Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Hickory?
- 2 Does the City of Hickory Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Hickory?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Hickory?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Hickory?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Hickory?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Hickory?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Hickory?
Like all living things, trees are susceptible to several issues that can have a lasting effect on their health and well being. Trees can be affected by insect infestations as well as diseases and infections. Some of the most common issues with trees in Hickory include:
Gypsy Moths
These destructive little moths are responsible for defoliating over a million acres of forest every year. They’re partial to oak, birch, elm, and maple leaves, feeding voraciously until every branch of the tree is bare.
Spruce Budworms
The larvae of this tree damaging insect hatches by the thousands each year, and they immediately begin feasting on the new growth of spruce and fir trees. A sure sign of a budworm infestation is a droopy limb with large patches of needles missing.
Asian Longhorn Beetles
This boring insect lays its eggs in tree bark. The larvae dig deep holes in the wood. Over time, an infestation of these insects can cause disruption to the tree’s vascular system. The tree cannot get what it needs to survive, it rots from the inside out, falls apart, and dies.
Root Rot
Several tree diseases are associated with fungi attacking the root system. Oftentimes, trees suffering from root rot have visible signs such as white fan-like mycelial growth under the bark, cylindrical fungi, or brown mushrooms growing from the tree roots and base.
Does the City of Hickory Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
As with most cities across the country, Hickory does not assist with removing trees from private property. Any time a tree needs to be removed, you’re responsible for taking care of the necessary details. If the tree is growing on public land, an easement, or other city-owned property, it’s not something you need to worry about. If you see a dead tree, broken branches, signs of disease, or any other issue with a tree on public land, contact the Hickory Public Services Department to file a report.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Hickory?
You may expect that if it’s your tree, and it falls, it’s your responsibility to clean up the mess and repair the damages. But the truth is, the liability for a fallen tree is not determined by which Hickory lawn it grows in. What matters more is the condition and health of the tree prior to it falling. If the tree is healthy, it’s up to the property owner that the tree falls on to clean up. If the tree is dead or dying, it’s up to the tree owner to remove it, so it’s not a danger to others. If the tree is neglected, the liability falls on the tree owner if it falls.
If you’re a homeowner?
If one of your trees falls and lands entirely on your Hickory property, you’ll be the one calling us and arranging for tree removal services. You’ll have to take care of all the branches, limbs, and wood, as well as the tree stump. If it falls onto your neighbor’s property, however, it’s going to be up to them to have the debris removed. That is, as long as the tree was visibly healthy before it fell. If it was sick, you’re going to have to pay. Your homeowners’ insurance should help pay for tree removal and damages.
If you’re a renter?
In Hickory and the rest of North Carolina, you’re generally not responsible for trees that are damaged, diseased, or dead on a property that you rent. If a tree is dead, or looks like it’s diseased, it’s your responsibility to notify the landlord. However, the landlord or property management company should handle tree removal and clean-up if a tree falls. If there’s damage to your personal property, you’ll want to contact your agent to file a claim with your renter’s insurance.
If you’re a landlord?
Your first priority as a landlord in Hickory is to make sure that your tenants are safe. Trees that are diseased, infested with insects, overgrown, or otherwise compromised are a serious danger. You’re obligated to maintain the trees, trimming dead branches, and removing dangerous limbs that could harm tenants or damage property. If a tree falls on your rental property, you’re going to need to call us quickly to get the tree removed so the property is safe again.
If you’re a neighbor?
Trees don’t understand property lines, but if a neighbor’s tree falls on your property, is it your neighbor’s fault? That’s not the easiest question to answer because it’s not a simple situation. It goes back to the health of the tree when the damage occurred. If you can prove the tree was dead, diseased, or dying beforehand, and they didn’t remove it, then yes, it’s probably their responsibility. If it’s a seemingly healthy tree that blew over due to high winds and heavy rains from a strong storm, it’ll likely be up to you to remove it yourself.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Hickory?
Cecil soils are the most common North Carolina soils and probably one of the most important soils in the state. It’s a well-drained soil that’s well suited for trees and other plant growth. In addition, red clay, sandy loam, and rocky soil are common in Hickory. For the most part, trees do well here, but life isn’t without its challenges. In fact, the very soil the trees grow in can also be detrimental to their health and wellbeing.
For example, although Cecil soils are well-drained, they aren’t necessarily very fertile. Especially when heavy rains come in, trees can suffer from malnutrition. When high clay content is present, the clay can absorb the moisture and expand, causing tree roots to shift, break, and the tree may even be uprooted. Rocky soils are also very infertile, again, challenging the trees and making it difficult to prosper.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Hickory?
The weather in Hickory is fairly mild most of the time. It’s rare for a severe weather event to occur here, but that doesn’t mean it never happens. In spring and summer, severe thunderstorms can produce strong winds, hail, heavy rains, and lightning. A deluge of water and strong enough winds can cause large, mature trees to topple. In the winter months, ice storms can cause devastating damage to trees.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Hickory?
When it comes to dead trees and power lines, it doesn’t matter if it’s on your property or city property. If you spot a tree that appears to be dead near a power line in Hickory, step back and make sure no one else gets near it. Never attempt to climb the tree, a ladder, or any other structure to get a better look at the situation, it’s just dangerous.
As soon as possible, you should contact Duke Energy and let them know what you’ve found and its exact location. They’ll send a crew out with the proper equipment to safely trim the dead branches or remove the tree so nobody gets hurt and loses power.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Hickory?
The average cost of having a tree removed in Hickory is about $700, but that’s just an average and not a very good way to estimate your costs. There’s no way our arborists can say how much it will cost to have a tree removed from your Hickory property without first seeing the tree. We can say that every tree is different, every yard is unique, and every tree removal job is priced according to several factors including:
Size Really Does Matter
The bigger a tree is, the more dangerous it is to fell and the more difficult it is to manage the logs, branches, and limbs. Trees that are very tall, have large diameter trunks, or very large branches require additional rigging and heavy equipment to safely bring them down. As you can imagine, all that extra equipment requires additional crew members to handle it all. The bigger the tree, the more debris as well. That all adds up to a larger tree removal bill.
Location, Location, Location
They say that it’s all about the location in real estate and the same holds true when you’re talking about tree removal in Hickory. If a tree is in a fairly easy-to-access location, no problem, the job is quick. But a tree that’s between structures, or in an otherwise precarious position, presents a host of challenges. Even if a tree isn’t particularly large, we may need to bring in heavy equipment and additional rigging to remove the tree without causing damage to the structures.
Stump Grinding and Removal
Perhaps you’ve had a tree removed so you can build an addition onto your home. There’s plenty of space in the open area, except for one big problem. The tree stump is so big and it sticks up so far out of the ground that there’s no way to work around it. Generally, the cost of removing a tree does not include stump removal which can add several hundred dollars to your tree removal bill. However, it’s necessary since a tree stump left in place can attract wood-eating pests like termites, fungus, and other nasty things that can harm your other trees or your home.
