Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Bloomington?
- 2 Does the City of Bloomington Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Bloomington?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Bloomington?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Bloomington?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Bloomington?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Bloomington?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Bloomington?
Bloomington’s trees are, overall, not endangered. Beyond typical physical damage, fires, and mold, few unique issues are present for the trees. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department Forestry Division does an excellent job of protecting and promoting green spaces throughout the area, and finding and eliminating potential dangers before they can get too serious.
As for pests, Bloomington isn’t home to too many dangerous insects that might hurt your trees. While Illinois overall is a potential habitat for some nasty critters like the European gypsy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, and spotted lanternfly, the worst you can usually find in Bloomington is the common termite. If you do happen to spot any of these pests infesting a tree, though, you must alert the City immediately before the problem gets out of hand.
In the past, however, the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) did cause a stir in Bloomington. The City needed to remove almost 100 trees to keep the pests at bay. Presently, the ash borer has not been a problem for the City. However, its previous infestation means that the climate is ideal for a reappearance should people get careless with their firewood.
Does the City of Bloomington Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Bloomington tends to all of the public trees on city property. City Ordinance Chapter 19, Number 1984 states that the Parks and Recreation Department members can do whatever they need to do to protect and promote the trees around Bloomington, including trimming, watering, cutting, and planting. Street trees located near someone’s residential home are also under the City’s jurisdiction, meaning you won’t have to care for anything but the plants in your yard.
When it comes to your own tree removal needs, though, you’re on your own. The City does not pay for any trimming or removal services for a homeowner’s trees. If one of your trees poses a danger to public property (hanging over to block stop signs, growing into power lines, etc.), city workers may perform pruning or removal for public safety. Otherwise, though, it’s all on you to keep up with your trees.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Bloomington?
When a tree falls in Bloomington, and no one is around to see it, who’s going to be responsible for getting it removed? The answer has nothing to do with whether anyone saw it fall and much more to do with who it belongs to.
If You’re a Homeowner?
Like we already mentioned before, a homeowner is responsible for all the trees on their property. This responsibility includes caring for them and having them removed. If your tree falls, or you just want it gone, you’ll have to foot the bill in the majority of cases. One potential exception would be if someone else were to knock your tree over, in which case you could likely compel them to pay for removal and other damages in the same way you would any other piece of property someone destroys.
There is some good news, though. If you find yourself with a tree you just have to get rid of, you might have some options for lessening the financial burden. Many homeowner’s insurance policies have specific stipulations to pay for tree removal if a tree has fallen from circumstances out of your control. An “act of God” that destroys your tree doesn’t have to ruin your savings if you file a claim.
If You’re a Renter?
Since a renter does not own the property they live on, this also applies to its trees. As a result, having trees removed is a job for a landlord. While renters do have a responsibility for any damages incurred beyond normal wear and tear (as outlined by the State AG in the tenant and landlord rights and laws document), this typically does not include an “act of God” that’s totally out of your control. Like with a homeowner, a landlord is responsible for having fallen trees removed off their property, precisely because one of their responsibilities is to keep a rented property in safe and livable condition. Unless you’ve deliberately knocked over a tree or done so through negligence (in which case, check your renter’s insurance policy), you’re not responsible for that damage.
If You’re a Landlord?
As we already outlined, landlords are the property owners even if someone else lives there, meaning they’re responsible for caring for and removing their trees. Landlords must keep a rented unit a safe place to live, meaning that a rotting tree laying on the front lawn is a no-go. Similar to a homeowner, a landlord’s insurance will typically cover removal costs in some way if they file a claim. Like before, the exception to this would be if a tenant were to destroy one of the trees on the property, in which case they would be responsible for having it removed at a minimum.
If You’re a Neighbor?
If you’re the neighbor to someone whose tree falls over onto their lawn, you have nothing to do with that whole situation. If their tree falls onto your lawn, though, then there’s a problem. In terms of who takes responsibility for removal, it’s the owner of the tree. Where a tree lands doesn’t affect who owns it, no matter if it falls on a neighbor’s land or in the public street. Either way, the tree’s owner will have to take care of it.
In terms of a fallen tree damaging a neighbor’s property, the tree owner might also be responsible for making amends for that in both a legal and personal sense. Like with other situations, insurance from one or both parties will likely cover most or all of the damages.
Illinois state law has some precedent set for more complicated situations, too. For example, the City considers a tree that has grown over the property line from one home to another jointly owned. Therefore, if that tree were to fall, both property owners are considered responsible for it and could split the removal cost. In this situation, one neighbor could also prevent the other from removing the tree while it’s still standing. Neighbors are also allowed to trim trees they do not own so long as it won’t harm the tree overall.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Bloomington?
Based on the county geological survey, the soil in Bloomington is mainly composed of loess covering different sediments brought in by glacier movement and outwash. The loess layer is, by its nature, quite porous and easy to break through, giving plants a lot of room to grow and soak in water. As a result, a wide variety of trees can grow in Bloomington.
However, there are some downsides to this looser soil, particularly when it comes to weathering storms. Trees can potentially be uprooted because of strong winds or storms, meaning that trees that grow deeply are the ones that thrive here.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Bloomington?
Like we just mentioned, storms and high winds can be a danger for Bloomington’s trees. Due to the soil’s looser composition, it doesn’t hold onto a tree’s roots as tightly as firmer soil might. Storms like this are the most common type of natural event that might damage your property, tornados being an extremely infrequent danger, as well. Beyond that, any trees planted in Bloomington need to handle both frigid winters and sweltering summers. Anything less resilient probably won’t be in great shape after a few seasons.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Bloomington?
While Bloomington takes steps to manage city trees properly, one may get missed during routine pruning and removal. If, for example, a dead tree were to be left standing near some power lines, this could pose a significant danger to anyone who lives near this area. If you’re concerned about a dead tree near a power line or any other tree that might be a hazard to the City, you can get in touch with the Parks and Recreation Department by phone at (309) 434-2260 or email at parks@cityblm.org to suggest removal. You can even suggest a new tree to plant in the old one’s place.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Bloomington?
Tree removal costs for Bloomington residents average at $730 and range from $270 to $1,190 in most cases. However, totals can easily reach up to or over $2,000. Several factors cause this range, some of which we’ll outline here to help you better understand how much your removal might cost.
Accessibility
Trees that are harder to get to or that grow irregularly are harder to work on. This means longer hours, more people, and more risk to get the job done right. While you can’t do anything about where or how a tree decides to grow, you can make the job easier for us by keeping the area around the tree easy to access and clear of debris.
Size
Size matters when it comes to tree removal. In general, you can expect to pay more to remove taller trees, both because of the extra time it takes to do the job right and the risk involved.
Equipment
Equipment upkeep and fuel aren’t cheap, so your overall removal bill tends to include these costs. This point goes hand-in-hand with size in many cases, as taller trees are more likely to require cranes and the like to take down safely.
