Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Omaha?
- 2 Does the City of Omaha Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Omaha?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Omaha?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Omaha?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Omaha?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Omaha?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Omaha?
Omaha is a nature-filled city that’s known for its green thumb. Located on the Missouri River, its soil is extremely sandy and prone to erosion caused by wind and water. The sandy soil leaves the trees throughout Omaha vulnerable to many diseases and pests. Trees in the area can be difficult to grow if not properly maintained, and common diseases make it difficult to produce types of trees that are not native to the area.
Common Diseases in Omaha Trees
Diplodia Blight
Previously known as Sphaeropsis tip blight, Diploadia blight is a fungal disease that causes stress to ornamental trees, such as pines, that drought has already weakened, hail or snow has damaged, has its roots restricted, and more. The disease can stunt the growth of young trees and often leaves behind a white residue on dead branches. Pines are most commonly the target of Diploadia, but the disease has also caused damage to firs, spruce, and other evergreen trees.
Chlorosis
A deadly killer to many trees, Chlorosis is the decaying and yellowing of leaf tissue caused by a lack of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll deficiency can be caused by inadequate root systems, lack of nutrients, high alkalinity, limited drainage, and more. This disease can stunt growth and limit a tree’s ability to produce flowers, fruit, or seedlings. Symptoms include paling of the leaves, and when left untreated, the branch of a tree may die.
Common Omaha Insect Predators
Bagworms
Posing as a threat to trees that lose their leaves in the winter, bagworms can cause defoliation by chewing holes into leaves. Additionally, bagworms will wrap their silk around twigs when building their bags on, which causes breakage and can be damaging over time.
Tent Caterpillars
Known for killing trees by eating their leaves and causing defoliation, tent caterpillars aren’t the whole reason many trees die off. When these pests eat leaves, they’re putting stress on trees and leaving them vulnerable to fungi and other diseases that become harmful. Defoliation reduces a tree’s ability to grow and manufacture needed food.
Emerald Ash Borer
Targeting Ash trees, the EAB was initially found in Michigan in 2002 and has since spread across all but seven states in the US. The beetle is a highly invasive insect and threatens devastating damage to Nebraska’s 40 million+ Ash trees, where 6,400+ are in Omaha. The adult beetles feed on ash foliage while larvae feed on the inner bark. The damage these bugs cause limits a tree’s ability to transfer nutrients and water, leading to dehydration and eventually weakening the tree’s internal structure.
Does the City of Omaha Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Due to the Emerald Ash Borer’s growing risk with Ash trees, the city of Omaha recently put together a removal program for Ash trees infested by the beetle in public places. This department does not handle infestations on private property but can offer advice when treating EAB. Unfortunately, many long-term goals of treating EAB have not made enough progress to avoid removing many of the Ash trees throughout the city. The only time the town will remove an Ash tree from private property is when it is a last resort and poses a threat to public safety.
The city of Omaha does not assist in tree removal on property other than public areas unless it could damage or uproot sidewalks and public property.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Omaha?
Tree removal responsibility can be a sticky situation when trying to determine if you’re liable for the removal or your neighbor is. Fortunately, Omaha is pretty straightforward with whose responsibility it is. The only variables that change who needs to handle the removal are whether the tree fell from natural causes or lack of care and maintenance and if you could have avoided it.
If You’re a Homeowner?
Trees located with the stump on your property are your responsibility to take care of. If a tree falls on a neighboring property due to a storm or unexpected weather, then you are not liable for damages caused. However, you will need to take care of having the parts of the tree removed that are on your property. When the fallen tree is on both sides of the line, it can be beneficial to try and work with your neighbor to use the same arborist to save on costs.
If You’re a Renter?
Unless stated in your lease agreement, the responsibility of fallen trees falls on the landlord or owner of the property. If your agreement suggests that you maintain more than standard landscape, such as trimming limbs and pruning trees, the law may hold you partially liable for damages caused by a tree that didn’t fall naturally.
If You’re a Landlord?
For trees that fall outside of natural causes, it is your responsibility as a landlord to handle damages caused by lack of reasonable care to trees you’re aware could be a risk.
If You’re a Neighbor?
Unfortunately, in Omaha, if a neighboring tree falls from natural causes onto your property and causes damages, the homeowner next door is not responsible for the cost of damages or held removing the tree. You may find it beneficial to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance in situations like this.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Omaha?
A loess compound makes up the soil in Omaha, a yellowish-gray deposit of windblown sediment composed of quartz, feldspar, mica, and other minerals. This dust-like soil can be rich in minerals, but due to the thermal expansion and contraction and wetting and drying, the type of soil is easily fracturable and influenced by weather conditions. These characteristics are good and bad for the growth of healthy trees in Omaha but can become dangerous during storms.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Omaha?
Omaha is no stranger to unexpected changes in the weather and severe ones at that. Winters are more than cold and can be crippling to growing trees. Trees that are young or dormant and not acclimated to cold weather can experience extreme stress during the winter. Omaha’s icy weather can leave young or decaying trees in bad shape due to structural flaws in growth. Winds may get up to 60 mph at times, leaving weakened trees a target for storms.
When temperatures drop below 15°F, you may notice frost cracks towards the base or trunk of your trees. While this may not cause immediate concern and a tree can live for years after initial cracks begin forming, it can cause deformation in trees and leave them susceptible to predators.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Omaha?
If you’re planning to trim or prune trees on your property, be on the lookout for trees growing near power lines. If you notice that limbs are growing too close to a line or a tree appears to be at risk of falling soon, contact OPPD. Live lines carry incredibly high volumes of electric current, which can turn into a life or death situation if you come into contact with one. This danger is why OPPD handles all trees near functioning lines in the area, sending out professionally trained experts to take care of low limbs and trees that may fall.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Omaha?
Omaha’s average tree removal costs run between $473.00 and $644.00 depending on size, accessibility, and services provided. Each job is unique and may vary from a removal service friends or family received when they faced similar tree removal problems. When hiring our arborists to remove a tree, or multiple trees, on your property, here are a few things you can expect with the initial quote:
- Labor costs for time and the services performed.
- The average cost of materials and equipment needed for the job.
- Project costs including surface prep, machinery, and cleanup.
Services not typically included in our removal quotes are:
- City and state taxes.
- Permit fees.
- Inspections for buildings or businesses.
To help understand why our arborists charge based on detail, here are three cost factors broken down.
Accessibility and Size
Size plays a significant part in the removal of a tree, but so does accessibility. Trees located near homes and buildings require more effort when removing. Typically more harnesses, assistance, and machinery are needed to ensure that branches and limbs don’t fall towards the property within range. The additional equipment and resources can prevent potential damages from occurring and save money based on the risk of opportunity if a branch fell during a storm or windy day. If our team can come in and simply move needed equipment right through your backyard to remove a tree, then the cost will be less solely due to accessibility.
Standing or Fallen
A fallen tree isn’t quite the same as a standing one, but it can be damaging. When having a tree removed, you may be hiring our professionals to come in and take care of a tree that’s already fallen but is too much to handle with your chainsaw. Our tree removal professional will typically base costs for this on labor, the equipment needed, and hauling the mess away at the end of the day.
Stump Removal
It may seem weird that stump removal isn’t always included in standard tree removal quote, but this is mainly because additional equipment is needed when removing tree stumps. Our professionals will drill a hole through the stump’s center and grind up the above-ground trunk, leaving the root system in the ground. This task typically doesn’t take too long and can be added to your initial service but may require additional cleanup fees.
