AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Vero Beach, FL

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Vero Beach?

Vero Beach is filled with hundreds of native and exotic trees including palms, oaks, pines, and mangroves. The city’s trees face their share of pests and diseases, as well as the threat of strong storms. Here are a few of the most common reasons homeowners opt for tree removal in Vero Beach:

Pests and Diseases

Ganoderma Butt Rott is a common disease that affects palm trees. It is spread through spores and initially causes palm trees to wilt. As the disease progresses, a conk will appear on the trunk and the tree will, unfortunately, need to be removed. Failing to act quickly can allow the disease to spread and kill other healthy palm trees in the area.

Huanglongbing (or Citrus Greening) is a condition that affects orange trees in Florida. The disease originated in China and can devastate a healthy citrus orchard, causing trees to drop their fruit prematurely. The fruit from infected trees remains green and tastes bitter. The only way to fix this disease is to quickly remove infected trees in order to protect healthy trees from getting sick as well. Citrus tree owners are encouraged to watch for signs, including yellowing veins on the leaves.

Two of the most common pests that affect trees in Vero Beach include whiteflies and ambrosia beetles. If caught in time, our local arborists can treat your trees for these pests and the trees will survive. If left untreated, the pests will weaken and eventually kill an otherwise healthy tree. 

Severe Weather

Vero Beach experiences severe thunderstorms and hurricanes each year. These weather systems bring high winds, flooding, and lightning that can damage healthy trees and uproot trees that are already weak. It’s important to provide regular pruning and maintenance to your trees, so you know they’re ready to weather any storm that comes their way. If you notice a tree that is weak or at risk of falling, call our experienced arborists to stake, brace, or provide cables to add support to your tree and its limbs. 

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

Trees in Vero Beach are valuable, and the city pours a lot of resources into keeping them alive and healthy. If you have a tree that needs to be removed from your property, you will need to apply for a permit before any work can be done. Vero Beach takes its tree care so seriously that you can’t even have your mangroves trimmed without a proper permit. Our local arborists must also have specific qualifications in order to provide mangrove and palm tree pruning services. According to the IRCCDD tree removal guidelines, homeowners can remove trees under certain circumstances, and The Planning and Development Department of Vero Beach gives the following stipulations for obtaining a permit:

• The tree or palm is in a hazardous or unsafe condition.
• The tree is too close to power lines.
• The tree is dead or beyond recovery from disease or infestation.
• The tree is at 80 percent or more of the average life cycle for its species.
• The tree or palm and its roots are causing damage to a structure.
• The tree is located on a construction site.

If you have a tree on your property that needs to be removed, you can bet that you’ll probably need a permit first. Give the Planning and Development Department a call at (772) 978-4550 if you have any questions. Alternatively, we can handle all permitting issues for you!

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Vero Beach?

Since Vero Beach experiences severe weather like hurricanes, flash flooding, and lightning storms, it’s important for homeowners to understand who is liable if a tree falls. Unfortunately, the lines of responsibility are not cut-and-dried, but a basic understanding of liability can go a long way toward peacefully navigating the situation, in case a tree goes down.

If you’re a homeowner?

As a homeowner, you are responsible for everything within your property lines, including all buildings, structures, and trees. It’s important to provide regular maintenance to your trees by pruning and checking them for damage and disease. If a tree falls on your property, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the damages, as well as the tree removal fees.

If you’re a renter?

Renters do not own their property or anything within the property limits. That means that your trees are not your responsibility. If a tree falls, your landlord’s insurance will pay to have it removed. If your car or other personal property is damaged by the falling tree, your landlord’s insurance should pay for that as well. If they dispute this, you may need to hire a lawyer to help you.

If you’re a landlord?

As a landlord, you own everything on your property including the homes and trees. It is your responsibility to maintain the trees on each of your rental properties, to ensure that they are healthy. If a storm blows through as an Act of God and uproots a healthy tree, your insurance will cover the damages and tree removal fees. 

If you’re a neighbor?

If a storm or other Act of God causes a tree to fall on your property, it doesn’t really matter where the tree originated. If the tree was otherwise healthy, your homeowner’s insurance will cover all of your damages and will pay for the tree to be removed. If the tree was on your neighbor’s property and your insurance company can prove that it had been neglected or dead, they may go after your neighbor’s insurance for payment instead.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Vero Beach?

Located north of the Everglades, Vero Beach has soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Many native and exotic trees grow abundantly in the area, and the soil generally gives them everything they need to survive. When severe storms pass through, flooding can cause trees to die in the weeks afterward, due to the drying effects of the saltwater. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to irrigate the soil around the tree’s base. Doing this will encourage roots to grow and saltwater to drain away. 

Trees in Vero Beach can also benefit from proper mulching. Add a layer of mulch around the base of each tree to provide a layer of protection for the tree’s roots and to keep moisture from evaporating in the hot sun. The mulch will also introduce organic matter to the soil, to provide added nutrients that your tree can use to grow stronger and healthier.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Vero Beach?

Hurricanes, lightning storms, and flooding are all common occurrences around Vero Beach, and native trees must be tough to survive. The most important way to ensure your tree’s health is to provide proper maintenance and preventative measures. Trees need to be pruned correctly, in order to stay healthy and strong. If a palm tree is over pruned, it will lack the potassium that is stored in its fronds, causing it to weaken and occasionally kill otherwise healthy palm trees. Palm trees also need the boots on their trunks for protection. If they are removed for aesthetic purposes, the tree is left vulnerable to wind, debris, and rain.

Check your tree’s health regularly. If our arborist determines that it is weak, diseased, or at risk of falling, they can install braces, stakes, and cables to stabilize your tree and prolong its life.

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Vero Beach?

The Florida Power and Light Company is responsible for pruning and maintaining tree branches that interfere with power lines. If your tree is growing too fast for their crews to maintain, they may decide to remove the tree. Homeowners are expected to trim their tree branches before they grow long enough to interfere with power lines, but if your branches are too close, let the FPLC handle the job. They will safely prune away and remove hazardous branches and trees, at no cost to you.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Vero Beach?

In Vero Beach, the average tree removal costs about $575. Obviously, no two trees are alike, and your tree removal price will vary greatly depending on your specific needs. It’s always best to call us for a quote so you know what to expect. Here are some of the cost factors that will determine your final price:

Tree Size

A small tree is going to be much easier to remove than a larger one, and you will likely pay more to remove a bigger tree. Our tree removal specialists measure the tree’s size based on its trunk diameter and height. When you’re determining your final cost, know that the size of your tree will greatly affect the price you’ll pay for it to be removed.

Location of Tree

If your tree is near power lines or your home, our arborist will need to take extra safety measures to remove it effectively. Our experts are specially trained to handle these obstacles, and you should expect to pay more for their time and care. It’s worth the price of knowing your home won’t be damaged by falling limbs during the removal process.

Accessibility to Tree

Tree removal requires lots of heavy equipment that arborists must bring along to the site. If your tree is located in a spot that is hard to reach, it will be reflected in your final bill. Our experts will spend more time and effort to access a tree that is off the beaten path, and they will factor this into your initial quote.