Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Long Island?
- 2 Does the City of Long Island Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Long Island?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Long Island?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Long Island?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Long Island?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Long Island?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Long Island?
It may seem a bit odd, but one of the most common issues with trees in the Long Island, New York area involves an insect that is indigenous to the southeastern United States. The Southern Pine Beetlemust have grown weary from living in the south and as global warming has increased winter temperatures in the northern regions, the presence of this annoying insect has now been discovered in Long Island.
The first infestations of the Southern Pine Beetle were discovered in October 2014 in Suffolk County, Long Island. The majority of trees killed by the Southern Pine Beetle were found in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens. In this area of New York, the Pitch Pine is the most affected tree from Southern Pine Beetle infestation. One thing that makes the eradication of this insect near impossible is the magnitude of infected trees, and the fact that neighboring states are having just as much trouble with the Southern Pine Beetle as Long Island, New York is.
Another issue that is gaining ground in Long Island has to do with oak trees. Cornell University has reported that cases of Oak Tree Wiltwere discovered in Long Island in Schenectady County back in 2008 and 2013 and has since become a widespread issue. The Oak Tree Wilt disease takes form as a fungus that produces a gummy-like plug that essentially stops water from being transferred throughout the root system. This inevitably leads to the death of the tree.
Aside from these two very serious diseases, Long Island has also been discovered as being a new home for the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, an aphid-like insect that tends to destroy all species of Hemlock trees. The Department of Environmental Conservation has a very good fact sheet on this disease with information on what you should do if you suspect your hemlock trees have been infested.
These are by far the most serious diseases and issues with Long Island trees. Long Island also has seen various species of trees destroyed from the usual suspects such as mold, fire, and other insects as well. If you suspect your trees are suffering from diseases or other issues mentioned here please, feel free to contact us at Tree Triage as soon as you notice any problems that seem out of the ordinary.
Does the City of Long Island Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Long Island does have Tree Ordinances in place to protect citizens and property from trees that pose a threat or problem. These community-specific ordinances are in place to provide the framework for managing the community forest, and providing the legal authority for:
- Conducting forestry programs
- Defining municipal responsibility for public and private trees
- Passing regulations and setting the minimum standards for management
There are also Tree Ordinancesin place, in addition to this that are specific to individual communities. These ordinances are meant to be a starting point to provide these communities with tree removal services whereas the tree in question poses a threat to the overall safety of the community.
According to sections 141-8 of these ordinances, it is the sole responsibility of the property owner to incur the cost of having any tree removed from their property as a result of disease, insect infestation, or otherwise dead. These ordinances also put in place the Village Tree Committeewhich will notify the property owner when such conditions arise.
The only time the City of Long Island pays the expense of any tree removal from any private property is if the tree in question poses a threat to safety, or is obstructing the view of pedestrians and vehicles. That brings up the question of ‘is the tree on my property or the city’s property’. It would seem that several Long Island attorneys have profited from these types of disputes with respect to the tree in question. The short answer to ‘Does the City of Long Island Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal’ is, it all depends on where the tree is, and why it needs to be removed.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Long Island?
If a tree has fallen on private property in Long Island, the tree removal is the responsibility of the owner, and restoration of any damage to their or other properties involved. If there is one thing that you could point your finger, to identify the root cause of division amongst neighbors, it would be the question of, ‘who isresponsible for tree removal and the associated expenses.’
So, let’s just take a look at this issue as it pertains to homeowners, renters, landlords on Long Island.
If You Are a Homeowner?
Naturally, if you are a homeowner and there is a fallen tree, the tree removal expense is on you. But, before you say, ‘hey wait a minute!’ the place you begin your tree removal process should be your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most homeowner policies either include a clause for pickup the tab for tree removal, or a portion of it.
Also, check with the local tree ordinances in your township and see if the tree removal falls into a category in which the town may assist you either with the tree removal itself, or other types of assistance.
If You Are a Renter?
If you rent in the Long Island New York area, and a tree has fallen, who is on the hook for the cost of tree removal? The short answer is the landlord, or the person who owns the property. New York laws are specific in stating that when the fallen tree is on privately owned land it is the responsibility of the landowner.
If the tree falls as a direct result of something that the renter did, and it can be proved, then the landlord would be within his or her rights to seek judgment from the renter accordingly.
If You Are a Landlord?
Any tree removal, trimming, pruning, or otherwise maintenance of a tree or shrub on any rented property in the Long Island area is the sole responsibility of the person or persons who own the property. If you own more than one property, then you are responsible for that as well. It is the responsibility of the landlord, or property owner to maintain all trees, shrubs, bushes, lawns, and other types of landscaping.
If You Are a Neighbor?
Tree disputes amongst neighbors are the stuff they make movies about! Nothing can sever an excellent relationship with your neighbor than the dispute over tree removal issues. Again, if you own the property, it is your responsibility. But, what about the reverse? If the tree falls on your property, but it belongs to someone else what can you do about it?
The main thing to remember here is to keep the lines of communication both open and cordial. Don’t let a fallen tree uproot your relationship with your neighbor!
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Long Island?
Long Island is essentially a very large sandbar that was carved out of the landscape from the Pleistocene Glacier of the last ice age. As this glacier made its way to the Long Island area, it picked up enormous amounts of rock in every size from grain size to large boulders. As this glacier ‘parked’ itself in the area we know as Long Island, the ensuing melt deposited these forms of rock as well as sand and soil from the remnants of the Allegheny Mountain Range.
So, what does all of this mean with respect to the soil conditions of Long Island affecting the trees? That is exactly what a group of high school students from Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, New York both researched, and published their findings about. In this very well-written research analysis of the soils from the Long Island Pine Barrens, the students found that the loose and sandy soil conditions proved to be a contributing factor to the growth of trees in Long Island. They found that the soil’s composition was responsible for many species of trees appearing to have ‘dwarfed’ compared to the same species in other areas.
When hurricanes and other strong winds approach Long Island, there just isn’t enough compacted soil in the area to firmly grasp the root system, therefore causing many uprooted and otherwise displaced trees. Perhaps the best thing to do, when you are about to plant trees, shrubs, or bushes, is to have a proper analysis of the soil in the area in which you are about to do the planting. A great place for information about the soils and soil sampling instructions can be found here from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Long Island New York.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Long Island?
Being a coastal community, Long Island sees its fair share of intense weather patterns and those patterns can and do have a lasting effect on the overall tree health in the area. In this article, tree experts reveal that during tropical storm Isaias, all species of trees in the Long Island area had suffered some degree of ‘Salt Burn.’ This is a condition brought about when high winds bring in tropical moisture that is loaded with salt spray from the sea. This ‘Salt Burn’ can have a devastating effect on a tree’s health. While it said most trees should recover in several years from this, there were hundreds that would certainly die from the effects of Salt Burn.
Winter, particularly a harsh winter, can also have devastating effects on trees and other vegetation. When the roots of a tree freeze within the ground, the ensuing thaw leaves the veins of the root collapsed, and unable to transport the needed nutrients to the already starving tree. So yes, the weather is a contributing factor to the overall health of the trees located in Long Island.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Long Island?
Downed trees on power lines are a nightmare. From the aspect of the interruption of the power supply, to the complications of the downed tree itself, a dead tree on a power line takes a team of dedicated professionals to correct the situation and restore both power and safety. If you see a dead tree that has fallen, or one that poses a threat to power lines or safety in general, the best thing you can do is to promptly report it to the proper authorities.
The Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) of Long Island has all the information that you need to report these conditions, and some other useful information on the matter as well. If you live in the Long Island area, you might want to print the information out to keep as a reference if you are faced with such a problem.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Long Island?
In case you were wondering, tree removal is not cheap. There are some cases where the actual price to do a tree removal job might end up costing a bit less than the original estimate, but in most cases the opposite is true. If you live in the greater Long Island area of New York, you can plan on spending a minimum of $420 and a maximum of $1860 with most jobs averaging $1140. Any way you look at it tree removal in Long Island comes with a fairly hefty price tag.
Now, let’s take a look at some contributing factors that can make your tree removal expense more expensive!
Accessibility
There is no ideal place for a tree to fall. However, according to where it does fall can greatly affect the price of the tree removal expense. Sometimes, heavy equipment such as cranes and bucket trucks are needed to complete the tree removal. If the tree in question is down on any type of structure, this too will have an impact on the final price. The average cost of having a tree removed using this type of equipment in Long Island comes in at about $1400 provided that it can be done in one day.
Size
The size of the tree to be removed is another contributing factor. This can cause both an increase and a decrease if the tree is a smaller one. Here are some tree removal prices based on tree size:
- Cost to remove a 20-foot tree – $300 to $540
- Cost to remove a 40-foot tree – $600 to $1080
- Cost to remove a 60-foot tree – $900 to $1620
- Cost to remove an 80-foot tree – $1200 to $2160
It has been said that the more you buy something, the cheaper it becomes. That is not the case when it comes to tree removal costs!
Things That Can Cost More or Less
Here are a few contributing factors when it comes to your tree removal costing more:
- You have a rather tall tree
- There are active power lines around the tree
- Heavy equipment is required
- The tree needs to be removed after hours or on a holiday
Now here are some things that might decrease the original quoted price:
- You have a smaller tree
- You have the tree removed in the off season
- The tree is easy to access
- The tree removal requires no heavy equipment