AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Detroit, MI

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues In Detroit?

Detroit is widely known for its American history (i.e., the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation), wildlife (the Detroit Zoo is a must-see), and beautiful landscapes like Belle Isle, Palmer Park, and the William G. Milliken State Park. However, its weather is what’s truly wonderful about the area – that is, if you like all seasons without the searing heat of summers (summer is more warm than hot) and less sun.

The best time to roam around the area and take advantage of the beautiful landscapes of Detroit is in the heart of summer, between June and September, which is a time when our trees are in full bloom and the weather is comfortable. Native Detroit trees you’ll recognize most include:

• White Oak
• Bur Oak
• Red Oak
• Kentucky Coffeetree
• Black Gum
• Hophornbeam 
• Serviceberry, Juneberry
• Alternate Leaved Dogwood
• Common Paw Paw

These trees are well-adjusted and acclimated to Detroit landscapes. However, they still often have trouble thriving in the area without additional support. This is because common tree diseases also thrive in the area, weakening many of our trees to the point of death. The most common ones to watch out for include the following. 

Anthracnose

MCU’s Gardening in Michigan Extension has been quick to reassure residents that while “many American sycamores have not leafed out well during this cold, wet spring, they should recover with warmer weather.” Anthracnose has likely infected their Sycamore trees.

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that goes after Sycamore leaves and stems, oftentimes causing new leaves to wilt and prematurely fall. It’s more prevalent in the early spring, but our warmer and drier Detroit summers typically slow the progression and abate. 

When this happens, Sycamore trees are pretty good at recovering with another round of healthier leaves. However, we often manage the disease by properly disposing of diseased leaves and pruning damaged and diseased branches. We recommend keeping your gardening tools sanitized to prevent the spread.

Oak Wilt

With native trees like white, bur, and red oak in our Detroit area, it’s no surprise oak wilt has become a problem for many of our landscapes. The fungal disease attacks the water-conducting system in oak species and spreads through root grafts and insects. In these cases, we recommend Propiconazole trunk injects, but if it isn’t caught early enough, we may need to remove it.

For early detection of oak wilt, look out for signs like wilting, discoloration, and curling of leaves, premature falling, dead crowns, and in worst-case scenarios, death.

The tree disease is so common in the area that Michigan State University’s Landscape Extension regularly gives reminders for residents to “remember the no prune dates of April 15 – July 15 to reduce the chance of oak wilt infection and spread.” They also note that red oaks are more susceptible to the disease than white oaks; red oaks can die in a matter of weeks, while white oaks can make it years after the infection.

Insects

There are also common pests in the area that feed off our native trees and sometimes lead to their fatality. According to APHIS, the most common insects in the area to harm are trees are:

• Asian Gypsy Moth – feed on North American tree and shrub species.
• Asian Longhorned Beetle – feed on hardwood trees and national forests.
• European Cherry Fruit Fly – enjoy sweet and tart cherries, but also feed on honeysuckle and dogwood trees.
• Spotted Lanternfly – feed on fruit, ornamental and woody trees.

As for ones in federal quarantine, APHIS also reports that the hungry pests called European Gypsy Moth are in Michigan and can be life-threatening to our landscapes. They typically feed off of many of our trees and shrubs and quick to spread out.

Does the City of Detroit Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

The City of Detroit only provides tree service assistance (including removals) “on trees that were rooted on city property or blocking streets and sidewalks” and gives priority to “fallen trees that are blocking streets or on top of homes and vehicles.”

Residents are required to call (313) 628-0900 if a city tree has fallen on city property and (313) 628-0900 if the tree was originally on private property but fell and is now blocking streets. Otherwise, you should call our tree experts if you have tree removal problems on your private property.

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Detroit?

Determining who is responsible for what can be unnerving, to say the least, but it doesn’t have to be. To help you decipher which parties are responsible for fallen tree removals in a given circumstance, keep reading this section.

If you’re a homeowner?

As a homeowner, you’re automatically responsible for a fallen tree on your private property. However, if the healthy tree is on multiple properties, you’re only responsible for the portion on yours, and other owners are responsible for the portion on theirs (including the City when portions are on public property). 

More potential scenarios are covered in the “neighbor” section.

If you’re a renter?

If you’re a renter, then you get to enjoy the benefit of not owning the property – meaning you have no responsibility when it comes to a fallen tree and its removal. Although, you should always discuss any signs of dying or health decline you notice with your landlords to prevent the tree from falling in the first place.

If you’re a landlord?

As a landlord, you have a lot of the same responsibilities as a homeowner, including removing a fallen tree on your property. The most obvious difference, however, is the added responsibility of your tenants.

You should always be proactive in preventing trees from falling and causing damages and injuries to renters and neighbors, especially since you likely don’t live on the property to notice the signs yourself. We recommend contacting our arborists for regular maintenance checkups and discussing with your renters the importance of letting you know of any potential problems

If you’re a neighbor?

It can get a little trickier as a neighbor, but one particular detail determines who is responsible – before falling, was the tree healthy or damaged, dead, or dying? 

If the tree fell from your neighbor’s property onto yours and was dead, dying, or damaged, then your neighbor is responsible for its removal and all expenses involved (and vice versa). However, if the tree was healthy and fell due to a natural cause, then it is your responsibility to remove the fallen tree (and vice versa).

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Detroit?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Three new soil types, Livonia, Midtown and Riverfront, were established for Detroit through [the National Cooperative Soil Survey]. Livonia is a poorly drained sandy loam covered with a surface mantle of human transported material. Midtown is a fine loam of buried soil that, like Livonia, is poorly drained. Riverfront is a well-drained soil consisting of sandy loam and covered by a thick mantle of human transported material.”

The soil type in your landscape in Detroit determines the trees that will grow more efficiently in your area. For this reason, we suggest doing soil testing to pinpoint before planting. 

For instance, the Livonia series is best for mixed hardwoods with oak, elm, and red maple, while the Midtown soil series is more acclimated for trees like silver maple, Chinese elm, boxelder, and Tree of Heaven. 

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Detroit?

Detroit weather is another contributing factor to the health of the trees in our landscapes. While our native trees are more susceptible to our environment, the weather is not always predictable or even favorable to all vegetation. 

For Detroit, the most common natural disasters include extreme heat, tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms, severe storms/thunderstorms, floods, and tornadoes. All of which can have a lasting effect on how well your trees do over the years, how long they last, and how well they perform during blooming seasons. In many cases, these natural disasters can be incredibly fatal to our landscapes.

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Detroit?

The City of Detroit states that any resident who comes in contact with a fallen tree or limb that has impacted a power line must stay away and immediately call DTE Energy’s emergency line at 1 (800) 477-4747. This includes any dead trees near power lines that pose a risk of falling and creating the same hazardous problem.

According to DTE Energy, “Two-thirds of the time our customers spend without power is due to trees,” and they recommend hiring an expert like Tree Triage for regular tree trimming and pruning to prevent outages from ever happening.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Detroit?

On average, Detroit residents pay approximately $750, with ranges often going anywhere from $275 to over $1,200. With that being said, the amount you end up paying for a tree removal service can be significantly impacted by several factors, particularly the height of the tree and any additional services you may be interested in. Here’s how and why that is.

Tree Height 

Tree height plays a big part in how much you may end up paying after your tree removal service. This is because taller trees take much more of our time, effort, and workforce to complete than a smaller tree that is typically under 30 feet – which is also why a standing tree will likely cost you as much as 50% more than one that has already fallen (most of the job is done already).

You can expect to pay around $15 more per foot of height of your tree after 30 feet, in most cases.

Hourly Rates 

Hourly rates for tree removal are fairly standard in Detroit, but complex tree systems with numerous branches and a wide top can take up more time and end up costing more in the long run.

Additional Services (Land and Lot Clearing)

When it’s all said and done (or a storm blows through), there can be a lot of tree and shrub debris on your property. These are often left up to the homeowner to take care of (including proper disposals), but we do offer services where our professionals take care of the hassle for you.

The average cost of land and lot clearing in Detroit is about $1,725 per acre. Still, it is commonly requested because vegetation disposal is jam-packed with rules and regulations that must be followed. Adding land and lot clearing to your tree removal service can be pricey, but it can also be beneficial for a hassle-free service and less chance of unintentionally breaking any laws.