Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Atlanta?
- 2 Does the City of Atlanta Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Atlanta?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Atlanta?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Atlanta?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Atlanta?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Atlanta?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Atlanta?
In just about any direction that you take to approach the City of Atlanta, a portion of your journey is going to take you through some of the most beautiful, densely packed forests, as well as many national forests and park areas. You wouldn’t know it just by looking at any given tree line on any given street in Atlanta, but the tree health in the greater Atlanta area is not all that good. The leading cause of tree problems in Atlanta are ones that are a direct result of drought and the above-average amount of construction in the greater Atlanta area.
Then there are the common tree diseases which have their place in the hierarchy of the Atlanta tree chain. Typical diseases which attack trees that live in a rather humid climate include;
- Powdery Mildew – a tree disease that attacks almost every species where the climate is rather hot and humid. It is noticed late in the growing season and appears as a white powdery substance that collects on the leaves of trees. Dogwoods and Crepe Myrtles, two native Atlanta trees, are particularly vulnerable to this disease in areas with poor air circulation. Left unattended, this disease will claim the life of a tree. When you first see the signs of this disease, the white dust on the leaves, contact your professional tree service immediately.
- Black Knot – this disease attacks trees in the winter after the leaves have fallen. The signs for Black Knot disease are, as the name implies, a black knot that will appear on the branches causing them to bend or contort in and out of the ordinary way. The Black Knot is essentially a tumor that can grow up to a foot long, by two to three inches thick.
- Oak Leaf Blister – is a non-life-threatening disease that attacks hardwoods in general. It will manifest as a blister or other type of discoloration on the leaves and will cause the leaves to drop prematurely. This disease is common among hardwoods of the southeastern United States, as it seems only to appear in areas with a rather humid summer followed by mild temperate winters.
Tree problems are brought on by drought and construction. The summers in Atlanta can bring about the drought conditions which cause the root systems of trees to fail in their attempt to find water that just isn’t there. This condition will also cause the root system to become unstable, and the tree will essentially lose its footing in the ground, which causes the tree to die. The stumps from these trees are rather easily removed since the roots have already died, and they are loosely packed in the surrounding earth.
Construction seems to be going on at every turn in the greater Atlanta area. All the heavy machinery that comes in and out of construction sites, leaves its mark by the scars on the trunks of the trees. When a tree is damaged by a construction crew, the landowner, or the land developer, has every right to hold the crew accountable for the destruction of the tree. These are the most common issues that attack the tree community of Atlanta.
Does the City of Atlanta Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Atlanta has in place, a Tree Protection Ordinance for the preservation of the current urban canopy, as the city’s professional arborist put’s it, a set of rules to protect the trees we have, oversee the trees being planted, and quickly clean up the trees that are diseased or otherwise dying. Yes, the City of Atlanta will assist you with tree removal issues, should the tree meet certain criteria. The fact that Atlanta has this entity in place speaks volumes about the care and concern the city leaders have concerning trees in the greater Atlanta area. The TPO (Tree Protection Ordinance) is in place to protect the trees that are in place and thriving in Atlanta.
Residential property owners should be aware that the City of Atlanta goes to great lengths to protect its trees whether on public or private land. Never assume that it is okay to remove a tree that is otherwise healthy just because you want it removed, and it is on your property. The fine for unlawfully cutting or otherwise removing a perfectly healthy tree, without a permit, is very steep. You must go through the permit application process to avoid fines and penalties. Atlanta takes trees seriously!
If you have any questions regarding a tree that is down on your property, err on the side of caution, and notify the TPO (Tree Protection Ordinance) professional arborist for the City of Atlanta to ask how you should proceed. Atlanta will help you in removing a tree that is down on your property, provided you are in compliance with all City of Atlanta TPO (Tree Protection Ordinance) laws, regulations, and proper permitting.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Atlanta?
As we can see, the City of Atlanta is pretty tough on Tree Protection Ordinance Laws. But, there still is the matter of a tree that is down, and you now are wondering who is responsible for the clean-up fees that are going to be associated with it. The larger metropolitan areas of the nation seem to have this issue come up quite often. It also seems that there are several law firms across the nation who have profited from cases involving one person or another who refuse, or insist that another person pays for removing a tree. It’s an age-old question that is almost as popular as the “if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around, does it make a sound?”. Well, in this case, the tree is down and the only sound heard is the ones made by the people bickering about who is responsible for it! The bottom line here is the same as it is in every corner of the United States, the person who owns the property is responsible. Even if the tree is mostly on the neighbors’ property, but the root ball is on your property, then you are the owner of the tree and the person who will be footing the expense for its subsequent clean-up and dispersal.
If you’re a homeowner?
If you are the homeowner, and the tree is on your property, you clean it up. You might want to contact your homeowner’s insurance policy carrier and see if there are any types of assistance through them to assist you in the clean-up process, but when all is said and done, it’s your tree because it’s on your property.
If you’re a renter?
If you rent a home in the greater Atlanta area, and there has been a storm that has produced a downed tree in your yard, contact the person who owns the property. Most of the time this person and your landlord are the same, but either way, the person who owns the property is on the hook for the clean-up of the down tree. As with the homeowner above, check with the insurance carrier of your renter’s insurance, there may or may not be some coverage there in this case.
If you rent a home, and there is a tree that you would like to have removed, check with your landlord. If your landlord agrees that the tree can be removed, for whatever reason, you are then responsible for any associated fees, and permit(s) from the City of Atlanta. Even if you and your landlord agree on the issue, and you foot the bill for the removal, do not harm a branch on that tree until you have obtained the proper permit(s) from the City of Atlanta!
If you’re a landlord?
If you are the landlord, chances are you are also the property owner and this tree situation will simply be another piece of concern on your already full plate! Most landlords are constantly having to repair/replace, and now in this case, clean up something that has to do with your rental property. Check with the City of Atlanta for any assistance if the tree is down due to an act of nature, and remember to get your permit(s) in line, so there are not any hefty fines to pay along with the tree clean-up fees!
If you’re a neighbor?
If two neighbors, who have been neighbors for a number of years, are having issues with this down tree situation, be adults. First and foremost, be adult about it and keep the lines of communication open between all parties involved. The person who owns, and is responsible for the tree, is the person who owns the property where the root ball, or root system of the tree is located. Plain and simple. No guns, no attorneys, no court date for some silly tree dispute. And remember to get your permit(s) from the City of Atlanta!
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Atlanta?
The state of Georgia in general, has put in place numerous improvements to the conservation efforts of improving soil quality. According to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the soil in the state, and Atlanta specifically, has been under the gun so-to-speak for the last two and a half centuries. Storms, floods, and other acts of nature had essentially eroded the layer of topsoil for the area to the point that it could be classified as ‘degraded’ at best. The Soil and Water Conservation Commission has gone to great lengths over the past 100 to 150 years to do everything in its power to improve the quality of soil in the area for crop use and forestry health. Erosion was to blame for most of the damage to the soil, but improvements in weather patterns have also helped a great deal, and at the same time those weather patterns have contributed to the drought conditions that the greater Atlanta area sees during the summer months. The best way to answer the soil question would be, there have been circumstances in the past century or so that have depleted the soil of the required nutrients for proper tree growth and health. However, there have been great strides in attempting to correct those and restore the health of the soil, as well as the waters surrounding the greater Atlanta area.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Atlanta?
The weather patterns of the past century or so, have played a very important role in the health of Atlanta’s urban canopy. The humid and arid conditions contribute to the common diseases that affect the tree’s of Atlanta, and the drought conditions that seem to appear every summer for at least six to eight weeks, are the primary reason for the root system problems that plague these trees.
The weather patterns that are in place over Atlanta cause the tree system to receive an onslaught of tornado activity in the spring, and Atlanta’s proximity to the east coast places Atlanta in the path of hurricane weather systems in the fall months. So, yes, the weather does play an important role in the health of Atlanta’s trees.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Atlanta?
Georgia Power, does a rather good job of keeping vegetation away from power lines in the Atlanta metro area. There are, however, those freak summer thunderstorms that can immediately down a tree on a line to cause an outage. If this is the case near to where you live, the best course of action on your part is to report the problem on Georgia Power’s website. If the tree is interfering with a power line, as a result of its death, the reporting process is still the same, get in touch with the vegetation control division of Georgia Power to report the issue. This department of the Georgia Power Company has a schedule for monitoring the trees that are in the direct path of the Atlanta Power Grid, and sometimes when there are issues with dead trees, they will provide a prompt removal service, so the power can stay on.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Atlanta?
Now we come to the financial end of a tree problem in the Atlanta area. It is rather surprising that the average costs we are going to list for you here seem to be a bit lower than the national average. That being said, those numbers are simply a starting point. They are the average low, high, and overall price paid for a medium-sized tree to be removed in the greater Atlanta area. Let’s take a look at those averages now;
- The average low cost for a tree removal in Atlanta, Georgia is $520.
- The average high cost for a tree removal in Atlanta, Georgia is $708.
- The average price paid for removing a medium-sized tree in Atlanta, Georgia is $614.
These numbers do not reflect some other issues we will look at now, which will make the cost of your Atlanta tree removal project a bit more expensive.
How Easy Is The Tree to Access for Removal?
Is the tree in question easily accessed, or will there have to be traffic rerouted, or other instances that might involve traffic control? While this may not cause the overall price of the removal to increase, there may be additional permits required by the city, if any city streets are being blocked by your downed tree!
Will Your Tree Require Additional Manpower?
The above averages include labor charges for a 3-man crew for one day. If your tree is larger than an ordinary medium-sized tree it may require additional manpower and additional days to complete. All of which can cause your final tree removal cost to be a bit more.
Is the Tree Already on the Ground?
If your tree is on the ground, whether it is a large or medium tree, it might actually save you some money. When dead trees that are still standing have to be brought down one section at a time, this is very time-consuming and cost affecting!