Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Fort Mill?
- 2 Does the City of Fort Mill Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Fort Mill?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Fort Mill?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Fort Mill?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Fort Mill?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Fort Mill?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Fort Mill?
Fire Blight
A common tree problem in Fort Mill is fire blight. Fire Blight is a contagious tree disease that affects pears, hawthorns, apples, mountain ash, and other fruit-bearing trees. Usually, when a tree falls victim to fire blight, dead and blackened leaves and fruit that clings to branches are the result, giving the tree a scorched appearance, and earning it the name fire blight.
Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease, or DED, is a tree disease caused by a fungus that enters a tree by routes- through the elm bark beetle’s feeding and breeding routines, and spreading to adjacent trees through the grafted root system of the tree. Sadly, once a tree catches this disease, it is fatal and must be cut down to reduce exposure to other trees nearby.
Root Rot
Even though Fort Mill soil is quick draining, it still gets saturated and encourages root rot. Root rot is a fungus that spreads through the soil, attacking at the roots and spreading throughout. Since the attack begins underground in the root system, seeing symptoms often means it’s too late to do anything to stop it. The tree will most likely die and need to be removed ASAP.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery Mildew looks exactly as it sounds like it would. White-powdery spots sprinkled on tree leaves and foliage. It’s another fungal disease that can lead to the death of the tree, resulting in removal due to contagion and easy spreading throughout the entire landscape. It can easily spread through insects, but also through weather like rain and wind.
Symptoms to keep an eye out for include:
- powder white spots sprinkled on leaves/stems/fruit
- yellow and brown discolorations
- dried out leaves
- broken/disfigured twigs
These are the diseases and issues with Fort Mill trees we see most commonly. Fort Mill also sees trees destroyed from the usual suspects like fire, mold, invasive insects, and sometimes even invasive plants that can strangle the root systems of other vegetation near it. If you suspect your trees or large shrubbery could be suffering from root rot, disease, or pest infestation, contact us at Tree Triage as soon as you notice any symptoms.
Does the City of Fort Mill Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The city of Fort Mill provides limited assistance for fallen tree removal. In the majority of situations, a landowner is responsible for any fallen trees and damages they cause on their own property. In some cases, such as when limbs fall on power lines, or obstruct the public view, the city will take down the tree at no charge.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Fort Mill?
While it seems pretty cut and dry, landowners are always on the hook, there can still be disagreements about who is responsible for a fallen tree. This is especially true when it comes to landlords, property managers, tenants, and neighbors. Here’s a quick rundown of who is responsible when a tree falls in your Fort Mill neighborhood, whether it’s Arden Mill or Springfield.
If you’re a homeowner?
If you are the homeowner where a tree has fallen, it’s all on you. You are responsible for the cleanup and removal of the tree as well as all the damage repair. The good news is that most homeowner’s insurance policies have a clause for fallen tree damage. It should cover all the damages to your home and property as well as any damages to your neighbor’s property.
If you’re a renter?
If you are renting your home, chances are you won’t hold any responsibility. An exception would be if the lease has a stipulation that the tenant is responsible for any lawn maintenance. In that case, the renter’s insurance may pay for the tree removal and cleanup as well as any damages.
If you’re a landlord?
Things get a little trickier when it comes to landlords. A landlord may or may not be the property owner. A landlord could be the equivalent of a property manager and simply oversee the day-to-day activity of rental properties. In such cases, they may be responsible for the manual labor or the tree removal, but the costs would lay with the landowner.
If you’re a neighbor?
Neighbors aren’t responsible for any cost of a tree removal, as long as it isn’t their tree.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Fort Mill?
South Carolina soil spans from the sandy shores of the Atlantic to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fort Mill is fortunate to share in some of the rich, nutrient-filled soil of the Piedmont Plateau. It is wonderful soil to grow trees, but also shrubs, and garden plants. Dark and heavy loam soil tops a few ices of red clay that, while holding nutrients and moisture well, drains poorly, which can lead to trees being affected by flooding and diseases like root rot.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Fort Mill?
South Carolina is prone to wet weather, with up to 80 inches of precipitation per year. Thunderstorms, hurricanes, flooding, and tornados are prevalent, all things that affect tree health. Strong winds can uproot trees that are hundreds of years old like they were just planted yesterday. Flooding can cause landslides as well as root rot, especially if the area stays saturated for months.
An unusual problem with trees you may encounter in Fort Mill is alligators. Yes, Alligators. Sometimes they sleep in trees or climb into low branches for protection. This is not only terrifying but can be harmful to the tree. Alligators are heft creatures and can break off limbs in their pursuit of comfort. They also claw and bite at the limbs.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Fort Mill?
A dead tree hanging from a power line is nothing to play with. It’s a dangerous situation that can easily turn fatal. The only course of action when a dead tree is hanging in or near the power line is to call York Electric Utility. A certified professional electrician is able to safely extricate a dead tree from power lines.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Fort Mill?
Tree removal is a skill that must be taught. A regular person doesn’t suddenly have what it takes to pick up a chainsaw, jump in a bucket truck, and remove hanging limbs or chop up a fallen tree. As with all trained professions, it isn’t cheap. The price of tree removal services in Fort Mill depends largely on contributing factors. On the average, typical costs are $200 in areas like Rock Hill and Charlotte, to $2000 in areas like Lexington and Greer.
Timing
Let’s say a storm rolls through Fort Mill around 1 a.m., by the time it clears, it’s 3 a.m. and you have a tree limb sticking through your living room window. If you can wait a few hours, it will cost you less to have it removed. Why? Because when you call a tree removal service after regular business hours there is an additional fee. This goes for any household service such as plumbers or electricians, as well.
Accessibility
Do you have a fallen tree in the middle of your yard? Or is it laying on a fence surrounded by brambles, or worse yet, suspended in the air among other tree branches? The location of a fallen tree and the ease of accessibility is another cost factor that determines the price of tree removal in Fort Mill.
Tree Stump Removal
Tree stumps are most often an additional cost to homeowners. Sometimes trees and large shrubs snap at the base of the trunk, making it easy to deal with, but you may not want the stump to stay in your yard. Other times, a tree can snap halfway up the trunk, leaving a jagged half tree that is unsightly. Tree stumps can be dug up and removed or ground down and burned before digging up. It is not a service that is included in the price of tree removal usually. So, unless you have landscaping plans for that stump, you’ll have to pay to get rid of it. If it is done by a subcontractor, the costs can be substantial.
Species of the Tree
The species of the tree affects the price to remove it down and clean it up. Oak trees are some of the hardest wood in existence, it can cost upwards of $300 to remove an oak tree, depending on the location and size. The sugar maple and silver maple trees are also hardwood. They can cost $500 or more for very large trees.
Limb Chipping
Limb chipping is where limbs, twigs, leaves, and other tree parts are put through a wood chipper instead of cutting them up, and hauling them off. A lot of tree services in Fort Mill include this task in the price of removal. They may even have a wood chipper readily available. If not, it won’t be much more than $75 – $100.
Log Splitting
For people with fireplaces, a fallen tree is a blessing in disguise. Any reputable Fort Mill tree service will have a log splitter they use to split trees into pieces of wood perfect for fireplaces. There isn’t a fixed price for this service in most areas of Fort Mill, but it may be included in the price of cleanup. If not, it’s another service that won’t cost over $100 in most areas of Fort Mill.
