Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Covington?
- 2 Does the City of Covington Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Covington?
- 4 How Does The Soil Affect Trees In Covington?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health In Covington?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Covington?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Covington?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Covington?
Since most of the yards we see have mature trees, there are some pretty impressive trees in the Covington area. We see many native trees with a few non-natives thrown into the mix. The most common trees that we see are:
- Swamp laurel oak;
- Southern red oak;
- Nuttall oak;
- Water oak; and
- Southern live oak
Some of these trees top out at 60 to 100 feet tall. When you’re looking up at these massive trees and know that you need to remove them, you wonder what went wrong. In many cases, it isn’t anything that the homeowner did wrong. One of the most common tree issues in this area is storm activity. There are two major types of storms that we see that cause damage. These include:
Tropical storms and hurricanes
If you live in Covington, you can be at the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico in less than 20 minutes. In the fall, the Gulf of Mexico becomes a hotspot for tropical storms and hurricanes.
A tropical storm can bring wind speeds between 39 and 73 mph while a hurricane can feature wind gusts up to as high as 157 mph, depending on the category. These wind speeds can pick up your home and move it a few feet or knock a tree over.
If one of these storms stalls, it can bring abundant rainfall that leads to flooding conditions. Floodwaters can move swiftly pulling up smaller trees as it goes. It can also lead to too much water in the soil that makes your trees susceptible to root rot, a fungal disease that affects and damages trees.
Thunderstorms and tornadoes
If the hurricanes and tropical storms in the fall weren’t bad enough, the spring can bring violent thunderstorms. These storms can light up the sky with lightning and if a bolt hits one of your trees, it can split the tree in half or damage it to the point that it can’t recover.
Some thunderstorms bring tornadoes with them. Between 1950 and 2010, the Covington area saw 69 tornadoes of varying strengths. Tornadoes can pick up cars, move houses, and tear trees out of the ground by the roots. Unlike tropical storms and hurricanes, tornadoes can’t be predicted and your family might not have a lot of time to seek shelter.
A tornado can have wind speeds of up to 300 mph in the funnel and can travel long distances. You might think that you’re okay if your home isn’t in the direct path of a tornado, but that isn’t the case.
Depending on the category of the tornado, it can create a debris field of up to a mile on both the right and left sides of the funnel. It can also have a debris field of up to 50 miles behind it. This is a lot of space to damage your home and the trees in your Covington yard.
After a storm passes whether it’s a hurricane or a tornado, you need to carefully inspect the trees in your yard. Our team can evaluate any trees that you think are damaged and help you decide on their care.
Does the City of Covington Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
While the city of Covington will take care of any trees on public lands and an easement, the homeowner is expected to remove any trees on private property. If you suspect that the tree grew on an easement, you should call the city first.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Covington?
The city of Covington assigns the responsibility for a fallen tree on private property to the homeowner. There are times when the tree grows on an easement, a small bit of land towards the front of your property that’s controlled by the city or a utility company. When the tree grows in this area, you can expect the city or utility company to remove the tree.
If you’re a homeowner?
As a Covington homeowner, you are responsible for removing a fallen tree on your property. The only exception is when the tree grew on an easement. In that case, you can get the city or the utility company to remove it for you.
If you’re a renter?
You might handle the yardwork for your Covington rental home, but you aren’t responsible for removing a tree. The scope of the project is beyond maintaining the yard. It is preferred to let the homeowner know if you notice a damaged or fallen tree.
If you’re a landlord?
You might have a clause in the lease with the renter that makes them responsible for lawn maintenance. However, when it comes to fallen trees, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to remove the tree. If you’re the landlord and the homeowner, then it’s up to you to remove the tree.
If you’re a neighbor?
Sometimes, we’re called to homes in Covington where trees have fallen in the homeowner’s yard and their neighbor’s yard. This is because many of the trees are old and tall.
When you’re the neighbor, it’s almost always both homeowner’s responsibility to remove the tree from their yards. Now, if your neighbor knew the tree was sick or dying and failed to do anything about it, they might be negligent.
If your Covington neighbor was negligent in caring for the tree, they’re probably liable for any damage done to your home or property. This wasn’t an unforeseeable accident. However, you’ll spend many years living next to this neighbor, so it’s always a good idea to talk to them before taking it to the next level.
How Does The Soil Affect Trees In Covington?
The most common soil type in Covington is alluvial. This soil type can be sandy, silty, or clay-based, depending on where the sediment came from to create the soil in your yard. These soils are generally good for tree growth but might have issues draining water quickly which can lead to root rot.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health In Covington?
Yes, the weather in Covington plays a large part in the health of your trees. From the tropical storms and hurricanes in the fall to the thunderstorms and tornadoes in the spring, the weather is the most significant threat that can damage or kill your trees.
Also, Covington sees an average rainfall of 25 inches higher than the national average. All this rain can leave your tree roots submerged in water and they run the risk of developing root rot.
While you can’t control the weather, our team is ready to evaluate a tree’s condition and help you make an informed decision.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Covington?
When it comes to dead trees in your yard, you don’t want them anywhere near a power line. A dead tree on or near a power line is hazardous. When the tree is lying across the power line, it’s a possible life-threatening situation and you shouldn’t approach it. You need to call emergency services to take care of the tree and cut power to the line.
Some dead trees are close to but not on the power lines. In this case, you don’t want to risk removing it without professional help.
When a dead tree is on an easement that’s owned by the power company, then the utility company needs to remove it. Otherwise, the responsibility falls to the homeowner since the tree is on private property.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Covington?
Every Covington homeowner wants to know how much it’s going to cost to remove a tree from their yard. The cost to remove a tree ranges between $175 and $1,945 with an average of $555 in the area. Some factors affect the cost:
Tree Removal Permit
Before we can start removing a tree from your Covington yard, we first need to secure a tree removal permit from the city. This process takes time and has a cost attached to it that can raise your final bill.
Additional Services
Some Covington homeowners ask for additional services. When removing a tree, you can ask to have it run through a wood chipper. The resulting wood chips make a great mulch to use around your outdoor space. Also, you might want us to remove your tree stump.
Tree Size
In Covington, some tall trees are reaching up to 100 feet in height. These trees take more time and require additional safety measures to remove. This leads to an increase in your final price.
