AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Yukon, OK

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Yukon?

A variety of trees grow well in Yukon, but unfortunately, several diseases can affect your trees. Keeping your trees healthy will help them fight off disease and allow them to continue to grow well.

Some of these common tree diseases are mild. Anthracnose, for example, affects many trees and causes dead areas on leaf margins and shoots. Coniferous trees are prone to various foliage diseases including diplodia tip blight and rhizosphaera needle cast on spruce trees. Both of these can cause bare branches.

Asian long-horned beetles have been seen in Oklahoma. These are an invasive species that has no natural predators in the United States and can infect a variety of trees but prefer maple species and birches. They will eventually kill your tree. The only control method is removal and chipping or burning of the infected tree.

Caterpillar pests are another significant issue in Oklahoma. Bagworms like Eastern red cedar, other junipers, and arborvitae, and can completely defoliate and kill a small tree. Applying a bacterial insecticide like Bacillus thuringiensisvar. kurstaki by early June can effectively kill bagworms. If you don’t like to use insecticides, then you can handpick and burn bagworms during the fall or winter. Fall webworms are generally found on shade, fruit, and ornamental trees, with persimmon and pecan being the most likely to be affected. They aren’t a threat to the health of the tree per se but can impact the yield and nut quality of pecans. Fall webworms are best controlled using the same bacterial insecticide. You may want to contact our arborists if you think you have these pests, as they can be hard to deal with without special equipment.

Pine wilt is a particularly nasty disease that mostly affects non-native pine species such as Austrian pine and Scots pine. It’s caused by the pinewood nematode which is native, so native pines tend to be resistant. Native pines generally succumb only if under stress from another source. If planting conifers, consider choosing native species over imports. Pinewood nematodes are transmitted by beetles that are attracted to already weakened trees. The beetles prefer dead or dying trees to lay their eggs, and the nematodes oblige them by infesting and destroying the resin ducts and xylem of the tree. A tree infected with pine wilt will die so quickly that the needles don’t fall. This can sometimes happen in as little as one to two months. Part of the key to preventing pine wilt is to remove all dead trees in the spring. This will reduce the number of beetles and thus the number of nematodes. Do not use the chips from dead pine trees for mulch, as this can also infest your trees.

Like all of Oklahoma, Yukon is subject to severe storms in both the winter and summer. These storms can damage and even kill trees, and sometimes result in the need for emergency tree or debris removal. Native trees are generally more resistant to normal storm conditions and should be preferred.

Does the City of Yukon Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

The City of Yukon will collect storm debris including tree limbs and small trees, although they ask that the trees be cut into pieces that are six feet or shorter. Anything longer may be left behind. Other than that, they are responsible only for trees in public areas and along streets.

The city will not assist with tree removal on private property. However, you are obligated to trim your trees to make sure that they don’t interfere with the sidewalk. You may be ordered to trim or prune trees that are causing a problem.

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Yukon?

As in most places, the owner of a tree is the owner of the land the trunk is growing in. In some cases, trees may grow on property lines, thus causing some issues determining who owns the tree. In this case, it’s wise to talk to your neighbors and work out who is responsible for the tree and any necessary trimming or pruning.

If you’re a homeowner?

If a tree falls on your property, you are entirely responsible for its removal and should arrange for it as soon as possible, especially if you suspect that it might be diseased.

Again, the owner of the tree is typically the owner of the land where the trunk is located. Your homeowners insurance will cover any damage caused to you or a neighbor by a fallen tree and may or may not cover the cost of removal. Check your policy. If the tree is small and fell during a storm, the City will possibly help with removal, as mentioned above. They will not, however, help if a tree falls because of disease or natural causes, or if the tree is large.

If you’re a renter?

Unlike in some states, the Oklahoma Landlord-Tenant Act does not specifically mention tree maintenance. However, it is implied in the law that removing a tree would require your landlord’s permission and should be seen as their responsibility. Your landlord is also obligated to keep the premises in fit condition, which could also include tree management.

Because tree removal is not specifically mentioned, it might be possible that your landlord will hand responsibility over to you, but this must be in a separate document, not the lease or rental agreement. This is something you could consider negotiating, if possible. Tenants should contact their landlord immediately if a tree is fallen, dying, or diseased.

Also, see what your renters insurance has to say about damage caused by falling trees. Repairing the damage is the responsibility of your landlord, but they may be able to pass on the costs.

If you’re a landlord?

The Oklahoma Landlord-Tenant Act does not specifically mention tree maintenance or removal, but does imply that tree removal is your responsibility unless stated otherwise in a written agreement that is separate from the lease.

Unless you have a separate written agreement, you should assume responsibility for tree removal and possibly tree maintenance, and provide open lines of communication with your tenant(s) to ensure that everyone knows who is responsible. Make sure that tree removal is done promptly, especially if the tree was diseased because of a pest.

If you’re a neighbor?

As mentioned, trees belong to the person on whose land the trunk grows. If you have a tree that straddles the property line, then you should communicate with your neighbor to ensure that the tree is maintained and trimmed, and reduce conflicts.

If somebody else’s tree falls on your land, then their insurance should cover the damage and you should be able to get them to pay for the removal, but these things often cause conflict between neighbors. Building a good relationship can help get trees properly trimmed and avoid a dispute which could potentially end up in court.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Yukon?

Both sandy and clay soils exist in Canadian County, and you should check to see which you have. In general, sandy soil is gritty and does not stick together when wet, while clay soil is smooth and sticky. Sandy soils drain faster than clay soils, affecting tree health and limiting the kind of trees you should grow. Oklahoma State University has a Soil Testing Laboratory and can perform soil tests to tell you exactly what kind of soil you have. For some people, the type of soil is obvious. A common soil type in the area is port, an oxidized clay soil that is full of iron and is deep red. It tends to stain clothes and carpets. In fact, this is the Oklahoma State Soil.

Natively, port soil tends to be preferred by pecan, black walnut, bur oak, and Eastern cottonwood trees. If planting native trees, consider these, especially if you happen to like nuts. Make sure that any trees you choose to plant will grow well in the soil type you have. More sandy soils are generally better for conifers, but always plant native conifers because of the high risk of pine wilt.

Protecting soil is particularly important in Oklahoma, where severe weather is common. It’s best to talk to our experts about timing, but your trees will appreciate regular mulching.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Yukon?

The biggest impact of weather on tree health in Yukon is winter and summer storms. Ice storms are common and can put a lot of stress on trees. Many trees will lose branches and weakened trees may die and fall.

It is best to have our tree experts look over particularly storm-damaged trees to check their overall health and see if additional trimming will help them recover faster. In some cases, a storm-damaged tree may need to be removed.

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Yukon?

If a dead or damaged tree is near or touching a power line (common after a storm), you should promptly contact Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company. This will allow them to send out a crew to assess the damage and help with the faster restoration of power. Particularly in winter, trees on power lines are a common cause of outages in Yukon. Don’t call emergency services unless the issue is causing a fire.

If the tree is on your property, you are responsible for removing the tree or branches, but should contact the power company so they can shut off the line for your safety. If the tree is on public property, the City is responsible and, generally, the power company will take care of it.

Remember that the City will remove small storm debris (less than six feet long) for you if you drag it to the curb.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Yukon?

The cost of tree removal in Yukon is close to the national average, with a typical range of $414 to $1,227. Tree removal costs do vary a lot by individual project, however. Here are some factors which affect the cost of tree removal.

Size

A larger tree will cost more to remove. If there has been a bad storm, you may need multiple trees removed, which will also cost more. Larger trees take us more time to remove and are more likely to require heavy equipment.

Location

If the tree has fallen onto a structure, then it will cost a lot more to remove. In these cases, we often need a crane and have to perform the job very carefully to avoid further damage. Trees that are on slopes, very close to your house, or in an awkward position will also cost more to remove.

Emergencies

Because of the frequent severe weather, sometimes you will need emergency service after a storm. This costs more because we may have to head out after hours. Furthermore, the demand will be high and it may take some time to get our crew out, even for a genuine emergency. We will get to you as soon as possible, but emergency service is always going to cost more.