Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Stroudsburg?
- 2 Does the City of Stroudsburg Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Stroudsburg?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Stroudsburg?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Stroudsburg?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Stroudsburg?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Stroudsburg?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Stroudsburg?
Stroudsburg is a small town in Monroe County that is reminiscent of good ole days and small-town friendliness. The city part of it is devoted to quaint buildings and tree-lined streets. This area was founded by Colonial Jacob Stroud around the mid-1700s and laid out in 1799.
It is a small area with only 1.8 square miles of land and 0,04 square miles of water. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in appeal, especially for those who enjoy the nature that surrounds it. The nearby Pocono Mountain range is, for us, something that stands out.
The downside is where there is nature, there is typically tree concerns because of the many pests and diseases that can weaken them over time. In Pennsylvania and even Monroe Counties, there are several concerns facing our trees.
- Apple Scab and Apple Rust: These diseases threaten mostly apple and crabapple trees. They can cause a variety of symptoms from twisted leaves, changes in colors, lesions, and premature drop of fruit and leaves.
- Anthracnose: If you have dogwoods, maples, oaks, ash, and other deciduous trees, you may one day have to deal with this disease that causes premature defoliation, dying buds, twig death, and more. The worst part of the disease is often hidden within the canopy.
- Verticillium Wilt: This is a disease that attacks deciduous trees, it can cause browning over entire sections of a tree.
- Powdery Mildew: Younger trees are more susceptible to this disease. It appears to be a powdery white substance, but can ultimately lead to premature drop and lowered production.
- Fire Blight: Very few trees in the rose family are immune to this horrible disease. It attacks many and kills everything from the blossoms to the trunks. To know if it is affecting your trees or plants, you should look for sudden changes in color and cankers.
- Thousand Cankers: This disease is caused by Walnut Twig Beetles. These insects tunnel in beneath the bark and create cankers. Eventually, the cankers disrupt the tree’s ability to get water and nutrients normally. Unfortunately, this is one disease that cannot be cured.
- Other Insects: There are several diseases and threats to forests all over the state. The emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, and hemlock woolly adelgid are just a few.
Does the City of Stroudsburg Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
There isn’t a municipal program that provides free tree removal assistance to homeowners. The exception is limb removal from pruning and small bush removal, as long as nothing has the root ball attached. Your limbs should be kept no longer than four feet. This service is only available from the city during pruning season according to the Street Department.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Stroudsburg?
The borough of Stroudsburg will take care of city trees. They will even handle it if the tree falls. However, what if it is your private tree that is the problem? Who will take care of the tree in your yard? It depends on your position.
If you’re a homeowner?
As a homeowner or real property owner, you are responsible for your trees according to the section that talks about the maintenance of trees on private property.
Your obligation extends to the trees and limbs that may hang over city streets and other areas where the public may be put into harm’s way from the tree. You are responsible for diseased or dead trees that are on your property. Otherwise, if it falls, you could be responsible for helping your neighbors repair the damages that it has caused.
If you’re a renter?
When you are a tenant, you have no ownership of the property you are living on. Therefore, if something goes wrong with the property, it is assumed that your landlord is the one responsible for it. This includes sick or dead tree care and trees that fall due to natural circumstances.
If you notice that there is a diseased or dead tree on the property, you should notify your landlord of it in writing. This will give allow t to repair it before it can fall and damage their property, your property, and your neighbor’s.
If you’re a landlord?
Your tenant has an obligation to pay you for the time that they are living on your property. They should keep the property that is theirs according to the lease, maintained, and free of garbage. They are responsible for telling you about any major issues or problems that may be happening around their home.
To be a good landlord, you must understand that they cannot legally make changes to the property without your consent. Therefore, trees are your responsibility. Tree removal, tree care, and tree cleanup after it falls will all ultimately come back to you. If you need help from your tenants, they can hire someone to remove the tree, but then the cost of it will come from their rent payments.
If you’re a neighbor?
Neighbors are generally in a difficult position when it comes to trees. Let’s say you have a tree that you feel is bothersome. You may want it removed. However, for a moment, assume that it is on your neighbor’s land. You cannot remove it. If you try, you could end up in legal trouble. You can trim it, but most of the time it is bad to do if you risk permanent damage to the tree. The problem is, if it falls, you could be fully responsible for the damages to your property.
The exception to this comes into play when the tree is sick or dead. If you have notified your neighbor in writing that you feel the tree poses a threat to you because it is dead, your neighbor should take care of it. If they don’t, and it falls, their insurance may have to cover it instead of yours.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Stroudsburg?
The official state soil of Pennsylvania is Hazleton. It is a soil type that includes Bers, Gilpin, and Penn soils. This means it is very deep, well-draining soil. In general, it has a sandy loam consistency with a lot of gravel. It may be a dark reddish-brown or a dark gray stony sand.
There are other soils and soil types present in Pennsylvania, according to the USDA. You may find:
- Alden
- Allenwood
- Alvira
- Bath
- Benson
- Braceville
- Chenango
- And Several Others
These soils are all good for tree growth. However, you may want to improve your soil quality even further by adding organic material, especially if you fall into a gravelly or sandy area.
No matter which soils you have on your property, sticking with trees that are native to Pennsylvania will help increase your tree planting success rate.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Stroudsburg?
On average, the weather in Stroudsburg isn’t bad. There are definite seasons that can encourage tree growth and health. Winters can be cold with lows in the 10s and highs that average around the mid-30s with up to 11-inches of snow. Summers can be very nice with highs nearing 85 and lows in the lower 60s and an average of 4.5-inches of rain. All of this is great for the trees who call Pennsylvania home. However, climate change is beginning to change the weather in Stroudsburg.
There are times when Stroudsburg has severe weather. Mostly it is related to strong thunderstorms and winds, but other issues are possible, such as:
- Flooding
- Blizzards
- Hail
- Extreme Heat
- Winter Storms
- Droughts
- Heavy Snow
- Other Winter Weather
Hurricanes have come across the area, attributing to windy conditions. These types of weather concerns are bad for trees.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Stroudsburg?
Stroudsburg is responsible for tree removal and trimming near power lines. However, if you happen to see one that has been missed, you should report it, especially if it is dead or dying. You can contact the City Works Department for suggestions or your local electricity provider.
If there is an immediate threat to you, your family, or others, you may want to call 911. They can guide you in who to contact, while helping to ensure that everyone stays safely away from the power line and tree until it can be taken care of.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Stroudsburg?
It is often very hard to predict the cost of a tree removal without seeing the tree first. However, in Stroudsburg, you should expect to pay between $560.00 and $770.00 when you contact us. The average homeowner with basic tree removal needs can expect to spend approximately $665.00.
There are several factors that must be considered for every tree removal. Each of these factors may increase or decrease your out-of-pocket cost.
Condition of the Tree
A healthy tree is ultimately easier to bring down. You should expect to pay more if you have a tree that is diseased or has:
- Decay
- Cracks
- Root issues
- Weak branches
- Cankers
- And other issues
These trees are very unstable and harder to remove safely, which will likely increase your price for removing them.
Size
Along with its health, size also impacts price. Larger trees are much more difficult to bring down in a controlled way than smaller trees. You may have to deal with protected trees and other issues that increase the price.
If you want to spend less, you should consider removing a problem tree before it reaches around 10-feet tall. This will keep your cost of removal down on the lower end of the average.
Urgency
If you need service on your tree done quickly, your cost may go up because we have to make time for your removal. This often happens with dead or dying trees that start to fall and damage property. Weekends and holidays are going to increase your overall cost.
For this reason, we urge everyone to take care of the trees that they have on their property. The more warning you have that it may be a problem tree, the easier it will end up being on your wallet if it needs to be removed.