Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Evans?
- 2 Does the City of Evans Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Evans?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Evans?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Evans?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Evans?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Evans?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Evans?
Like the rest of Georgia, pines, hickories, maples, and oaks are well adapted to Evans’s soil and climatic conditions. Unfortunately, although native to the area, these tree species are threatened by some diseases, pests, and invasive species.
Pests
Pests attack different parts of trees and are very destructive. Some of the common ones in Evans are Pine Bark Beetles and aphids. Aphids primarily feed on plant sap, damaging terminal buds, and curling leaves. Additionally, aphids spread viruses and promote secondary infections by other pests and diseases. Pine bark beetles attack weak or diseased pine trees. They exist in five species, and the best way to control them is to avoid infestation because there is no treatment for the infestation.
Diseases
Evan’s weather is mostly hot and humid, promoting several tree diseases like oak leaf blister and powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is common during summer and affects trees in areas with poor circulation. This disease gets its name from white dust that accumulates on the leaves and often causes stunted growth in trees. Consequently, oak leaf blisters affect oak trees in spring when the buds start to open. It is characterized by yellowish spots on leaf surfaces. It is not a fatal tree disease, but it causes premature wilting and tarnishes a tree’s appeal. The best way to prevent these two diseases is by correctly and adequately watering your trees or contacting our arborists to apply suitable fungicides.
Does the City of Evans Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The county of Columbia County has a Code of Ordinance to help with tree protection in the area. According to this code, it is unlawful for any person or company to remove any tree in the county without a valid land disturbance permit. The permit can only be issued to applicants who intend to remove specimen trees with a written explanation for why they must remove the said trees.
Dead or diseased trees posing an obvious threat to public property or county infrastructure are considered a nuisance. The owner or property manager is notified of the nuisance in writing and given ten days to handle the issue. Afterward, the county or their contractor shall access the property and remove the tree. The bill for the abatement of a nuisance is forwarded to the person in charge of managing the property. This bill will include an hourly rate of $100 for the use of maintenance facilities and an additional $50 administrative fee.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Evans?
Responsibility for ownership and maintenance of a tree is always straightforward, and this only gets worse if the disputable tree falls and nobody is willing to take up the costs associated with its removal. Worst-case scenario, the tree falls and causes large amounts of damage to property or severe injuries to a person. Read on if you’d like to know when you are responsible for fallen tree removal in Evans as a homeowner, renter, landlord, or neighbor.
If you’re a homeowner?
If a tree falls and damages surrounding property and structures, you are liable for the repairs or the medical bills resulting from it. Fortunately, your homeowners’ insurance can help you cater to the costs, but the extent to which they reimburse you depends on your specific policy and the cause of the fall. For example, your insurance won’t have issues if the tree falls due to covered perils, like fire, lightning, vandalism, or explosions, whether or not it causes structural damage.
But suppose it falls because of factors outside the named perils. In that case, your insurer can only pay for damage and removal costs if it damages your house or other property structures covered under the policy. However, the entire cost is on you if the fallen tree was dead, rotten, aged, or diseased.
If you’re a renter?
A tenant is not financially or legally liable to remove a fallen tree from their rented property. However, they are expected to issue a written report to the landlord or property manager informing them of any rotten, dead, and diseased trees that pose a potential safety threat or threaten to damage the property.
If you’re a landlord?
In Georgia, a landowner is liable to damage and injuries caused by a fallen tree only if they had prior knowledge that the tree was hazardous. Because Georgia law does not require routine tree inspections by property owners, your understanding of the tree condition could be proved in written form from our arborists. Fortunately, according to federal law, tree removal from a rental property is considered an expense associated with keeping the property in pristine condition, and it is tax-deductible.
If you’re a neighbor?
When your neighbor’s tree falls on your property and causes significant damage or injuries, your homeowner’s insurance will take the fall for this. If the said tree does not cause any harm, your insurance is less likely to help, and it is best to discuss this with your neighbor to determine who will take on the removal costs. However, there are certain situations when the owner of the tree must take responsibility. These include:
- If the tree falls due to blatant negligence or lack of maintenance
- Where a tree falls on your property while your neighbor tried to remove it themselves or hired and an unlicensed tree removal company
- If the specific tree species is prone to branch falling and one of these branches falls on your property
- If the tree owner ignored obvious signs of tree rot
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Evans?
Evans has high-silica and kaolin sand soils sitting atop crystalline rocks. Generally, these soils have sandy or relatively fine textures that are deep and well-drained. Most of the soils in Columbia County are in Hydrologic Soil Group A and B, which have moderate to high infiltration and water transmission rates under saturated flow.
Oaks thrive in well-drained soils with lots of humus, and these soils in Evans support the growth and health of native oak trees. Additionally, the soils in Georgia are typically acidic, which supports and promotes the health of oak trees. Pine trees also thrive in these acidic and well-drained soils. Pine trees also love the sandy textures of Evans’ soils and can grow by about 8 to 10 inches every year here.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Evans?
Evans is partly cloudy all year round with short and cold winters when temperatures range between 39°F and 56°F. The summers are long with temperature highs of 92°F and lows of 73°F. The city also receives plenty of rainfall throughout the year. This weather is very favorable to native trees and vegetation. And, there is a higher probability of trees flourishing to a low risk of hazardous weather, such as tornadoes. However, there is a minor threat of flooding due to slow-moving storms and heavy rainfall.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Evans?
Georgia has a High Voltage Safety Act meant to prevent injury to people, property damages, and utility service outages. Additionally, according to the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), utility companies must keep trees, branches, and other vegetation close to power lines trimmed or removed to ensure the people’s safety and prevent damage to the power lines. It would help if you did not try to remove a whole tree or its limbs that are 10 feet to any side of the powerline. Instead, contact Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938 to remove dead trees near power lines. You can also call the police or fire department to barricade the area before repair commences.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Evans?
Tree removal is not a cheap affair. Understandably, it requires professionals who do the job with precision while ensuring the highest safety standards, like our experts at Tree Triage. It also involves the use of specialized equipment and technology to undertake the complex task. In Evans, you can pay as little as $200 and as much as $1,500 or more for standard tree removal services. Below are the top three price determinants for tree removal in Evans.
Type of Tree
Unbeknownst to many, the type of tree you need off your yard determines how much you will pay for its removal. For example, you can expect to pay more to have an oak tree removed because these trees have a wide diameter, making them much harder to fall. On the other hand, it may be cheaper to remove a pine tree as it has less girth than the oak. However, these price differences may vary even more based on the height of the tree.
The Condition of the Tree
The condition of the tree determines the cost of tree removal. A dead, damaged, or diseased tree is more hazardous and requires specialized equipment to take down safely. Why? Because it is weak and fragile and may topple over at any time, damaging property and or causing injuries to people. When this happens during the job, the liability may fall on our arborists, so they must be wary and charge you enough in case of the unknown.
Extra Services
Standard tree removal typically encompasses the cost of bringing down the tree, limb removal, and hauling. However, you may want additional services. The other services in line with tree removal that you should expect to pay more for include:
- Stump removal or grinding
- Tree transplanting
- Log splitting
- Log chipping