AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Winston-Salem, NC

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem is home to hundreds of tree species. Maple, cypress, honeylocust, hemlock, ash, magnolia, elm, oak, dogwood, hawthorn, juniper, birch, alder, and cedar all come in different species. However, the trees are under constant threats that stem from various causes, with the most typical troubles being pest infestation, diseases, and harsh weather.   

Pest Infestation

From species-specific beetles such as emerald ash borer to ants and termites that gnaw anything woody, tree pests in Winston-Salem come in many forms. Emerald ash borer has been responsible for the death of many ash trees around. Deriving its name from its behavior of boring into tree barks to extract the sap, these beetles are highly ruinous. Though most infestations can be treated with early detection, a tree’s death becomes apparent if the infection exceeds 50%. 

Once the beetles sap the life out of a tree until there’s no more sap to feed on, they relocate to other trees and continue with their destruction. Early treatment or prevention can be achieved through various ways, such as soil and trunk injection, or bark and cover spray, all of which our arborists are equipped to complete.

Ants and termites are also common and immensely destructive, with the hot and humid Winston-Salem climate making it conducive for them to thrive. Other bark beetles and wood borers are also prevalent, inflicting various trees. 

Tree Diseases

Tree diseases affecting Winston-Salem trees range from fungal and bacterial infections to weather-caused conditions such as root rot. The most common ones include; leaf spot, root rot, and powdery mildew.

Powdery mildew is a fungal infection, which is characterized by a dusty white or gray coating on the leaves. It’s more prevalent among fruit trees, though it’s not uncommon to spot it on other tree species. 

Root rot is weather-caused, inflicting trees (junipers, dogwoods, hemlocks, etc.) mostly during wet and cold weather. Usually, drought-stressed trees are more susceptible to root rot as their roots are already damaged from a lack of water. Nonetheless, even over-irrigating trees can lead to root rot, especially if you’ve planted them in poorly drained soils. 

Harsh Weather

Whenever the rainy seasons draw near, we often prepare ourselves for the apparent incidents. Falling trees, downing power lines and blocking traffic, and lighting striking down trees are common incidents that characterize wet Winston-Salem weather. 

Though the city, through the Urban Forestry department, is proactive in ensuring the city is rid of hazardous trees, sometimes the tragedies are beyond human control. Some parts of the city are more susceptible to lightning strikes, while high winds traverse across the region, uprooting trees and snapping branches.  

Does the City of Winston-Salem Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

The city of Winston-Salem runs a vegetation management faction, Urban Forestry Program, whose responsibility is to maintain landscapes and trees in parks and rights-of-way. In case you come across hazardous trees, i.e., dead or dying trees, pest-infested or diseased trees, trees overhanging utility lines, or distracting traffic, you can notify the city for treatment and removal remedies.  

The city’s tree ordinances require private property owners to maintain their trees, including removing any hazardous trees. Where landowners neglect their trees, the city has a right to demand their removal. If the owner fails to heed the instruction, the city can enter the private property and treat the trees or remove them if they are beyond salvaging.

Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Winston-Salem?

Maintaining trees on private land is the property owner’s responsibility. This includes removing trees that fall without damaging property. Where a tree’s trunk stands on a property boundary, the owners have a joint obligation to remove it. However, if the tree damages property covered under a homeowners’ policy, the responsibility applies as follows:

If you’re a homeowner?

The city obligates homeowners to care for their plants, including removing fallen trees. If the tree damages an insured property, part of the homeowners’ insurance compensation should cover the removal costs.

If you’re a renter?

Removing fallen trees on the rented property is the landlord’s responsibility. If the tree damages the property, the property insurance compensation should cater to the removal costs. In instances where the tree damages your personal belongings, such as your car or household items, the respective covers should compensate for the damages. That is your motor insurance and renters’ insurance, assuming you have one.

If you’re a landlord?

Unless you own rental property in a managed community that restricts the removal of trees by homeowners, removing fallen trees is your responsibility. However, your insurer can pick the bill if the tree destroys the property. 

If you’re a neighbor?

Your neighbor is responsible for the care of their trees. However, if the tree falls across the fence and damages your home, they’re not responsible for the destruction or the removal costs thereof. In this case, you should seek out your insurer to compensate you and cover the removal costs. However, the insurance company can pursue the neighbor to recover their loss if they learn the tree had been neglected. 

If the tree falls on your yard and does not cause any property damage, you can talk to the neighbor to clear the debris or the community manager if you’re in a managed community where tree maintenance falls under HOA.      

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Winston-Salem?

Trees require conducive soil conditions to thrive. Optimal soil properties often include well-drained, deep soils with a neutral pH. Essentially, soils are formed by combining various particles of different textures, giving them the necessary properties. 

Main soil grains include clay, silt, and sand. Clays soils usually have a higher content of clay particles, while sandy soils contain more sand grains. Loam soils combine the three grains in equal quantities. The latter are more preferred as they are well-drained.

Sandy soils are fast-draining and require treatment before planting trees. Usually, this involves adding organic matter to increase the soil’s water and nutrient retention ability. On the other hand, poorly drained clay soils are prepared by raising beds to improve their drainage. This helps avert issues such as root rot and other infections, which are prevalent in such soils. 

Generally, Winston-Salem soils are acidic, meaning they have a low pH. While some trees adapt in acidic soils, most prefer a balanced pH. This is often achieved through liming the soil before planting the trees.                   

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem weather does affect trees in various ways. To begin with, the Piedmont region receives high winds that dry the foliage, thereby causing them to fall mid-season. Leaves are an essential part of a tree as they help in food production, in a process commonly known as photosynthesis. Without the leaves, trees often use stored up food. So, when this happens mid-season, it interrupts a tree’s normal cycle.

Storms are often accompanied by other extreme conditions, such as the recent freezing rains that fell trees across forests and neighborhoods in the region. Other areas are more prone to lightning that falls and snaps trees. Even where trees are sturdy enough to withstand these conditions, the roughing up affects the overall tree health. Consequently, stressed trees, whether from starvation, drought, or other weather extremes, are more susceptible to disease and pest infestation.         

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Winston-Salem?

Vegetation management along power lines is primarily the responsibility of utility companies. However, the city of Winston-Salem closely supervises its activities, which include trimming vegetation and removal of hazardous trees. Utility companies such as Duke Energy have a proactive vegetation management policy that ensures trees along the power lines do not pose a safety hazard. They usually have an ongoing permit that allows them to remove any dead trees near the lines.  

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Winston-Salem?

In Winston-Salem, tree removal cost ranges between $200 and $1200 in most cases, with the majority of jobs costing around $700. However, larger or more complicated trees can total closer to $2,000. This excludes stump removal cost, which would cost between $100 and $250, depending on its depth.  Essentially, we charge tree removal based on the following factors. 

Size

Tree size is the main factor we consider when quoting a tree removal project. For smaller trees like a Japanese maple, we charge less than, say, a hedge maple. On the other hand, a tree with a thick trunk, such as white oak, costs more than the slimmer pine trees due to the heavy work involved. For instance, a 10-foot tree can cost around $250, while removing a 60-foot tree will typically cost more than $1,250.

Location 

The tree’s location also plays a crucial role in its removal cost. Trees near structures, cliffs, or rivers are more difficult and riskier to remove than those in an open field. While our crew can climb up the tree and rope down pieces in an open area, this may not be possible for trees in a hard-to-access location. In the latter, additional equipment such as a bucket truck or crane would be required to remove the trees safely, which adds up to the cost.       

Tree Condition

Finally, we may charge you more if your tree is unhealthy or dead. This is because dead and unhealthy trees are dangerous and unsafe for our teams to climb up. As such, removing them requires using extra equipment; hence you should expect to pay more. 

We also charge different amounts for fallen trees, depending on the situation. For example, trees that have fallen on the open field usually cost less than those on top of structures.