Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Rochester?
- 2 Does the City of Rochester Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Rochester?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Rochester?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Rochester?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Rochester?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Rochester?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Rochester?
You spend your evenings and weekends tending to your yard and love the shade the trees provide when the temperatures soar in the summer. However, there are times when a tree needs to be removed. Here are a few types of trees we most commonly see in the yards of Rochester homes:
- Red cedar
- White cedar
- Balsam fir
- White pine
- Norway pine
- White spruce
- Red oak
- Black maple
- American elm
Some of these trees grow tall and wide, making it hard to imagine that they’d ever become diseased and need to be removed. Here are some of the most common issues that we see in trees in Rochester:
Root Rot
Root rot is a disease that trees get if their roots are submerged in too much water for too long. While Rochester sees an average rainfall that’s almost identical to the national average, the area more than makes up for it with the 48 inches—20 inches more than the national average—of snow it sees each year.
All this snow melts into the soil and can saturate the roots of the trees in your Rochester yard. When root rot sets in, there are treatments available if you catch it early. You may notice that your tree stops growing or the leaves become smaller and paler. Our team can evaluate the tree to determine if treatment is a viable option or if it needs to be removed.
Damage Due to Winter Weather
You love your white winters with all the snow but some trees might not fare so well during a hard freeze. In your yard, there might be some evergreen trees, such as cedars and firs, that fare well during the coldest winter months. Younger trees might not survive a cold winter.
You may have trees in your yard that appear to flourish again in the spring and summer. However, they might have damage under the bark and aren’t processing nutrients and water correctly.
It’s a good idea to check with our arborists to determine the trees that are mostly to grow in your yard before planting new ones. If you suspect that a tree suffered damage during the winter months in Rochester, our team can evaluate it for you.
Pest Damage
Bugs can destroy one of the trees in your yard. The most common insects and pests that we see damaging trees in Rochester include:
- Katydids
- Aphids
- Emerald ash borers
- Forest tent caterpillars
- Carpenter Bees
While insects play an invaluable role in the ecosystem in Rochester, you don’t want them to call your trees home or dinner. An insect infestation in a tree can be treated if caught early.
You may see the insects swarming on the trees or a bald patch on an otherwise healthy tree. The leaves might change colors or have small holes in them. In some cases, you might notice that there are holes or channels in the tree caused by industrious bugs. Our team is always ready to evaluate any potential damage.
Does the City of Rochester Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The city of Rochester will trim, treat, and remove any trees on public property, including the trees that line the streets. However, any trees that sit in your yard are your responsibility. The one other exception is trees that grow in an easement that belongs to one of the utility companies.
An easement is a small parcel of land, typically at the front of your yard, where utility companies run their lines above or below the ground. If a tree dies in this area, the utility company may remove it for you.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Rochester?
It’s almost always the responsibility of the homeowner to arrange and finance the removal of a tree in their yard. The exceptions are trees on public land, which might include a small strip at the front of your yard that the city will take care of in case they need removal, pruning, or treatment. Also, an easement for the utility company might have a tree that needs to be removed, and the utility company will take care of it.
If you’re a homeowner?
When you own a home in Rochester, it falls to you to remove any damaged or dying trees from your yards. Sometimes, the tree might grow on an easement owned by the city or one of the local utility companies. If this is the case, the city or utility company is responsible for removing the tree.
If you’re a renter?
When you rent a home in the city, the rental contract may require the renter to take care of the yard. However, this isn’t going to cover things, such as removing a diseased tree from the yard. If you see a tree that you think is dead or dying, you need to let the homeowner know as soon as possible.
If you’re a landlord?
If you’re a landlord, you are always the homeowner as well. The homeowner is almost always responsible for removing the tree. When the tree rests on an easement, the city of Rochester or the appropriate utility company is responsible for the tree’s removal. You can always check with the city or the utility company if you think they might be responsible for removing the tree.
If you’re a neighbor?
We wish trees would fall neatly in the yard where they grew, but this isn’t always the case. If a tree has fallen in both your yard and your neighbor’s yard, the homeowner where the tree grew is responsible for removing it. In this type of situation, it’s always a good idea to discuss with the neighbor no matter who is responsible.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Rochester?
The soil in Rochester is mostly a loamy soil type. This is actually one of the better soils for trees. While it does soak up a lot of the water from rain and snowmelt, it also drains well, too. This can help you avoid root rot in your yard. If you’re unsure about the type of soil, our team can run a soil test to better help you understand how it affects the trees on your property.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Rochester?
Yes, the weather in Rochester can affect the health of your trees. The area sees ample rainfall and above-average snow each winter. All this moisture in your soil can lead to root rot and damage to a tree.
Also, the freezing winter weather can damage or kill younger or smaller trees that aren’t evergreens. There also might be damage to trees that appear to flourish in the spring that you can’t see.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Rochester?
Dead trees on power lines are dangerous and require immediate attention from emergency services. When the dead tree is simply near a power line, it might be your responsibility to remove it as the homeowner or the power company’s responsibility. If it’s on the power company’s easement, then it’s their responsibility. Otherwise, it’s yours.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Rochester?
We often hear this question first from Rochester homeowners. However, until we evaluate your tree, we can’t provide an exact answer. We can provide you with an average cost, though. Most homeowners in the area pay around $765 for tree removal, with a low-end cost of $280 and $1,250 on the higher end. There are factors that determine the final cost of removing a tree, which we’ll discuss below.
Additional Services
Many Rochester homeowners opt to have us run the tree through a wood chipper after it’s cut down. They use the wood chips as mulch around their property. You can also have us remove the stump once we clear the tree. Both of these additional services require extra time and equipment, increasing the cost of removing the tree.
Multiple Tree Removal
The city of Rochester inspects trees for damage from the emerald ash borer. If your tree or trees are deemed infected, you must remove all of them from your Rochester yard. While removing multiple trees is a larger job, you might save money removing them at once instead of one at a time.
Size of the Tree
You might think that we cut a tree down at the base, but this isn’t how we do it. We start at the top of the tree and cut it down into sections. A tall tree or a wide one takes longer to cut down, and we need additional safety equipment and manpower.