Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Grand Haven?
- 2 Does the City of Grand Haven Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Grand Haven?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Grand Haven?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Grand Haven?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Grand Haven?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Grand Haven?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Grand Haven?
Grand Haven is a beautiful city in Ottawa County, Michigan, known for its spectacular beach gardens and well-maintained trees lining up hiking trails, streets, roads, and private properties. Some of the trees that do well in the city include the Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus, eastern redbud, American elderberry, white oak, hemlock, serviceberry, and mountain ash. Unfortunately, despite the best care and proactive maintenance, trees in Grand Haven are susceptible to attacks from destructive pests and diseases that lead to massive damage and deaths each year.
Some of the notable insects and diseases affecting trees in the city include:
- Emerald ash borer: The EAB remains the biggest threat to all species of Grand Haven trees in recent years. The beetle has been in Ottawa County since 2002 and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of trees in the city of Grand Haven. The signs of EAB include loss of leaves and dead branches on upper tree levels, increased woodpecker activity, exit holes, and bark splitting. If you suspect an EAB presence on your trees, don’t wait. Contact Tree Triage at once for an inspection, treatment, and tree removal where necessary.
- Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: The hemlock is a small aphid-like insect imported from South East Asia. The insect feeds on the sap at the base of the host tree’s needles leading to disruptions in the flow of nutrients. Typical signs of infestation include the appearance of cotton tuft-like masses on the underside of the foliage, twig dieback, premature needle drop, and thinning in the crown. Lack of water and essential nutrients causes the tree to starve to death, usually within three to ten years.
- The spotted lanternfly: This insect is the newest addition to Michigan’s invasive species watch list. The insect causes massive damage in affected trees, including wilting, leaf curling, oozing of sap, and die back. Apart from tree damage, whenever lanternflies feed, they excrete a substance known as honeydew that encourages the growth of sooty mold.
- Oak wilt: Oak wilt disease affects all species of oak trees, leading to massive damage and death. Oak wilt symptoms include discoloration of leaves, wilted or curled leaves, complete leaf drop that occurs by mid-summer, dead crowns, suckering at the tree base, and eventual death. Infected white oaks will exhibit some canopy loss and reduced vigor and may die within one year. Most live oak species defoliate and die within 3 to 6 months following the initial appearance of symptoms. On the other hand, the red oaks cannot survive oak wilt and often die within 4 to 6 weeks following the initial appearance of symptoms.
Does the City of Grand Haven Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Grand Haven has a set of tree ordinances that outline how and when your tree should be removed. There are just 20,000,000 or 501 trees per person in Grand Haven and the preservation of all trees in the area is essential. Ideally, unless the tree in question is hazardous, dead, planted too close to your property, or considered insignificant due to its small size, you will need a permit for its removal. Section 38-6 of the ordinances further states that:
- Trees not on public alleys but with branches extending over a public alley shall be trimmed by the owner of the property where they stand. The owner is also responsible for removing dead stubs and branches, which may be a menace to members of the public. The ordinances further stipulate that there shall be a clear height of 16 feet above the surface of the highway unobstructed by tree branches.
- Trees or shrubs standing on private or public property and deemed by the chief of police to be hazardous shall be removed.
However, the ordinances are silent on whether the city will provide any assistance for the removal of trees under the circumstances mentioned above. It is, therefore, safe to conclude any tree removal project in private property is the sole responsibility of the property owner.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Grand Haven?
Like the rest of the country, the city of Grand Haven is not new to boundary disputes related to trees adjoining properties. The disputes range from recovering a debt from a neighbor for overhanging branch removal to trees that affect the neighboring property, including damaging property or causing injury, or interfering with land use. To avoid these disputes, you must familiarize yourself with your responsibilities as a tree keeper. So who exactly is responsible for a fallen tree in the following scenarios? Let’s take a look:
If you’re a homeowner?
If a tree falls in your home, you are responsible for its removal and the cost of remedying any damage to the property. Ideally, your homeowner’s insurance should cover tree removal costs and damages to your primary property, fence, and any other damaged structure in your yard.
If you’re a renter?
A fallen tree is the responsibility of the landlord or the entity that owns the tree. Notably, unless expressly stated in the lease agreement, a tenant doesn’t have any right or responsibility to care for and maintain any tree on a rented property.
If you’re a landlord?
According to the city of Grand Haven Tree ordinances, the property owners are responsible for the care and maintenance of all trees on the property. As such, should a tree fall in a rented property, it will be the landlord’s responsibility to have it removed. If the tree fell from natural causes in a storm, the insurance should cover damages unless natural acts (“acts of God”) are not covered.
If you’re a neighbor?
If a tree or any part falls on your neighbor’s property due to no fault of your own such as storms, winds, hurricanes, then you are not responsible for tree removal and the cost of damage to your neighbor’s property. Notably, your neighbors’ homeowner insurance will cover the cost of removal and any damage to the property. Similarly, if your neighbor’s tree falls on your property through no fault of their own, your homeowner insurance will cover the cost of removal and any damage to the property. However, if it is established, the tree or its part fell due to your negligence will be your liability.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Grand Haven?
The Michigan state soil is Kalkaska sand. It is the most occurring soil series in Michigan, including on large swathes of Ottawa County. Kalkaska sand is a multi-layer soil composed of light sand, humus, yellowish sand, and dark sand. The soil series is well-drained and effectively filters water.
Although the soil supports the growth of various trees in the city of Grand Haven, Kalkaska soils have cavernous gaps between the particles, making it easy for water to filter down through the soil and out of the reach of the tree’s root. This characteristic can pose significant challenges during prolonged droughts when moisture in the soil becomes scanty, leading to wilting in the city’s trees. Additionally, sandy soils don’t offer much support to root systems, making trees susceptible to significant weather events, including high winds that cause trees to topple over and fall.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Grand Haven?
Different weather events in the city of Grand Haven affect trees in different ways. Ideally, the city is not new to storms that hit trees with winds from different directions leading to their eventual fall. The most typical contributors to trees falling over during storms are a compromised root system and soggy soil. Additionally, severe storms accompanied by hail cause massive damage to trees in the city. Hail damages branches and twigs, causing an array of small wounds on the tree. These wounds interrupt water flow and open passages for diseases.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Grand Haven?
Trees near power lines pose severe hazards to the community living in Grand Haven. As per the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) adopted by the state of Michigan, the city’s Utilities Company is responsible for pruning, trimming, and removing trees near power lines.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Grand Haven?
The average tree removal cost in Grand Haven is $783. However, the actual cost that property owners can range between $175 and $1,980 or more. The amount you pay is determined by several factors, including:
Size
The size of the tree will significantly determine the cost of the project. Generally, you will pay more for a large-sized tree than a smaller one. A large tree typically translates to more wood to cut and work for our removal team.
Safety
A tree near power lines and other structures costs more to remove than one located on an open field. In addition, trees that pose hazards need specialized equipment and more time to remove, leading to more costs.
Condition of the Tree
It may cost you more to remove a diseased or dead tree than a healthy and thriving one. Diseased and deadwood typically carries a high level of danger as they are far less stable and unpredictable.
