private, civil issues, and the city will be unlikely to get involved. Specifically, the city of Jupiter declares that the issue of tree roots or branches coming into a neighbor’s yard “is a private and civil matter between property owners. Please discuss this with your neighbor.” Similarly, questions about property lines and trees that straddle them are also left to neighbors to be resolved between themselves.

One area involving neighbors and trees where the city will possibly get involved is if there is a tree on your neighbor’s property that you feel is a danger to yourself or your property. If you find yourself in this situation, the city of Jupiter recommends that you contact Code Compliance at 561-741-2477. The mission of Code Compliance is to “work in partnership with residents and businesses to promote and maintain a safe and desirable living and working environment.” Trees that could potentially pose a danger would fall under their purview.

For further information on state law in Florida regarding these sorts of issues, you may find it helpful to consult this handy guide from the University of Florida.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Jupiter?

The soil in and around Jupiter is quite sandy and very poorly drained. It rests on fractured limestone boulders and is covered by shallow water for two to four months out of the year. Without proper drainage, these soils are not particularly conducive to agriculture or most tree growth. The high water table and limestone close to the surface make it a challenge for many types of trees and other plants to grow. The soil can be suitable for citrus cultivation as long as the water table is maintained below four feet.

Despite these difficulties, there are a few types of trees that are capable of growing in this type of soil without excessive human intervention. Trees capable of growing naturally in this type of sandy, poorly drained soil include cabbage palm and the occasional cypress.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Jupiter?

As mentioned above, the weather has at least been theorized to have contributed to the outbreak of lethal bronzing disease in Jupiter and elsewhere in Florida, as Hurricane Wanda is thought perhaps to have been a contributing factor in the arrival of the disease-bearing insects from the Yucatan Peninsula.

Whether or not that theory turns out to be correct, hurricanes certainly have an impact on tree health in other ways, and Florida is one of the states most prone to the impact of these types of tropical storms. Heavy winds and flooding associated with hurricanes can topple trees, leaving homeowners to deal with the damage. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to protect trees from these sorts of effects from the powerful storms coming in from the Atlantic.

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Jupiter?

Jupiter’s severe storms can blow trees into power lines with some frequency, causing power outages and the potential for life-threatening injury. Should you see dead trees on or near power lines, the best thing to do is to contact FPL. They can advise on the next steps or send a crew to investigate.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Jupiter?

As with many costs associated with homeownership, tree removal can be pricey. In Jupiter, the average cost to remove a tree is $870, although of course, many factors can make this either more or less expensive. A typical range for tree removal cost in Jupiter is anywhere from $220 to $2,320. While this may seem like more than you’d like to pay, the alternative could be even worse. Dying trees have the potential to fall on your home or someone else’s, and in the worst cases, could end up injuring other people. In these cases, you could be on the hook for much greater, more unpleasant costs. It’s always best to deal with such problems before they create larger ones.

Accessibility

If our specialists need to spend extra time or use extra technology to reach the tree in question, it will, of course, end up costing the customer more. After all, time is money! If a tree that you want to be removed is already on the ground in an easily accessible spot (near the road, for example), you are much more likely to end up with a lower bill than if your tree is up a steep hill behind your home or if our arborist has to work around many other trees in trying to remove the one you’ve called about.

Size

In the case of tree removal, it’s not necessarily true that bigger is better. The more work it is to remove a tree, the more it is going to cost the homeowner. Thus, if you have a large tree removed, make sure that you budget accordingly.

In Jupiter, you can estimate the size of the tree to impact your bill as follows:

• Cost to remove a 20-foot tree: $220 to $400
• Cost to remove a 40-foot tree: $440 to $800
• Cost to remove a 60-foot tree: $760 to $1,200
• Cost to remove a 80-foot tree: $980 to $2,200+

Others

Some other factors that may contribute to increased costs include:

• Active power lines around the tree
• You have made an emergency, after-hours request
• Heavy equipment is required

Now, here are some things that might decrease the price:

• The tree turns out to be smaller than anticipated.
• You have provided a good deal of advanced notice to our specialists.
• The tree is easy to access.
• No heavy equipment is required.