Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Gresham?
- 2 Does the City of Gresham Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Gresham?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Gresham?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Gresham?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Gresham?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Gresham?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Gresham?
Native trees in Gresham are threatened by many pests and diseases. Here are the ones we see most often.
Armillaria Root Rot
This fungal disease attacks the roots of many tree species. Once a tree is infected, symptoms include wilted or yellow leaves. Trees can defoliate and branches will die back as the condition spreads. You may also notice short mushrooms growing around the base of an infected tree. Root rot will continue to infect the roots of your tree and can kill a tree very quickly, leaving it at risk of falling during a storm. If you notice symptoms, call our arborists right away. If caught early, a tree can be saved, but if all the roots are damaged, the tree will need to be removed.
Bronze Birch Borer
These beetles lay their eggs under the bark of birch trees. As the larvae hatch, they begin to feed on the tissue underneath, disrupting the tree’s flow of nutrients and water. As an infestation progresses, branches will begin to die back and the tree will weaken. If left untreated, the entire tree will die and can be at risk of falling. These beetles are hard to spot since they spend most of their time inside the tree. You can watch for signs of D-shaped holes on the tree’s trunk where the beetles exit the tree. If you call our arborists early, we can spray pesticide on the tree to get rid of the beetles, but if you wait too long and too much damage has been done, your tree may not be able to be saved.
Verticillium Wilt
If you notice branch dieback on one side of your tree, this fungal disease could be the culprit. Verticillium wilt affects many tree species and it attacks the xylem, which controls the tree’s nutrient flow. Once leaves are unable to receive the water and nutrients they need, leaves and branches will begin to die. Since this disease lives in the soil, it is difficult to cure, but treatment can prolong your tree’s life and help it to remain strong. Prune away dead branches and have our arborists diagnose your tree’s condition at the first sign of a problem.
Hawthorn Leaf Blight
This fungal disease affects the leaves of hawthorn trees. It’s easy to identify this disease by its telltale reddish-brown spots that appear on leaves, causing the leaves to turn yellow and eventually fall from the tree. After a few years without treatment, the defoliated tree will be significantly more vulnerable to other infestations and diseases. If you notice symptoms of this disease, call our arborists to diagnose and offer treatment options for your tree.
Does the City of Gresham Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Gresham does not assist in tree removal, so if you have a tree on your property that needs to be removed, you’ll need to call us to take care of the job. If your tree is under 4.5 feet tall and its trunk is less than 8 inches in diameter, the city allows you to remove the tree at your discretion. You don’t have to replant a tree in its place, but Gresham’s tree team highly encourages it.
If, on the other hand, you have a tree that needs to be removed and it’s larger than 4.5 feet tall or its trunk is greater than 8 inches in diameter, you’ll need to apply for a permit by contacting the Planner on Duty at (503) 618-2780 or email POD@GreshamOregon.gov.
Street Trees
The street trees in Gresham are regulated by the city, but homeowners are responsible for maintaining them. If your street tree needs to be significantly pruned or removed, you’ll need to apply for a street tree removal permit. The Planner on Duty will assess your tree and will grant permission for you to have our arborists remove the tree at your expense. If your street tree is removed, you are responsible for replacing the tree with a tree that is similar to it.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Gresham?
When a tree falls, it can make a big mess, causing neighbors to point fingers at one another in blame. Let’s explore a few scenarios so you’re ready to tackle the problem, should it arise.
If you’re a homeowner?
As a homeowner, you’re responsible for maintaining your home and the surrounding landscape. That means your trees should be regularly pruned and checked for signs of disease or infestation. If a tree should fall during a storm or other unforeseen event, your homeowners insurance will cover the cost. You will only need to pay the deductible.
If you’re a renter?
One of the greatest perks of renting is that you aren’t responsible for maintaining your home or the surrounding landscape. If a tree falls, your landlord will take care of the cleanup. If your personal property (like your car or bike) is damaged in the fall, their insurance will cover that as well. Sometimes insurance companies can be difficult, so you may need to consult a lawyer for help receiving the money you’re owed.
If you’re a landlord?
As a landlord, you’re responsible for maintaining all the homes and trees on all of your rental properties. You should be regularly pruning your trees and making sure they’re healthy and strong. If one is uprooted during an unforeseen event, your insurance will likely take care of the tree’s removal.
If you’re a neighbor?
In Oregon, the law states that your homeowners insurance will cover the cost of tree removal if one should fall in your yard. It doesn’t matter whether the tree was rooted in your yard or your neighbor’s before it fell. Similarly, your neighbor’s insurance company will pay to have a tree removed from their property. Things can get especially messy if your insurance company can prove that your neighbor had neglected their tree. If this is the case, they’ll go after your neighbor’s insurance for payment.
To avoid neighborhood disputes over fallen trees, make sure you’re regularly pruning your trees and keep an eye on your neighbor’s trees as well. If you notice one that needs a little TLC, give them a heads-up, and if you want to be a great neighbor, offer to help prune their tree.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Gresham?
The soil in Gresham is made of cascade silty loam. That means the soil is very deep and somewhat poorly drained. Native trees like Douglas firs and big leaf maples thrive in these soil conditions, while other nonnative trees may suffer from their susceptibility to runoff. This can be easily amended, so many species can grow and thrive in Gresham.
If you want to help your soil drain better, you can mix in organic matter like compost or shredded leaves. This will break up the soil, allowing water to flow freely, giving your tree’s roots room to grow. You can also add a thick layer of mulch around your tree’s base. This will help the soil retain moisture so the roots can soak it up before runoff can occur.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Gresham?
Trees in Gresham face severe drought conditions each year that can weaken and even kill healthy trees. Here are some of the most important ways to care for your trees during a drought.
Preventative Care
Regularly prune away dead branches and watch for signs of infestation or disease. These conditions will further weaken a tree, leaving it vulnerable during a season of drought. If you notice any symptoms of pests or disease, contact us right away so we can treat your tree effectively.
Water Effectively
It’s important to correctly water your trees during a drought. Don’t focus on the area around the trunk, since this can cause fungus to grow. Water your trees deeply around the dripline, saturating the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches. Your tree’s root system is at least as wide as your tree is tall, so make sure you’re watering the soil around your tree so that all the roots have access to moisture. A tree that doesn’t get enough water will become vulnerable to pests and diseases and can be a fall hazard. Combat this issue by watering your trees often during a drought.
Mulch
Add a thick layer of mulch around your tree’s base at a depth of three to four inches. The mulch will act like the forest floor, protecting your tree’s vulnerable roots from the elements and helping to lock in moisture around the tree’s base.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Gresham?
Portland General Electric has crews that are in charge of pruning away branches that interfere with the main power lines in Gresham. If a tree needs to be removed, the company will take care of it at no cost to you. Additionally, PGE will mulch the branches as they remove them and offer them for free to homeowners in the neighborhood where they are working.
If your tree’s branches are interfering with the service line to your home, you will need to prune them yourself or hire us to safely take care of the job. PGE is not responsible for pruning trees around your service line.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Gresham?
Tree removal in Gresham costs around $600 on average, but prices can range from $200 to well over $2,000. If you need to have a tree removed, we’ll consider several factors when calculating a quote. Some of those factors include:
Tree Size
Our arborists will measure your tree’s height as well as the diameter of its trunk. Your tree’s size will likely be the biggest factor in determining the price of your tree’s removal. If your tree is large and has lots of foliage, it’s going to take more time and effort for our crew to remove, and it’s going to cost you more to have it done. Smaller trees, on the other hand, are much easier to remove and will cost much less.
Tree Location
Tree removal projects that are located near obstacles like your home or power lines will require extra time and effort. We’ll need to take additional safety measures to keep your home and our arborists safe, so it will likely cost you more to have your tree removed. Our biggest goal is to efficiently remove your tree without harming anything or anyone in the process.
Stump Grinding
Our arborists typically don’t include stump grinding in the price of tree removal. If you’d like to have your stump ground, we can add it on, at an additional cost. It will probably cost much less to have us take care of your stump than it would cost you to rent a stump grinding machine and do it yourself.
