AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Saint Joseph, MO

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Saint Joseph?

Saint Joseph is located on the Missouri River, near Missouri and Kansas, and just under 60 miles from Kansas City. It is home to the Pony Express Museum, along with several parks, museums, and attractions. Saint Joseph is located in Buchanan County and has been on the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA list for over 27 years.

There are plenty of trees in Saint Joseph, and of course, plenty of tree issues. Here are some of the most common reasons residents call us for tree removal in Saint Joseph.

Tree Pests

A major invasive pest that is a good reason to call our tree removal specialists in Saint Joseph is the emerald ash borer. It is an emerald color beetle that infests and feeds on ash trees. The pests spread quickly on scrap wood and firewood and have found their way to various states.

When emerald ash borers infest a tree, they defoliate and kill the tree. With ash trees making up 30-40% of the trees in many neighborhoods, this can decimate the foliage in an area. You must remove trees infested with emerald ash borers to prevent further spreading.

The Asian longhorn beetle is another invasive tree pest in Saint Joseph. The beetle prefers maple trees, including sycamore, silver, red, boxelder, sugar, and Norway maples. It can also find polar, elm, and birch a suitable host. The larval form of the beetles bore into sapwood and can cause girdling and decline until the tree dies.

The adult beetle is black with white spots and two long antennae. An infested tree will have wood shavings coming from holes in the bark and may experience defoliation due to the adult beetles feeding on leaves.

Tree Diseases

Oak decline is a prevalent disease in red and black oak trees throughout Missouri. The disease typically occurs after a dry spell or drought, late spring frost, or insect infestation. An affected tree may experience loss of aesthetic appeal, decay, borer infestation, and eventually death.

Keeping trees well nourished and watered is one way to prevent oak decline. A tree infected with the disease may be a reason to call for our professional tree removal service in Saint Joseph.

Tree Roots

If you have many trees in your yard, invasive tree roots may be a reason to contact our experts. While tree roots do not breach well-maintained pipes and foundations, they can exploit cracked foundations and pipes with leaks. Trees constantly search for water, and they will breach foundations and plumbing systems to find it. They can cause significant problems for homeowners.

Girdling roots can also be a tree root issue that commonly affects roots after a drought and roots that do not have adequate soil to grow. Roots that have difficulty finding water can circle the base of the tree. This encircling of the tree base can cut off the tree’s access to water and soil nutrients, leading to the tree’s death.

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

If you see a fallen tree, dead tree, or tipping tree on a city street, median, or right-of-way, Saint Joseph Public Works can help you remove the tree. The city public works department hauls away trees fallen on roads after storms and other events.

The City also does trimming, pruning, and tree maintenance throughout the year. You can contact the street maintenance division to report any tree problems on city property. If the tree is not on city property, Saint Joseph’s street maintenance division will not likely be able to help you.

Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Saint Joseph?

When a tree falls, it can often be challenging to determine who is responsible for tree removal. The following scenarios will help you decide whether you are responsible for tree removal in Saint Joseph.

If You’re a Homeowner?

As a homeowner, tree removal in Saint Joseph is likely your responsibility. If the tree originates on your property, you will likely be responsible for its removal if it falls on your property or a neighbor’s.

If a tree falls due to a storm, your homeowner’s insurance will likely pay for any cleanup and damage caused.

If You’re a Renter?

If you rent a home in Missouri, you are not likely to be responsible for tree removal in Saint Joseph. According to the Missouri Landlord-Tenant Rights handbook, landlords are responsible for everyday wear and tear and weather-related damage.

The only reason you would be responsible for tree removal is if the tree fell due to your deliberate actions, such as cutting down the tree, damaging it with a vehicle, or some other method.

If You’re a Landlord?

As the landlord, you would likely be responsible for most tree removals in Saint Joseph on your residential property by Missouri law. You are obligated to keep a residential property safe and habitable for your tenants.

If a tree falls due to a storm or natural causes, you would be responsible for its removal and any damage to the property. The main exceptions would come from a tree that fell from a neighboring property onto the rental property and a tree that fell due to a tenant’s deliberate actions.

If You’re a Neighbor?

As a neighbor, your responsibility is similar to a homeowner. You are responsible for trees that fall onto a neighboring property from your property, but not trees that fall onto your property from an adjacent property.

The exception would be when the tree falls due to your deliberate actions, such as unwanted cutting of a neighbor’s tree. You may also not be responsible if a tree falls from your property onto a neighbor’s property during a storm. Typically your neighbor’s homeowner’s insurance will cover the tree removal.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Saint Joseph?

Missouri has been a clay-producing state since the 19th century. Its clay soils are ideal for producing building materials like bricks. While the clays are suitable for building materials, they aren’t always the perfect growing soil.

When planting trees or caring for trees in Saint Joseph, it is essential to mix organic materials like manure into the soil. Clay holds minerals very well, and when combined with the appropriate nutrients, it can be perfect for growing a variety of trees. Mixing about an inch of organic material into your soil in the spring or fall is enough to improve the ground for a year.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Saint Joseph?

Rain can be scarce in Missouri during certain times of the year, making drought a significant problem for trees. From 2017 to 2018, a drought throughout 80% of the state risked the health of many trees.

Drought and dry conditions can cause trees to decline, especially in humid climates with low survivability in dry conditions. Drought can invite pests, disease, and fungus to affect unhealthy trees. Keeping trees well nourished and watered can prevent the short and long-term impacts of drought on trees. Declining trees are a common reason to call a tree removal specialist in Saint Joseph.

Missouri experiences 31 tornadoes on average each year. Tornadoes can break tree limbs, turning the branches and limbs into projectiles, and the most devastating tornadoes can strip bark from trees, knocking over dead trees and uproot live trees.

It is essential to have your trees pruned or trimmed before a tornado to increase the balance of the tree’s limbs and canopy. Dead trees may require removal before a tornado to prevent damage.

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Saint Joseph?

If you see a dead tree near power lines or a tree that has fallen on power lines, it is essential to avoid trying to handle the situation on your own. Contact the electrical utility company immediately. The electrical utilities in Saint Joseph are managed by Evergy, a company headquartered in Kansas City.

Evergy is busy helping its service areas with tree removals after storms. They also take preparation seriously and routinely trim trees near the power lines to prevent costly outages and hazards. Trimming can reduce outages by up to 60% and is vital to maintaining the power lines. If you notice any trees that might need trimming or removal near the power lines, you can call Evergy.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Saint Joseph?

Tree removal can range in cost depending on several factors, but you can expect to pay between $250 and $1,750 in most cases. There are three critical factors for determining the cost of tree removal in Saint Joseph.

Conditions

The tree’s condition can have a significant impact on the cost of tree removal in Saint Joseph. For instance, we would expect a tree that has already fallen to cost less to remove than a still-standing tree, as long as the fallen tree has not resulted in costly damage.

You would expect to pay more for a standing tree because it takes more work to remove the tree. We must also avoid any hazards a standing tree can pose while it is being removed. Standing trees risk falling limbs and can fall in unintended directions without the necessary preparation.

If the tree has a disease or pest, we must also take precautions to ensure that the insect or condition does not spread to other trees nearby when we are removing the tree. We may need to treat the trees nearby with pesticides, fungicides, or another treatment.

Size

The size of a tree can also impact the cost of tree removal. A large tree has large limbs and branches that may fall during the removal. The tree also has a greater chance of falling and damaging property if it is not adequately prepared for removal.

Removing the larger tree also requires more cleanup. It will take longer to clean the debris and pieces of the tree trunk. It can also take several large vehicles to haul the debris away.

Safety

Safety is a significant factor in the cost of tree removal in Saint Joseph. Our number one goal is removing a tree safely, so we take it seriously. When there are people and property around a tree removal, it increases the hazards associated with removal.

We must ensure the safety of any homes, vehicles, patios, and of course, people passing by. Taking these safety precautions can increase our preparation time, as we may have to secure the area and close off nearby walkways to prevent passers-by from entering the work zone.