Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Baton Rouge?
- 2 Does the City of Baton Rouge Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Baton Rouge?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Baton Rouge?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Baton Rouge?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Baton Rouge?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Baton Rouge?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Baton Rouge?
Fire Blight
A common tree problem in Baton Rouge and all of Louisiana is fire blight. This is one of many contagious tree diseases that affect hawthorns, apples, mountain ash, and other fruit-bearing trees. When a tree is hit with fire blight, dead leaves and fruit are the result. It gives the tree a scorched appearance, hence the name fire blight.
Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease is a tree disease caused by a fungus. It enters a tree through the feeding and breeding of the elm bark beetle. It spreads to adjacent trees through the grafted root systems. Once a tree falls victim to this disease, it is fatal and must be cut down to reduce exposure to nearby trees and shrubs.
Root Rot
Baton Rouge receives a lot of rain, hurricanes, and generally wet weather, which largely contribute to root rot. Root rot is a fungus that spreads through the soil. It attacks the roots and spreads through the tree’s whole system. Since the attack begins underground, visible symptoms often mean it’s too late to do anything about it.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery Mildew looks just like it sounds, white-powdery spots on tree leaves and foliage. It’s another fungal disease that leads to the death of the tree. It can easily spread through insect infestations and weather situations like rain and wind.
Symptoms include:
- Powdery white spots on leaves/stems/fruit
- Yellow and brown wilted discolorations on leaves, stems, and small branches
- Dried leaves
- Broken and disfigured twigs and leaves
The polyphagous shot hole borer beetle is a recent pest to the Baton Rouge landscape. This beetle spends its life boring into trees, creating cubicles where it eats and lays eggs. Their activities disrupt the flow of water and nutrients through the tree. The polyphagous shot hole borer is especially damaging because it deposits a pathogenic fungus that kills quickly as it moves through the tree.
These are the diseases and issues we most commonly see with Baton Rouge trees. Baton Rouge also sees trees destroyed from things like fire, mold, invasive insects, and invasive plants.
Does the City of Baton Rouge Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The city of Baton Rouge provides limited assistance for felled tree removal. In most situations, the property owner is responsible for any tree incidents and the damages they cause on their own real estate. When limbs fall on power lines or obstruct public view, the city will take down the tree at no charge. All other situations fall to the landowner.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Baton Rouge?
Landowners are always on the hook. While that’s pretty cut and dry, there can still be disagreements about who is responsible for limbs and felled trees. This is especially true when it comes to landlords, property managers, tenants, and neighbors. Here’s a simple guide to who is responsible when a tree falls in your Baton Rouge neighborhood, whether it’s in the Garden District or Spanish Town.
If you’re a homeowner?
Homeowners are the last stop. They hold responsibility for everything that happens on their land including felled trees. They are responsible for the clean-up and removal of the tree as well as all the damage repair. The good news is that most homeowners’ insurances have a clause for felled trees and the damage. It should cover all the damages to your home and property as well as any damages to your neighbor’s home.
If you’re a renter?
Renting your home? Then chances are you won’t hold any responsibility for a felled tree. An exception would be if the lease has a clause that the tenant is responsible for any lawn maintenance. In that case, renter’s insurance might pay for the tree removal and clean-up as well as any damages.
If you’re a landlord?
Things get trickier when it comes to property managers and landlords. A landlord may or may not be the property owner. A landlord can be the equivalent of a property manager and oversee the day-to-day activity of rental properties, but might not have any financial responsibility. In such cases, they may be responsible for the manual labor of tree removal, but the costs would lay with the landowner.
If you’re a neighbor?
Neighbors can’t be held responsible for the cost of tree removal if it isn’t their tree or if they did not cause the tree to fall.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge’s coastal plains soil can be cantankerous when it comes to supporting vegetation. Baton Rouge is fortunate to share in the rich, nutrient-filled soil of the Mississippi River basin area. It is a fruitful soil to grow trees, shrubs, flowers, and garden plants. Dark loam soil tops a few layers of silt and sedimentary rock. Although it drains well, it has some degree of trouble holding proper nutrients.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Baton Rouge?
Louisiana is used to wet weather. We get up to 80 inches of precipitation per year, sometimes more. Natural disasters are expected every few years, at least. Thunderstorms, hurricanes, flooding, and tornados are regular occurrences and all affect tree health. Strong winds uproot hundred-year-old trees like they were just planted yesterday. Flooding is another well-known friend in Baton Rouge. It can cause landslides as well as root rot, especially if the area stays saturated for extended periods.
The biggest threat Baton Rouge trees face is weather-related issues. Disease and pests are not as prevalent, though they do exist.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Baton Rouge?
If a storm has blown through and left some dead trees in your Baton Rouge neighborhood, it isn’t always your responsibility to clear it up. Dead trees caught in power lines or near a down line are not only dangerous, but also deadly. The only thing to do when a dead tree is hanging in or near the power line is to call Etnergy. A certified professional electrician is able to safely extricate a dead tree from power lines.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Baton Rouge?
Tree removal is a skill that must be learned. A person must be trained to have what it takes to pick up a chainsaw, jump in a bucket truck, and remove hanging limbs or chop up a felled tree without damaging property or injuring people. As with all trained professions, you get what you pay for. The price of tree removal services in Baton Rouge depends on some contributing factors. Typical costs are $200 in areas like Prairieville and Merrydale to $2,000 in areas like Plaquemine and Walker.
Size of the Job
A small job will cost less than a big job; that’s common sense. Small jobs with complex problems can cost more. It’s all about the scope of the job. If all you need is a small tree cleaned out of our yard, you won’t be paying much more than $200. It will cost more if the tree is big, if it’s hung up in a fence or other tree, and if any special equipment is required to get the tree cleaned up.
Larger trees and those that are complicated to extricate will cost more. There will also be extra costs for things like stump grinding and removal and log splitting. Stumps can be dug up or burned and then disposed of by chipping or burning. Fireplace owners have one silver lining in the dark cloud of a fallen tree. They get some extra firewood, especially if the tree removal company has a log splitter.
Timing
The cost of a tree removal job can fluctuate with the time of day, but also the time of year. Storms don’t obey any schedule. A limb can blow through your bedroom window at one a.m. without warning. Calling in a tree removal service outside regular business hours will cost you more. The cost of operating at this time is higher for the business, and the costs are passed on to their customers.
The time of year also affects pricing. It’s much harder to remove trees in the dead of winter or during summer’s hottest months than when late spring or autumn’s pleasant temperatures reign.
Type of Tree
The species of tree has an effect on the price to cut it down and clean it up. Oak trees are very hard, and it can cost upwards of $300 to remove an oak tree, depending on the size. Willow trees are native to Baton Rouge, and you will see them everywhere. They are technically classified as hardwood trees, but they are very soft when cut. It doesn’t take as long to cut a willow tree as something harder like an oak tree.
Bald cypress is also native to the area. Some trees may split and splinter when they are cut, causing a few extra issues. Problems like this may cause additional costs.
Accessibility
Where a tree falls has a lot to do with the price of tree service in Baton Rouge. When major equipment like bucket trucks or cranes are needed to complete the cleanup, costs will show it, but a tree that falls over in the middle of a field with no obstructions will be a piece of cake. Another factor is whether the tree falls onto a building like a well house or garden shed. Costs will be higher to clean up the extra mess.
