Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in South Bend?
- 2 Does the City of South Bend Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in South Bend?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in South Bend?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in South Bend?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in South Bend?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in South Bend?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in South Bend?
Northern Indiana has a lot of natural tree life, and we enjoy beautifying our yards with native tree species and some landscaping favorites alike. Unfortunately, storms, disease, and pests can all be dangerous to South Bend tree life. When trees suffer, they may lose limbs, or the entire tree may fall, which can be hazardous to the people and things around them.
Signs of Tree Disease
There are a lot of different signs of diseases in trees. While changes in the structure of a tree are normal as it grows, some changes are a sign of pests or diseases. A difference in the color of the tree’s trunk, branches, or leaves is one sign. So are small holes in the leaves, shriveling of the leaves, and rough patches or cankers in the bark, according to Purdue University. Different signs, or symptoms, are caused by different problems.
Common Diseases and Pests in the Trees of Indiana
Like humans and our pets, trees can experience a wide range of diseases. Some are limited to specific families of trees while others can affect many varieties. Here are a few tree diseases we see in South Bend.
Powdery Mildew
As the name implies, powdery mildew appears as a grayish-white powder on the leaves of a tree or plant. There are a lot of varieties of this fungus which can affect a lot of different plant varieties from vegetables to hedges and most any type of tree. Here, we tend to see it in lilacs, maples, dogwood, crabapples, and oaks. Powdery mildew can slow the growth of a tree and in fruit trees will reduce the quality and amount of fruit. The fungus spores are most often spread by wind.
Anthracnose
This fungal disease is common in northern Indiana and will kill trees when not treated. Early signs of Anthracnose include a brown splotching of the leaves causing them to fall off. It infects branches, the wounds of which can be seen by the naked eye. It will stunt branch growth and discolor the bark. The disease is carried by the wind and water.
Oak Wilt
Oak Wilt is yet another disease caused by a fungus. It affects no less than 17 species of oaks in Indiana, according to Purdue University. The fungus works its way inside the tree plugging its water vessels prohibiting water and minerals from feeding the tree. Signs of the disease include leaves dropping off and the entire tree will show signs of wilting. The fungus spores are transported between trees by beetles. There is no cure for Oak Wilt and the result of a severe infection is the death of the tree.
Tent Caterpillars
These caterpillars develop a silk tent easily visible to the naked eye. The tents can range from one in a tree to dozens, or more. The caterpillar larvae eat the leaves near their tent. Numerous tents can be devastating to a tree with hundreds if not thousands of larvae feeding on it.
Aphids
Aphids will feed on almost any type of plant. Being sapsuckers, they attach to a leaf stem sucking the life out of it. You can see them, especially when they accumulate on the underside of the leaves. Their “honeydew” excrement causes damage to anything underneath the tree.
Emerald Ash Borer
These pests attack any type of Ash tree anywhere in the U.S. One sign of the Emerald Ash Borer is having woodpeckers visiting your trees as they enjoy feeding on the insect. The bugs burrow into the outside layer of the trunk. Some trees can be saved if the borers are found in time and the tree is treated, but it takes more than one treatment to save the tree and eliminate the pest.
Bradford Pear Trees No Longer Welcome in South Bend
In 2021, the South Bend City Council voted to prohibit the planting of Bradford Pears. The seemingly harmless trees are invasive. Because they bloom earlier than native trees, their seeds are developing into trees crowding out others such as the tulip and flowering dogwood. If you have one or more Bradford Pears, don’t worry, you don’t have to remove them. However, you can no longer plant new trees.
Does the City of South Bend Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
In the event of a storm, South Bend will remove trees or limbs that fall into the public right of way. Residents should call 311. While trees or limbs outside the right of way are the property owner’s responsibility, additional limb pick-up can be requested by contacting the city’s Solid Waste Department. The city will also remove and trim tree lawn trees through its Forestry Department.
When residents want to prune or remove trees from the tree lawn area in front of their homes, they must request a permit from the city Forestry Department. There is no cost for the permit. However, the homeowner is responsible for any work done on the tree. The city forester will inspect the tree before the permit is granted. Permits are good for up to one year.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in South Bend?
Fallen tree removal responsibility falls upon different individuals depending upon the circumstances.
If you’re a homeowner?
A homeowner is responsible for the removal of a fallen tree on their property. The exception is when the debris falls on the right of way during a storm, then the city will assist with removal.
If you’re a renter?
The renter of a home in South Bend bears no responsibility for tree removal on the rental property unless there is a clause in the rental agreement stating otherwise.
If you’re a landlord?
A landlord, as a property owner, has the same responsibilities as a homeowner in removing a fallen tree from their property.
If you’re a neighbor?
If your neighbor’s tree falls onto your property, it is the responsibility of the neighbor who owned the living tree to remove it from your property.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in South Bend?
South Bend is blessed with sandy loam soil. The combination of clay, sand, and silty soils makes for some of the best conditions for growing trees. Sandy loam soil will retain moisture and essential nutrients for the tree roots to gather and send up the tree for good health and growth.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in South Bend?
Yes, the weather in South Bend does affect tree health. In 2021, a 90-foot tree had to be removed after suffering damage from a windstorm. If it had not been removed, it could have done a lot of damage by falling on its own.
South Bend sees about 81 inches of snow on average each year, according to the National Weather Service. We also have about 42 thunderstorms each year. Windstorms with winds exceeding 50 mph, like the one damaging that 90-foot tree, luckily only occurs once or twice per year. Any weather event can affect the health of the trees in South Bend.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in South Bend?
Dead trees or limbs that fall onto or threaten power lines are dangerous. If you have a dead tree or branches near a power line, you should not try to deal with it yourself. If the tree is threatening power lines from one pole to another, contact the Indiana Michigan Power Company.
If the tree is threatening the line to your house, that is your responsibility, and you should contact us for professional tree removal service. When you have scheduled an appointment to have the fallen tree removed, you should contact the power company to have the power shut off from your property while work is being performed.
If a fallen tree has downed power lines, do not hesitate to call 911 immediately.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in South Bend?
The cost of having a tree removed in South Bend is subject to a lot of variables. Estimates range from just under $400 for a tree less than 30 feet tall to over $1,250 for taller trees. Some variables include the health and condition of the tree, the height of the tree as mentioned, and its location.
Condition
Deciding to remove a tree is a big decision. But, when a tree is diseased and dying, the decision becomes an easier one. A dead tree is a hazard and should be removed, but it can be more difficult to take down than a live tree.
The wood of a dead tree is harder than a living tree. It takes longer to cut through the trunk and branches of the tree, and it is harder on the equipment to do so. The tree is no longer sound. Additional safety lines will be needed for our arborist to climb the tree and take it down safely. Removing a dead tree is more time-consuming. That combined with the wear and tear on equipment will make the job more expensive.
Height
It is common sense that a taller tree will take more time to remove than a smaller tree. Depending upon its size, a tall tree may require the use of a bucket truck for removal. The added equipment and the longevity of the removal process will make the job more expensive than a smaller tree.
Location
A tree located close to the house or garage, power lines, or other trees is a more complex process than a tree standing by itself in an open area of your yard. Obstacles make it difficult for our arborists to get to areas of the tree and extra care must be given not to damage the home, power lines, or those other trees with branches and other debris upon removal.
