Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Clifton Park?
- 2 Does the City of Clifton Park Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Clifton Park?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Clifton Park?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Clifton Park?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Clifton Park?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Clifton Park?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Clifton Park?
Several pests and diseases threaten the trees in Clifton Park. Here are the most common ones we encounter.
Emerald Ash Borer
These beetles affect ash trees in Clifton Park, and they can kill a healthy tree in just a few years. The female emerald ash borer lays her eggs under the bark, and when the larvae hatch, they begin to eat the tree’s flesh underneath. This disrupts the flow of nutrients inside the tree and will cause branches to die off. As time passes, the beetles will continue to damage the tree, and the tree weakens and eventually dies. It’s hard to spot these pests since they spend most of their time inside the tree, so if you notice branch dieback on your ash tree, call our arborists right away. We’ve found pesticides to work well at controlling emerald ash borers, and it’s essential to keep them from spreading to nearby trees as well.
Gypsy Moth
Before becoming a moth, the tiny caterpillars feed on the leaves of over 300 different species of trees. These little pests can quickly defoliate an entire tree, leaving it weak and vulnerable to additional pests and diseases. Call our arborists at the first sign of gypsy moths so they can take care of the problem quickly. With early intervention, your tree will be just fine.
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
These tiny pests suck the sap at the base of needles on hemlock and spruce trees in Clifton Park. They don’t usually kill trees, but they weaken them and cause the needles to turn yellow and drop. We often spray hemlock and spruce trees with insecticidal soap every year to keep these pests away. Generally, preventative sprays work well to control common pests from destroying native trees.
Oak Wilt
This fungal condition can kill an oak tree in just a few weeks. It spreads through the roots of nearby oak trees, and insects carry the spores. Symptoms include yellow and wilted leaves that will eventually fall off the tree. Branches will die back, and the tree will eventually die. Unfortunately, there is no cure, but you can prune your tree’s branches to prolong its life. Some trees can suffer for several years before ultimately succumbing to the disease. If you notice symptoms of oak wilt, have our arborists assess your tree. If it is oak wilt, they can help you prevent the spread to surrounding trees.
Dutch Elm Disease
Elm bark beetles spread this fungal disease. Once a tree is infected, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and eventually brown as they die. Branches will die as the tree’s vascular system is disrupted. This condition can kill a tree over a few months, or it could take several years. If you think your tree may be infected, have our arborists check it out. There is no cure, but there are methods to slow its spread and prolong your tree’s life.
Does the City of Clifton Park Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Clifton Park’s Highway Department is in charge of trimming the trees along the City’s 218 miles of roadway. If you’re concerned about a street tree’s branches and you’re unsure whether it’s your responsibility to maintain, give them a call at (518) 371-7310, and they’ll be happy to answer your questions.
If you’ve got a tree on your property that needs to be removed, you’ll need to hire our specialists to take care of the job. The City does not offer any assistance for tree removal on private property.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Clifton Park?
When a tree falls, it can cause a lot of damage to your property and your home. It’s essential to know where your responsibility lies ahead of time, to avoid damaging your relationship with your neighbors. Here’s a breakdown of a few common scenarios.
If You’re a Homeowner?
Homeowners are responsible for the upkeep of all the trees within their property lines. That means you should be regularly pruning and checking your trees for symptoms of disease or infestation. If a tree falls, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of its removal. You will only be responsible for paying the deductible.
If You’re a Renter?
Renters do not own their homes or the surrounding landscape. If you’re renting your home and a tree falls on the property, you don’t need to worry about the cleanup. Your landlord will take care of it.
If You’re a Landlord?
Landlords are responsible for maintaining the homes and surrounding landscapes on all their rental properties. This maintenance includes regular pruning and an assessment of all the trees within your property lines. If a tree falls, your insurance company will pay for the cleanup. You will only need to cover the deductible.
If You’re a Neighbor?
If a tree falls onto your property, your homeowner’s insurance will likely pay to have it removed. It doesn’t matter whether the tree had been firmly rooted in your neighbor’s yard or your own. Once it falls onto your lawn, your insurance company will step in to cover the cost. Similarly, your neighbor’s insurance company will cover tree removal costs if your tree should fall into their yard during a storm or other unforeseen event.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Clifton Park?
The soil in Clifton Park is loamy with lots of fine sand mixed in. The loamy soil is rich in nutrients and ideal for growing strong, healthy trees. With the addition of sand, water will drain very well but can sometimes drain so quickly, the roots don’t get a chance to soak it up in time. You can do a couple of things to amend your soil so your tree’s roots will get enough water.
Add Compost
If you want to dilute the sand in your soil, you can mix in some compost around the tree’s base. The compost will help to thicken the soil and slow down drainage. That way, your tree’s roots will get a chance to soak up rainwater to feed the tree’s branches and leaves.
Spread Mulch
Additionally, you can spread a thick layer of mulch around your tree’s base. At about three to six inches in depth, the mulch will act like the forest floor, protect tree roots from the elements, and help water drain slowly through the sandy soil beneath.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Clifton Park?
Winter in Clifton Park is cold and snowy, and the springtime brings the threat of severe weather and tropical storms. When a tree is sick, it can easily be uprooted during a fierce storm, and dead branches will quickly break under the added weight of wet snow. To keep your trees upright and firmly rooted in the ground, it’s essential to care for them regularly. Trim away dead branches and have our arborists check your trees for signs of disease or infestation. Early intervention can help your tree to remain healthy so it can weather any storm.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Clifton Park?
National Grid sends crews out to do routine maintenance around the power lines in Clifton Park. They work on a tight schedule to prune branches near high voltage lines, and they’ll chip the branches they cut. If large limbs cannot be chipped, they’ll leave them at the edge of your property to be used as firewood. If you notice a tree that needs to be pruned, you can call them at 1-800-642-4272. Most often, they won’t work outside their trimming schedule, so if your tree needs to be pruned immediately, you may need to call our arborists to get the job done quickly.
If your branches need to be trimmed near your service line, you’ll need to call us. National Grid doesn’t trim trees near service lines, but they’re happy to shut off your power temporarily so we can get the job done safely.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Clifton Park?
Tree removal in Clifton Park costs, on average, around $600, but you can pay anywhere from $200 to $2,100 depending on several factors. Some of those factors include:
Tree Size
The most significant factor in determining your final cost is the size of your tree. Our arborists will measure your tree’s height and the diameter of its base when calculating a quote for your tree’s removal. It’s no surprise that a large tree with lots of foliage will take more work to remove, and it’s going to cost more as well.
Tree Location
If your tree is located near your home or power lines, we’ll need to work around them to get the job done safely. This will take additional safety measures to keep your home and our arborists safe, and we’ll need to charge you a little more to get the job done.
Stump Grinding
Our arborists don’t include the cost of stump grinding when calculating the price for tree removal. If you want to have your stump ground, we can add it to your bill as an additional cost. The good news is that we’ll charge a much cheaper rate than you’d pay to rent a machine to grind the stump yourself.
