Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Coeur D’Alene?
- 2 Does the City of Coeur D’Alene Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Coeur D’Alene?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Coeur D’Alene?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Coeur D’Alene?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Coeur D’Alene?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Coeur D’Alene?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Coeur D’Alene?
The City of Coeur D’Alene is located northwest of Idaho. Its main areas of interest are Lake Coeur D’Alene, Canfield Mountain, and Coeur D’Alene National Forest. Besides, the city has a friendly climate that supports human settlement and the growth of vegetation cover.
Despite the favorable climate making trees thrive, there are common tree issues in Coeur D’Alene that hinder the growth of trees. If you’re wondering what they are, that’s what you’re about to discover.
According to the USDA Forest Service Northern Region and Idaho Department of Land, the most common tree issues in Coeur D’Alene are insects and diseases. And, according to the book, Field Guide to Diseases & Insect Pests of Northern and Central Rocky Mountain,
the top tree problems are root disease, wood borers, and tree foliage. Others include conks, stem decay, cankers, bark beetles, and seed and cone damage.
So, let’s take a quick in-depth look at these problems to discover what they are, how they come about, their impact, and how to fix them.
Root Disease
This tree problem affects tree roots regardless of size, age, and species. Besides, it can affect trees in two patterns – scattered individual trees or groups of trees in pockets or centers. The disease spreads very fast and quickly kills multiple trees close to the affected tree.
Typical examples of root disease include Armillaria root disease, laminated root rot, Annosus root diseases (pine type and fir type), Schweinitzii root and butt rot, omentosus, and black stain root disease.
Symptoms of Root disease
Root disease pockets affect specific tree species and are characterized by dense brush growth in the center. The pocket usually comprises already dead and dying trees. Sometimes it’s only dead trees or dying trees. At times, it’s a combination of both.
The pockets come in different shapes. They can be round, long, narrow, or irregular. From an aerial view, root pockets resemble doughnuts or ringworm patches. But this is mostly seen in forests or where there are many trees.
A rule of thumb is to look at the tree crown. Infected trees have shortened and unhealthy crowns characterized by falling of leaves and appear round in shape. Also, when the tree turns red suddenly, it’s usually a sign of the root disease.
Other root disease symptoms are red-brown stain in roots, dark brown stains, and cream-colored mycelium on roots.
Wood Borers
Wood borers destroy trees and wood by boring holes inside them. Typical examples of wood borers in Coeur D’Alene are round-headed wood borers, flat-headed wood borers, Ambrosia beetles, and wood wasps.
Round-Headed Wood Borers
This insect mainly affects most western conifers. It starts by destroying the cambium region then proceeds to the sapwood. In some instances, the insect attacks the heartwood and makes extensive galleries. Besides, not all of these wood borers can kill the host tree, except those that extensively bore the back of the host tree.
Flat-Headed Wood Borers
The insect only attacks western conifers and is selective when it comes to the host they attack. Some species go after healthy trees while others attack dead, weak, and felled trees. The larvae start by destroying the cambium region, then proceed to the branches, and sometimes, roots. Lastly, it gets to the sapwood and causes massive destruction.
Ambrosia Beetles
These beetles mainly attack western conifers. They cause damage by boring small-diameter holes on the tree. The holes create a favorable environment for the breeding of fungi, which cause further destruction to the host trees. Lastly, the beetles can attack freshly cut trees, weakened trees, and dying trees.
Wood Wasps
These wasps mainly attack western conifers and are known only to destroy trees damaged by fire, especially in Western North America. Besides, they have a 2 to 3-year life span and can stay in trees for that long. If not attended to on time, they can cause massive destruction within their lifespan.
Tree Foliage
Foliage problems are caused by defoliating insects such as the western spruce budworm, Douglas-fir tussock moth, western false hemlock looper, western hemlock looper, Spruce Aphid, and Cooley spruce gall adelgid.
Western Spruce Budworm
This mainly affects Douglas-fir, true firs, spruce, larch, and sometimes, pines. The tree problem starts during spring when trees are budding. The larvae eat up new foliage in trees as they appear.
Usually, this takes a while (several years) before the worms overpower the trees. When the problem is severe, branch diebacks are common, and at the full-blown stage, the tree dies.
Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth
This mainly affects Douglas-fir, true firs, and spruce trees. When young larvae feed on new foliage, they cause shriveling of needles, and sometimes, death. But they don’t stop at that. After some time, the larvae feed on older needles, causing further tree destruction.
Western False Hemlock Looper
This mainly affects Douglas-fir. Young larvae feed on new foliage, causing the shriveling and death of needles. The larvae also eat up older needles later in spring, causing more destruction.
Western Hemlock Looper
This affects Western Hemlock, true firs, and Douglas-fir. The larvae feed on the base of needles which cuts them off. The worst part is that these larvae feed on new and old foliage and shoot, destroying the tree in under 12 months.
Spruce Aphid
The Spruce Aphid mainly affects Spruce species, and occasionally, Douglas-Fir. The Aphids attack the lower crown and feed on older and needles. Fortunately, the Aphid doesn’t kill the affected trees. However, it does cause immeasurable damage.
Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid
This mainly affects Douglas-fir and Spruce. The insect sucks out the juice from Douglas-fir needles, causing them to turn yellow and eventually fall off. On the other hand, it destroys Spruce by forming galls on twigs and branches.
Does the City of Coeur D’Alene Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Coeur D’Alene has a shared-cost program that facilitates tree maintenance activities in the city. This program enables homeowners to maintain or remove trees, then get a reimbursement for the cost incurred.
However, you have to make an application with the city for this to work and proceed only when your request is approved. Besides, the tree should be in the public right of way to qualify for reimbursement of up to 400% for tree removal.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Coeur D’Alene?
The responsibility is pegged on where the damage occurs. Plus, it’s never the sole responsibility of the owner of the tree. So, home insurance agencies for the affected properties can come in when a tree falls.
If you’re a homeowner?
If you’re a homeowner, you should get in touch with your insurance provider. Alternatively, if the tree has fallen from a neighboring property, the owner of the tree should be obliged to help with the removal.
If you’re a renter?
If you’re a renter, you should contact the property owner, landlord, or property management agency in charge.
If you’re a landlord?
If you’re the landlord, you are responsible for calling us to have the tree removed.
If you’re a neighbor?
If you’re a neighbor, chances are you’re a homeowner, landlord, or renter. Whichever category you fall in, everyone has a stake to play. As a homeowner or landlord, you can call us to remove the tree or contact your home insurance provider. As a renter, the obvious thing to do is contact the property owner or the management agency.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Coeur D’Alene?
Most soils in Coeur D’Alene are formed from granite, gneiss, and basalt parent rocks. These are volcanic rocks leading to the formation of volcanic soils. This is according to the Idaho soils report.
Therefore, the soils mostly have a pH of 6 to 7.5, which is slightly acidic to neutral. The soils are well-drained and provide favorable conditions for trees to thrive in Coeur D’Alene.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Coeur D’Alene?
The weather in Coeur D’Alene means both good and bad to trees. Occasionally, the city experiences harsh weather conditions like windstorms that leave several trees destroyed at one single time. The city also experiences snowfalls that destroy tree leaves when in excess. Lastly, the city receives enough rainfall annually, meaning the trees can grow to greater heights with less hassle.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Coeur D’Alene?
Power lines are found in public way leaves, meaning they’re the responsibility of the city. Therefore, if there’s a dead tree near power lines in Coeur D’Alene, the city authorities should remove it. However, in the plan, Cost-Share Program, the city has regulations that allow qualified persons to remove dead trees near power lines and get compensated for it.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Coeur D’Alene?
Tree removal in Coeur D’Alene costs between $125 and $2,000 in most cases, with the average ranging between $200 and $750 for typical tree removal projects. The cost is dependent on several factors like tree status, removal company, and accessibility to the site.
Tree Status
Hardwood trees will cost more than softwood trees considering the amount of work needed. Also, age and size, including height and trunk have a stake to play. Generally, smaller trees will cost less than large trees.
Difficulty of Removing the Tree
Trees near power lines, your home, fences, sheds, or other personal property take more caution and time to remove. As such, our team will need to charge more for difficult trees in precarious places.
Accessibility
Hard-to-access sites attract high costs than easy to access areas. Besides, if we have to use machinery to remove the trees, they cover the cost by charging highly.
