Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in New Port Richey?
- 2 Does the City of New Port Richey Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in New Port Richey?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in New Port Richey?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in New Port Richey?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in New Port Richey?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in New Port Richey?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in New Port Richey?
New Port Richey is a city in Pasco County, Florida. It is located in west-central Pasco County and encompasses a total area of 4.6 miles. The Pithlachascotee River runs through the heart of the city, while the west side of the city borders the Gulf of Mexico. Although New Port Richey is a popular tourist destination that is known for its major attractions, sports, recreation, and culture, it is its natural beauty that truly brings the city to life.
That is why the residents of New Port Richey take such pride in their vegetation, plants, and trees and try to do everything they can to ensure that these plants remain protected all year round. However, before residents can take necessary action to protect their foliage, they first need to learn more about some of the most common tree issues the area has to deal with.
Hardwood Decay
In Florida, there are a variety of different fungi that will attack hardwoods and cause a number of issues. For example, Canker rots are a severe form of hardwood decay that stems from the fungi entering the tree and growing between the wood and the bark. As this fungus grows, it kills the bark and causes the cankers. Once these cankers develop, they leave the tree highly vulnerable to insects and bacteria.
Ash Plant Bugs
These bugs tend to lay their eggs in tree twigs and branches, and when these eggs hatch, it causes an infestation to the tree. These ash plant bugs use their needle-like mouthparts to not only feed on the sap, but also to pierce the leaf tissues. Consequently, the leaves will become discolored first with white and yellow specs and then become brown as the leaves start to die. As a result, this infestation will lead to early de-leafing of the tree and the leaves becoming deformed.
Fusiform Rust
Fusiform rust is known as one of the most destructive tree diseases throughout the Southeast. This condition is a stem disease caused by the fungus called Cronartium quercuum. It often attacks pine trees, as they are especially susceptible to the disease, with the loblolly and slash pine sustaining some of the most severe damage.
If a tree experiences fusiform rust, some of the more common symptoms you need to watch out for include:
- Yellow and orange blisters that eventually begin to form on the galls
- Cigar-shaped galls that appear on the main stem of the tree
- Rust-colored spores that can be found when the infected tree branch or trunk breaks open
Since trees with fusiform rust can pose numerous safety issues because of stem breakage, it is often necessary to remove these types of trees in urban areas. However, if this condition is found on trees outside of urban settings, there may be effective forms of treatment that we can apply, such as removing the bark from the infected stem.
Does the City of New Port Richey Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
In New Port Richey, the city maintains an active community forest program that is administered by the Public Works Department’s Streets and Right of Way Division. This program includes the planting of at least fifty selected hardwood trees on public property, as well as removing dead or diseased tree debris when they are found on the property line.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in New Port Richey?
In New Port Richey, property owners are responsible for maintaining their plants and their private trees. However, determining whether you are responsible for the costs associated with removing a fallen tree is not as straightforward as many people tend to believe. In fact, it will often depend on numerous factors.
If you’re a homeowner?
In Florida, the tree’s health will often determine liability for the damages that it creates to other properties. What does this mean exactly? 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 accountable for removing the tree. In comparison, if the dead tree falls onto another person’s property and results in damage, the person who owns the property where the tree was initially located is responsible for removal expenses if they knew the tree was dead, sick, or damaged.
If you’re a renter?
Generally, a landlord and a renter will enter into a rental agreement before the renter moves into a property. This agreement will discuss how each party will care for the rental property. However, if the contract does not discuss specific problems that arise, the landlord will often be responsible for making the necessary repairs to the property, while the renter will be in charge of maintaining the property. As a result, if a tree falls, it will likely go beyond the renter’s responsibility and become the landlord’s issue.
If you’re a landlord?
As discussed above, the landlord is often responsible for taking care of a fallen tree unless otherwise stated in the property agreement. This means they will be accountable for the costs associated with trees, such as tree removal expenses.
If you’re a neighbor?
Since the laws in Florida are based on the legal theory of negligence, property owners from which the fallen tree originated will often only be accountable for the fallen tree if they knew or should have known that the tree was hazardous to others. Consequently, if the tree falls onto a neighbor’s property because of a natural occurrence, the original tree owner will often not be responsible for the damages the tree causes or its removal costs.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in New Port Richey?
There are three soil types in Pasco County, according to the USDA Soil Survey. However, the more dominant ones include the sandy soils referred to as the Candler fine sand soil and the Paola fine sand soil.
Sandy soil often feels more gritty than other types of soil. It tends to drain quickly, dry fast, and is easy to cultivate. These sandy soils usually warm up quickly in the spring and tend to hold fewer nutrients as they are often washed away during wetter spells. In addition, sandy soils often require organic amendments such as kelp meal, greensand, glacial rock dust, organic fertilizers, or mulch to help them retain moisture.
This soil type is often great for bulbs, such as Tulips and Hibiscus, shrubs, and trees, such as white cedar, poplar, Scotch pine, white pine, and European Larch.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in New Port Richey?
Florida is often referred to as the sunshine state, as it is considered the warmest of all the states in the country. With over 2,800 hours of sunlight over the year, the climate in New Port Richey is often hot and wet in the summer, with the winters being cool, windy, and partly cloudy. However, temperatures seldom get to freezing.
As a result, New Port Richey’s climate makes it an excellent location for planting a variety of trees, including:
- Chinese Fringetrees
- Trident Maples
- Red Buckeyes
- Downy Serviceberries
- Eastern Redbuds
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in New Port Richey?
According to the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), electric utilities are held accountable for trimming trees near power lines. That is why Duke Energy is responsible for maintaining trees near power lines, which include more than 58,000 miles of overhead transmissions and distribution lines. Their vegetation management is part of their power line maintenance program that helps provide reliable and safe electric services for their 1.6 million customers.
Duke Energy regularly uses tree-trimming contractors to conduct their vegetation management work. These contractors are required to follow industry guidelines and standards for safety, quality, and tree health.
For these reasons, if you have any concerns or questions regarding your vegetation maintenance, it is essential to contact Duke Energy’s customer service representative at 800.521.2232 for further information.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in New Port Richey?
In New Port Richey, our tree removal services will range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on numerous factors. These factors include the size of the tree, the area surrounding the tree, and the amount of special equipment that is needed to complete the job.
The Height and Size of the Tree
In New Port Richey, the size of the tree will play a significant factor in the tree removal costs. For instance, smaller trees can cost anywhere from $150 to $450 to remove. Medium-sized trees that range in size from 30 feet to 60 feet can cost anywhere between $150 and $850. While tall trees, which are around 60 feet to 80 feet tall, can start around $700 but sometimes cost upwards of $2,000 to cut down.
The Tree’s Accessibility
Another factor that you need to be aware of refers to the tree’s accessibility and the area surrounding the tree. For instance, if the tree:
- Is located behind a fence or garden or next to power lines
- Is situated on a small piece of property that is challenging to access
- Is located in an area where it will be difficult for our arborists to remove the debris and become a labor-intensive process
Then these factors can end up increasing the cost of the tree removal project significantly.
The Tree’s Overall Health
If your tree is dying, diseased, or at risk of falling over, it can result in our specialist having to use increased safety measures or special equipment that can ensure that injury can be prevented when the tree is being removed. However, if this special care is needed, it can increase the overall tree removal costs.
