Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Milledgeville?
- 2 Does the City of Milledgeville Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Milledgeville?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Milledgeville?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Milledgeville?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Milledgeville?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Milledgeville?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Milledgeville?
Milledgeville is full of amazing plant life, but its trees aren’t immune to diseases and pests. Here are a few of the tree issues we most commonly find in this area.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew can be caused by a range of different fungi and may impact quite a few different tree species. Oak, dogwood, and euonymus are particularly prone to this type of disease. Powdery mildew appears as a white growth on leaves and branches. Plants are at particular risk of developing this disease during times of high humidity. When young leaves are infected, they can become distorted during growth.
Fire Blight
This type of disease is highly infectious and can be spread easily. It can be spotted by the distinct browning and wilting of infected branches, which gives them the appearance of having been burned. Fire blight thrives in warm, wet environments, and is particularly prevalent in late spring. It can be controlled by pruning diseased branches approximately 8 inches below the visible infection.
Seiridium Canker
Seiridium canker can impact several different types of trees but is most commonly seen on Leyland cypress trees after a drought. Early signs of this disease include the yellowing of foliage and the death of branches. Red-hued cankers will then appear on the bark. Once a tree has been infected, there is no way to cure it. However, the disease can be controlled by pruning infected branches.
Does the City of Milledgeville Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Trees on public property are the city’s responsibility to maintain and remove if necessary. The goal of the Milledgeville Public Works Department is to keep public areas, such as streets and sidewalks, safe and clear of any hazards. If you would like to report a potentially hazardous tree to the Public Works Department, you can contact them at (478) 414-4037.
However, although the City will remove trees on public property, it will not provide assistance for tree removal on private property. If you would like to remove a tree on your own land, you will be fully responsible for calling us to schedule its removal.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Milledgeville?
When a tree falls, it will almost always be the responsibility of the property owner to arrange for the tree’s removal. However, since these scenarios tend to be stressful and more complex than we would like, it’s always good to have as much information as possible ahead of time. Here are a few common scenarios you might encounter and who is responsible for fallen tree removal in each one.
If you’re a homeowner?
When you own the property, it is your responsibility to care for the trees in your yard. This means if a tree should fall, you will need to arrange for its removal. Fortunately, your insurance should be able to assist you if the tree fell due to uncontrollable circumstances such as a storm. Georgia law states that as the owner of the tree, you will only be liable for damages if you were aware that the tree was dead or diseased before it fell. If you had no reason to believe the tree might fall, you cannot be held responsible for any damage.
If you’re a renter?
Fortunately, if you are a renter you will not generally be responsible for fallen tree removal. This responsibility will fall to your landlord as they are the owner of the property. If you notice that a tree on your rental property looks diseased or decayed, you should be sure to report it to your landlord in writing. In Georgia, this is the only way to prove that the landowner was aware of a problem before the tree fell. If your landlord ignores your reports and the tree falls and damages your personal property, the landlord will be liable for damages.
If you’re a landlord?
Georgia law does not require you to inspect your properties or regularly prune your trees. Although it is not legally required, it’s still a good idea to properly care for your trees in order to maintain their health. If a healthy tree falls on one of your properties, your insurance should be able to help you with the costs of removal as long as the tree did not fall due to negligence.
If you’re a neighbor?
If your neighbor’s tree falls onto your property, it becomes your responsibility to arrange for its removal. Unless the tree fell due to negligence, your neighbor is not responsible for any damages caused when it fell. Although they are not legally obligated to help you remove the tree, your neighbor may still be willing to provide assistance, particularly if you have a friendly relationship.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Milledgeville?
The majority of the soil in this area is clay, with certain areas having more loamy soil. Although clay soil is typically poorly drained, soil surveys indicate that much of the soil in and around Baldwin County offers fairly good drainage. Clay soil does have some other challenges as it is often poorly aerated and doesn’t always contain high levels of nutrients. Despite this, many trees still thrive in these conditions. Species that perform particularly well in clay soil include:
- Crabapple
- Poplar
- Willow
- Hawthorn
- Elm
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Milledgeville?
Milledgeville’s climate is fairly mild, with hot summers and somewhat warm winters. This area is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a, meaning that the coldest winter temperatures will not drop lower than 10° to 15° F on average. Milledgeville’s average annual precipitation is approximately 46 inches. In general, this area is fairly warm and somewhat wet. This is a very good climate for plant life and a wide range of tree species will do well here.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Milledgeville?
If you see a dead tree located close to a power line, you should exercise extreme caution. Trees that are in close contact with power lines are a significant safety risk for a number of different reasons. Firstly, if a branch is touching a power line, the tree may become energized. This means that if a passerby were to touch it, they could be electrocuted. An energized tree may also catch fire.
Additionally, dead trees are typically weak and are more likely to fall. If a tree falls near a power line, it may bring the line down with it, causing widespread power outages and exposed live wires.
Because these situations are so dangerous, it is not the responsibility of city officials or residents to manage these trees themselves. Instead, the local electric utility companies must monitor the lines and trim or remove hazardous trees as necessary. If the tree in question is on private property and is impeding a power line running directly to your home, the electric utility company can deactivate your power line while our specialists are working to remove the tree.
In Milledgeville, the local electric utility companies are Tri-County EMC and Washington EMC. Each of these companies will perform routine maintenance on the public rights-of-way within their areas of service. If you would like to report a hazardous tree, you can contact Tri-County EMC at (478) 986-8100, or Washington EMC at (478) 552-2577. If you are planning to plant a tree and would like to be sure to avoid underground utilities, remember that you must contact Georgia 811 prior to digging on your property.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Milledgeville?
When it comes to tree removal, costs can vary widely and are difficult to predict. In Milledgeville, homeowners will typically pay anywhere from $200 to $1,980 or more. Here are a few of the most significant factors that can influence the cost of tree removal.
The Urgency of the Situation
Standard tree removals can be scheduled in advance, making them easy to plan for and carry out. However, emergencies do happen. If a tree has fallen onto a building or a car, or is blocking a road, it must be removed immediately regardless of what time it is. Because of this, our crew members will often have to work during off hours in order to safely remove the hazardous tree. Emergency situations can also be more unpredictable and may require more equipment and a faster workflow. These factors mean that emergency tree removals will typically be more expensive than standard removals.
The Health of the Tree
If you need a tree removed, it will often be because of illness or decay. Depending on how diseased the tree is, it may cost significantly more to remove than a healthy tree. This is because diseased or decayed trees are often weak and fragile, making them more challenging to safely remove. They will often necessitate higher levels of planning and more equipment. Additionally, when a tree has a contagious disease, we must be sure to follow the appropriate protocols in order to prevent it from spreading to the nearby plant life. Healthy trees, on the other hand, do not require these additional steps and are therefore faster and more affordable to remove.
The Size of the Tree
A towering oak with a widespread canopy will be significantly more expensive to remove than a small sapling. Larger trees will often need to be removed in sections, requiring a significant amount of time and equipment and leaving large amounts of debris behind. Smaller trees can be removed much more quickly with minimal cleanup.
