Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Crystal Lake?
- 2 Does the City of Crystal Lake Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Crystal Lake?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Crystal Lake?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Crystal Lake?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Crystal Lake?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Crystal Lake?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Crystal Lake?
Trees can up the curb appeal of your home and provide shade in the summer months. The Crystal Lake area has some impressive trees that are a combination of native and non-native trees. Here are a few of the most common trees in the area:
- Oak
- Ash
- Sassafras
- Willow
- Crabapple
- Locust
- Eastern Redbud
- American Elm
Oak trees can grow to stunning heights and widths, making them look invincible. When one of these trees and others become damaged or diseased, many Crystal Lake homeowners struggle to understand what went wrong. Here’s a look at a couple of the most common tree issues that we see in the area:
Insect and Pest Damage
In the spring and summer months, insects and pests thrive in warmer weather. They’re an essential part of the ecosystem, but can be the worst nightmare of your trees. These critters can use the trees in your Crystal Lake yard as a home or as a food source. This can leave the tree damaged or dead. Here are a few of the insects that we see damaging trees in the area:
- European Gypsy Moth
- Asian Gypsy Moth
- Asian Longhorned Beetle
- European Cherry Fruit Fly
- Spotted Lanternfly
When it comes to an insect or pest infestation, it doesn’t usually stop at a single tree. You may find an area in your Crystal Lake yard where insects are swarming around a pack of trees.
We can treat an infestation and possibly save your tree if it’s caught early. Knowing the signs of an infestation can help you stop these critters in their tracks. The most common signs include:
- New leaves and limbs that are smaller
- Leaves that are discolored or misshapen
- Fewer leaves in the canopy
- Insects on or near the tree
- Bald patches on the trunk or limbs
- Holes or channels in the trunk
When you notice these signs and others, you can act immediately to try and save your tree. Our team can check the tree and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Hard Freeze Damage
With almost 3 feet of snow each year, Crystal Lake turns into a white winter wonderland. The daytime temps in the winter hover around the freezing mark and then plummet to the mid to low teens after dark.
The days of endless freezing temperatures create a condition known as a hard freeze. During a hard freeze, the moisture and nutrients in the soil in your yard freeze, and your trees can’t get the food source they need to grow.
The evergreen trees in your Crystal Lake yard won’t have an issue with this lack of nutrients during a hard freeze unless it’s a young tree. Other types of trees might struggle to survive the winter.
As the weather warms up, you expect the trees to bounce back and resume growing. Some might not because they perished during the hard freeze. Sometimes, we get a call because a tree began growing again in the spring and then stopped.
Unfortunately, in this case, the tree in your Crystal Lake yard was damaged during the hard freeze and the damaged section stopped processing nutrients. The damage due to the hard freeze spreads, eventually killing the tree.
Does the City of Crystal Lake Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
In the City of Crystal Lake, you can expect the local government to take care of the removal of any diseased or damaged trees on public land, including trees on an easement. Most trees that fall in your yard are on private property, and you’re expected to handle its removal yourself.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Crystal Lake?
When there is a fallen tree on private property, including one in your Crystal Lake yard, you’re almost always the responsible party. However, some people are in unique situations and aren’t sure who is responsible for removing the tree. This section covers the ones we hear most often:
If you’re a homeowner?
When you’re a homeowner and a tree falls in your yard, you’re almost always the responsible party. Sometimes, a fallen tree in your yard is on an easement. This is a small area of land owned by the city or a utility company to run lines or place a sidewalk. In this area, a fallen tree is the responsibility of the easement holder.
If you’re a renter?
As a tenant, you might mow the grass and rake the leaves of the Crystal Lake rental home. This might even be written into your lease. However, the homeowner is responsible for removing a fallen tree. You do need to let the homeowner know about any tree issues as soon as possible.
If you’re a landlord?
As the landlord, you’re probably the homeowner as well. Even when you have a renter living in the home, you’re still responsible for removing a fallen tree from the yard.
If you’re a neighbor?
When your neighbor’s tree falls into your yard as well as their own, you wonder who is going to take care of this. You’re expected to remove the portion of the tree that’s in your Crystal Lake yard.
There might be one exception. If your neighbor knew the tree needed to be removed and failed to do it, they’re negligent. This makes them liable for damages to your yard and the tree’s removal.
You probably need to talk to your neighbor before taking any legal action. It’s better if the two of you can work it out and maintain a positive neighborly relationship.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Crystal Lake?
The most common soil type we see in Crystal Lake is Drummer. This is a silty clay loam type soil. While the soil soaks up water, it doesn’t drain it very well. This can leave the roots of your trees submerged for too long and at risk for root rot, a fungal disease that can damage or kill a tree.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Crystal Lake?
The Crystal Lake weather can affect the health of your trees. The winter weather creates a hard freeze that can damage or kill a tree, even trees that seem to bounce back in the spring might be damaged beyond repair.
In the spring, violent storms bring the possibility of thunder and lightning. A direct lightning strike to one of your trees can kill it immediately, splitting down the middle. These storms can also bring tornadoes.
Between 1950 and 2010, the Crystal Lake area has seen 75 tornadoes, which is more than an average of one a year. The funnels bring wind speeds of up to 300 mph, pulling trees up by the roots. These twisters have massive debris fields that can cause damage even when your home isn’t in the path of the tornado.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Crystal Lake?
When it comes to power lines and trees, you want to keep your distance. A dead tree lying on a power line is a deadly situation until power is cut to the line. You need to call emergency services when you see a tree on a power line. Even if the dead tree is near a power line, it takes a professional tree removal service like Tree Triage to remove it safely.
Sometimes, a dead tree near a power line is on a power company easement, and they will remove the tree. Trees that aren’t on an easement are on your private property and you need to take responsibility for removing it.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Crystal Lake?
The cost of removing a tree in the Crystal Lake area runs between $220 and $1,835 with an average expense of about $725. There are a few factors that make up your final total. Here are some things to consider:
Tree Removal Permit
If your Crystal Lake home sits on more than 3 acres, we need to secure a tree removal permit before we can start work. This process takes extra and money, increasing your final bill.
Firewood
The winters get cold in Crystal Lake, and if your home has a fireplace, you probably use a lot of wood each year. Some homeowners ask that we split the tree into firewood instead of simply carrying it away. This takes extra time and additional equipment.
Size of the Tree
There are some gigantic trees in the area. It takes a longer time to remove a taller or wider than average tree. Also, it requires additional safety measures to ensure the well being of our team and your home.
