Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in South Saint Paul?
- 2 Does the City of South Saint Paul Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in South Saint Paul?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in South Saint Paul?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in South Saint Paul?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in South Saint Paul?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in South Saint Paul?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in South Saint Paul?
In South Saint Paul, many of the homes have yards with mature trees. These trees provide shade in the summer and a quiet place to read in a hammock. The trees in your yard probably include both native and non-native ones. Here are a few of the trees that we see most commonly:
- Red cedar
- Balsam fir
- Hemlock
- White pine
- Jack pine
- Red pine
- Black spruce
- White spruce
- Eastern larch
- American larch
Some of these trees grow to massive heights, which might leave you wondering what happens when one of them needs to be removed. Here are a few of the reasons that we need to remove trees in the South Saint Paul area:
Damage From Disease
Although your trees aren’t going to get sick during cold and flu season, there are diseases that can affect them, causing damage and death. In most cases, there’s little you can do to help keep your trees safe from disease, but you can remove sick trees to prevent the spread of illness to other trees on your property. The most common diseases that we see in the South Saint Paul area include:
- Anthracnose
- Leaf Blister
- Leaf Rusts
- Leaf Spots
- Needle Casts
- Needle Rusts
- Pine Needle Blight
- Powdery Mildew
- Root Rot
When one tree gets infected with one of these diseases, it’s entirely possible that the tree passes the sickness on to other trees in the immediate vicinity. Not all of these diseases pass easily from one tree to the next, but some do. You can treat most of these diseases if they’re caught early. Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
- Sudden lack of growth
- New leaves and limbs grow smaller than normal
- Bald patches where the bark is missing
- Obvious signs of weakness between the limb and trunk
- Oddly shaped or colored leaves
- Fungus or other substances growing on the trunk
- Powdery substance on leaves and limbs
If you suspect a tree suffers from a disease, our team can diagnose and treat the tree if possible. Otherwise, we can guide you through the process of removing it.
Damage from Winter Weather
With an average snowfall of more than 45 inches and snow on the ground at least 100 days out of every year, Saint South Paul sees many days with below-freezing temperatures. The area endures winter temperatures in the single digits or the mid-teens throughout most of the season.
These freezing temperatures can create a condition known as a hard freeze. As the number of days with below-freezing temperatures add up, the moisture in your soil freezes. This means that the trees in your yard can no longer access the moisture and nutrients they need to survive.
Some trees, such as evergreens, don’t suffer much during this type of extreme weather, although a young sapling might not survive the winter. In the spring months, your trees should grow new leaves and begin flourishing.
You might have a tree that fails to bounce back from the winter temperatures and needs to be removed. It’s possible that another tree might appear to bounce back only to wither and die before the summer ends.
When this happens, it’s because a part of the tree died during the hard freeze. The dead portion of the tree can no longer process nutrients. Eventually, the entire tree begins to fail to process nutrients and dies.
If you think a tree isn’t bouncing back in the spring, our team is ready to evaluate its condition.
Does the City of South Saint Paul Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
On public lands, the city of South Saint Paul will remove any trees that present a hazard. This might include an easement the city keeps on your property to build sidewalks and other reasons. A local utility might also hold an easement for a small parcel on your property and need to remove the tree. However, when the tree grows on private property, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to deal with its removal, including the financial aspect.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in South Saint Paul?
South Saint Paul has some strict rules that make the homeowner responsible for the care of the trees and other greenery in their yards. This includes removing a fallen tree. However, there might be an easement on your property.
Typically, this is a small area of land close to the street that the city or a utility maintains the right to use for sidewalks, cables, pipes, and other things. If a tree that grew on an easement falls, you can get the city or a local utility company to remove it. Read on to explore who’s responsible for tree removal in other common situations:
If you’re a homeowner?
As the homeowner, you’re almost always responsible for removing a tree from your South Saint Paul yard. This is because the area is considered private property. Sometimes, a fallen tree grew on an easement. If this is the case, you can get the city or one of the utility companies to take responsibility for removing it.
If you’re a renter?
Sometimes, when you rent a home, the landlord requires you to tend to the chores of keeping the yard in tip-top shape. Even if this is written into your lease, the chores don’t include the removal of a fallen tree in the South Saint Paul yard. The responsibility remains with the homeowner. However, you do need to appraise the homeowner of any damaged or fallen trees as soon as you notice them.
If you’re a landlord?
If you’re a landlord, you’re also the homeowner. When you’re the homeowner in South Saint Paul, you need to handle the removal of the tree. This is the case, even if the tenant agreed to take care of the yard. A fallen tree is too large of a chore and a financial obligation for your renter.
If you’re a neighbor?
It rarely happens that a tree falls in its yard only. We usually see fallen trees that don’t understand property lines and cover two or more yards. In this case, it matters where the tree once grew. If it grew in your neighbor’s yard, they should take care of its removal and vice versa.
In some cases, the homeowner was negligent about caring for the tree. Negligence can create liability if there is damage to the other person’s home or property when a tree falls. We always recommend that the homeowners talk to each other in this type of situation.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in South Saint Paul?
The soil type we find most often in South Saint Paul is Histosols. This is a soil type that’s made up of organic components. This soil might have a negative effect on your trees. That’s because, while the soil absorbs well, it doesn’t drain as quickly as it should. This might leave your trees at risk for one of the common tree diseases.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in South Saint Paul?
Yes, you can expect the South Saint Paul weather to have an effect on the health of your trees. All the snow and extreme temperatures can damage or kill a tree while the additional moisture from all the snow and rain can lead to diseases because the roots stay wet too much of the time.
Storms can also damage a tree. When lightning hits a tree, it can cause severe damage or kill it. Occasionally, South Saint Paul sees blizzards, and the weight of the snow can snap limbs and affect the overall health of the tree.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in South Saint Paul?
When you see a dead tree that’s fallen onto a power line, you must immediately call emergency services and stay away from it. This is a hazardous situation until the power to the line is cut.
You might notice that one of the trees near a power line has died. If the tree grew on an easement owned by the power company, you can expect them to remove it.
As always, if the tree grew on private property, the responsibility of its removal remains with the homeowner. Regardless, never approach a fallen tree near a power line and try to handle it yourself, as it can be an extremely dangerous situation.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in South Saint Paul?
Homeowners always want to know how much it’s going to cost. In South Saint Paul, we see a range of costs between $200 and $1,910 in most cases, with the average bill coming in around $700.
On the good news side, the city doesn’t require a permit to remove trees. However, there are other cost factors that affect your final bill.
Tree Size
It takes longer for our crew to cut down a particularly tall or wide tree than a smaller one. This includes the extra safety precautions needed to protect our team members and your home.
Tree Location
We don’t stand at the bottom and chop your tree down. We need to climb to the top and carefully remove it in sections. When a tree is close to your home or another tree, it takes additional measures to ensure the tree doesn’t damage the house or other trees in the area.
Other Services
South Saint Paul homeowners request other services when we remove a tree, such as removing the stump and chipping the tree. The wood chips are often used as mulch in the yard. These services take additional time and equipment to complete.
