Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Milford?
- 2 Does the City of Milford Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Milford?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Milford?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Milford?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Milford?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Milford?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Milford?
As a small town, Milford has a diverse selection of local trees. You love looking out your window seeing them covered in snow in the winter and offering shade in the summer. Here are a few of the most common trees in the area:
- Eastern Hemlock
- Sugar Maple
- Eastern Red Cedar
- Sumac
- Eastern White Pine
- Black Ash
- Sweet Birch
- Flowering Dogwood
- Sycamore
You might recognize a few of these in your own yard. While you work hard to keep your yard in tip-top shape, you may find that one of your trees has died. Most homeowners want to know how this happened. The three most common tree issues that we see in the Milford area include:
1. Damage Due to Freezing Temperatures
You enjoy your white winters with an average of more than 45 inches of snow each year, but this comes with below-freezing temperatures for weeks on end. These extreme temperatures create a hard freeze that also freezes the water in the soil. This means that the trees in your yard may go an extended period of time without the nourishment they need to survive.
The area does have many evergreens that seem to weather these harsh winters well. However, a young evergreen might not survive a temperature with freezing temperatures. Some other tree types might begin growing again in the spring months, but portions of the tree aren’t processing the nourishment. You might think they’re fine, but over time, they begin to decline.
2. Root Rot
Root rot is a fungal disease that begins in the tree roots and takes over the entire tree, eventually killing it. Trees become susceptible to root rot when their roots are exposed to water for a prolonged period of time.
While you might think this isn’t an issue in the Milford area, the town sees an above-average snowfall and rainfall each year. The snow melts and becomes extra water in your soil. All the extra moisture leaves your trees at risk for root rot. Root rot can move quickly from one tree to another, so you need to catch it fast.
In some cases, we can treat a tree with root rot, but it needs to be in the early stages. You can keep a lookout for the signs of root rot in the trees in your Milford yard, such as:
- Fungus at the base of the tree and moving upward.
- New leaf growth that appears paler and smaller than normal.
- Sections of the tree that have sunken into the trunk.
- Trees that seem to stop growing.
Our team can evaluate your tree and determine if it’s suffering from root rot.
3. Insect Damage
Insects and other pests are an important part of the Milford ecosystem, but they can kill a tree in your yard by eating it or living in it. Infestations are treatable and may infest more than one tree at a time. Some most common insects that we see in the area include:
- European Gypsy Moth
- Asian Gypsy Moth
- Asian Longhorned Beetle
- Spotted Lanternfly
You need to remain constantly vigilant when working in your yard to spot an infestation early to minimize the damage to a particular tree and to keep it from spreading to others. You need to look for the signs of an infestation, such as:
- Bugs crawling on the tree.
- Leaves that appear discolored or misshapen.
- Weak areas where the limbs grow from the trunk.
- Missing bark on the tree trunk.
- Holes and channels in the trunk.
Our team can evaluate the tree and determine the best way to proceed.
Does the City of Milford Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The city of Milford takes the trees on public land seriously. The town has a Shade Tree Commission and adopted city codes that oversee any decisions and actions in relation to trees on public lands and easements.
However, trees on private property are the responsibility of the homeowner, and this includes the tree’s removal. The tree might grow on an easement, and the city is responsible for its care and removal.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Milford?
The responsibility for the removal of a fallen tree depends on the land where it grew. If it grew on public land or an easement, the city takes responsibility for its removal.
If the tree grew on private property, it’s the responsibility of the Milford homeowner to have it removed. A tree that appears close to the street might be on an easement, and it doesn’t hurt to check with the city before taking action on your own.
If you’re a homeowner?
When you’re a homeowner in Milford, the city holds you responsible for the removal of any fallen trees on your property. However, if the tree grew on an easement owned by the city or one of the local utility companies, the party that holds the rights to the easement will handle the details of removing the fallen tree.
If you’re a renter?
As a tenant, the lease might require you to take care of the yard work around the Milford home. However, this doesn’t include a project as large as removing a fallen tree. You do need to keep your landlord informed if you see a diseased or dead tree in the yard, so they can take action.
If you’re a landlord?
When you’re the landlord of a rental property in Milford, you’re also the homeowner. This makes removing the fallen tree your responsibility even if you have a lease stating the tenant is responsible for taking care of lawn maintenance. Tree removal isn’t considered maintenance.
If you’re a neighbor?
In many cases, we see trees that have fallen into two or more yards, because there are some tall trees in Milford. It’s the responsibility of the homeowner, where the tree once grew, to remove it.
Since you want to maintain a friendly relationship with your neighbors, we recommend talking to your neighbor about the fallen tree when this happens. It helps to make the process easier for all the homeowners.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Milford?
The soil type most commonly found in the Milford area is an acid clay shale type. This is dense soil that needs mulch and other nutrients to balance the acidity to help trees and other greenery grow.
This type of soil also absorbs a lot of moisture without draining it effectively. This can lead to root rot in your trees. Our team can run a soil test on your property and make suggestions to help you make improvements, so your trees and other plants can grow and thrive.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Milford?
Yes, the harsh winter weather and above-average rainfall and snowfall can affect the health of your trees in Milford. The extreme temperatures in the winter months can create a hard freeze, while the additional rain and snow can leave your trees susceptible to root rot.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Milford?
This depends on if the dead tree sits on an easement or the Milford homeowner’s private property. If it sits on an easement, you can ask the city or power company to remove it, but when it sits on your private property it’s up to you to deal with it.
When you see a dead tree on a power line, you need to call emergency services. This is a dangerous situation, and you should not get close to the tree or the power lines.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Milford?
Yes, this is the question that we hear most often from Milford homeowners, and no, we can’t give you an exact cost of tree removal from your yard until we see it.
However, we can provide you with the range of costs that we see in the area and the average. The cost typically ranges between $547 and $744 with an average cost of $645. Several cost factors affect your final total and can bring it to more than double these averages, such as:
Added Services
Remember that acidic soil in your yard? Well, many Milford homeowners opt to have us run the tree through a chipper so that they can use the wood chips as mulch to add nutrients to offset the acidity. Some homeowners want the stump removed along with the tree. These services require extra time and equipment.
Size of the Tree
It takes us a lot longer to cut down a 40-foot tree than a 10-foot tree. When you have a tree that’s taller or wider, your cost will be higher. We also need to take additional safety measures.
Tree Location
Sometimes, a tree that needs to be removed sits among a group of other trees or close to your home. We can cut it down without damaging the other trees or your home, but it takes additional time and safety equipment.
