Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Bowling Green?
- 2 Does the City of Bowling Green Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Bowling Green?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Bowling Green?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Bowling Green?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Bowling Green?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Bowling Green?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Bowling Green?
Bowling Green benefits from a huge variety of tree species. Driving around town, you’ll find maples, magnolias, hemlocks, cherries, birch, hawthorns, and so many more. The diversity of our tree population is part of what makes our town so beautiful. And while most of these trees are healthy, not all trees are so lucky. Here are some of the most common tree issues we encounter in Bowling Green:
- Overgrowth– Trees like it here in Bowling Green, and sometimes they like it a little too much. Where a tree grows and how much it grows can be a real concern for Bowling Green property owners. Trees may become a nuisance, such as dropping leaves into a swimming pool or pond. They can even become dangerous if they have large branches looming over your roof. You should consider removing trees that cause damage to your property or which could pose a risk to your health and safety.
- Diseases– There are several common diseases that plague trees in Kentucky. These include needle cast disease, which targets pine trees. Dogwood anthracnose will quickly cause dogwood trees to die back to their main trunk. Even oak wilt is common, which travels from oak to oak via small beetles. Sometimes these diseases are easily treated if caught early enough. In other cases, the best treatment may be to remove the infected tree before it can spread the disease to other trees nearby.
- Storm damage– We get plenty of hot and humid weather here in Bowling Green, but we also get our fair share of storms. These storms can bring a lot of wind, rain, and lightning, all of which can damage the tree population. Severe winds can knock off large tree limbs or even uproot a mature and otherwise healthy tree. Lightning can actually kill a tree immediately, and despite that old saying, it can strike twice. Storm damage can leave trees vulnerable to disease in the future, too, so it’s important to inspect and trim storm-damaged trees right away.
Does the City of Bowling Green Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Bowling Green is responsible for the maintenance of street trees or trees in rights-of-way. These are typically located between the curb and your sidewalk. While these trees are on your property, the city will maintain them regularly. If you have concerns about a tree in a right-of-way, then you can contact the city’s Tree Maintenance team and report it. They will make any hazardous trees a priority in their maintenance rotation.
If the tree is in your yard, though, and not along the street, then that tree is your responsibility. You’ll need to hire a professional tree removal service in Bowling Green to help you remove it.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Bowling Green?
If your tree falls into your neighbor’s yard, are you responsible for it? What if you are a landlord or a renter? Because of the vast tree population in Kentucky, this is a common question, and thankfully state law provides the answers.
If you’re a homeowner?
If your tree falls into your neighbor’s yard and damages their property, in most cases, you won’t be responsible for it. Your neighbor will need to hire a tree removal service to get rid of the tree and the debris.
However, if you knew the tree was a safety risk, then you may be liable for damages in a court of law. That means you either knew the tree was damaged or weakened or hadn’t maintained it properly. This can be difficult to prove, but it’s probably in your best interests to work out a compromise with your neighbor on the cost of cleanup.
If you’re a renter?
Renters occupy nearly 60% of houses in Bowling Green. If you are one of them, it’s important to know that you are not responsible for the care of the trees on your rented property. Your landlord or their property management company should maintain the trees, including removal of the tree falls over. If the tree damages your personal property or vehicle, you should be able to make a claim for it on your renters’ insurance or car insurance policy.
If you’re a landlord?
Landlords are responsible for the trees on their rental properties, even in the case of a long-term lease. So if a tree falls over, you’ll need to pay for its removal for your tenant. You shouldn’t be responsible for any damages, though, unless you had prior knowledge that the tree was diseased or otherwise weakened.
If you’re a neighbor?
If your neighbor’s tree falls into your property, it’s unlikely that they’ll be responsible for the damage. The law protects homeowners from “acts of God,” so they can’t be responsible for something they didn’t expect to happen. However, if your neighbor knew the tree was a safety risk, they may be liable. This can be difficult (and expensive) to prove in court, though, so you may be better off working out a compromise with your neighbor instead.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Bowling Green?
Bowling Green has great soil for trees. Our area benefits from having a type of soil called Crider soil, which is also the official state soil. Crider soils are high in nutrients, so they provide a wide variety of trees with the minerals required to put on new foliage, flowers, and growth each year. Crider soils also drain really well, which is fortunate as Kentucky averages nearly 50 inches of rain a year. Good drainage means tree roots get plenty of moisture without getting too wet, which can cause root rot.
In general, the soil here is rich enough to maintain your trees without too much fuss. Adding a few inches of compost to your soil each year can help it stay nutrient-rich and aid in tree growth.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Bowling Green?
Most years, the most extreme weather we get in Bowling Green is a severe thunderstorm. Occasionally, though, Bowling Green residents will experience the effects of a tornado. Whether it’s heavy rain or a funnel cloud, though, these weather conditions can affect tree health negatively. They can knock off limbs, split trunks, and even result in lightning strikes that outright kill the tree.
In general, though, Kentucky weather is good for our tree population. We have a good mix of sunshine, rain, and humidity to feed the tree population. That’s part of the reason you’ll see such diversity in the tree population and so many prime examples of each species.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Bowling Green?
Emergencies such as:
- A tree coming into contact with a power line
- Tree limbs causing sparks from power lines
- A tree falling onto a power line
- A fallen tree blocking an alley or street
should be reported to 911 immediately. They will dispatch a tree to remove the tree and repair the electrical lines. You should stay away from both the tree and the power lines, even if you believe the lines are inactive.
In non-emergency situations, such as:
- Trees growing too close to power lines
- Dead trees near power lines
- Damages trees near power lines
You’ll need to call Bowling Green Municipal Utilities. You can give them a call or fill out the report form on their website.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Bowling Green?
The cost of tree removal in Bowling Green will vary, running between $250 and $1,200. On average, homeowners pay around $700 for tree removal. Your cost will depend on:
How Big the Tree Is
Size matters in tree removal. The bigger your tree, the more it will cost to remove it. Flowering dogwoods, a common tree in Bowling Green, grow to be about 30 feet high. That makes them relatively easy to remove, so you’ll pay at the lower end of the scale. Loblolly pines, on the other hand, can grow to be 90 feet tall. That makes them much more difficult to remove, so you’ll pay more for the service.
The Location of the Tree
It doesn’t matter if you are in Shawnee Estates or the College Hill Historic District. What matters here is where your tree is specifically located on your property. Trees closer to structures like houses and garages are more difficult to remove, so they’ll cost more. Trees crowded in with other trees, or near power lines are more dangerous to remove, so they also cost more. Your tree removal team will evaluate the site when they initially visit your property and determine how complex the removal will be.
If the Removal Is an Emergency
Emergency tree removal will cost more than standard tree removal, so prepare to pay a surcharge for the service. Demand for tree removal in Bowling Green goes up after a big storm, too. Removal teams will be under pressure to get to all the households that require their services. If you can wait, you might get a better deal for your patience. However, some removals can’t wait, so don’t sacrifice your safety for a good deal. Call a removal team right away.