AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Hanahan, SC

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Hanahan?

The sabal palm is South Carolina’s state tree, but there are a lot of other trees that grow well in the Hanahan area. Some of these include the Southern magnolia, loblolly pine, mockernut hickory, flowering dogwood, Eastern redbud, and white oak. Some trees are more susceptible to disease and pests, and some species of trees have their own problems. For example, the loblolly pine is susceptible to fungi, including root rot, needle rust, and needle cast. The Southern magnolia may get leaf spots or mildew.

Below are some of the more common tree problems in Hanahan and how to spot them.

Root Rot

Besides the loblolly pine, root rot or more specifically armillaria root rot (ARR), also known as oak root rot, is a big problem for peach tree growers and can affect even a backyard peach tree. It can also infect other members of the Prunus family, such as cherries, nectarines, and apricots as well as oaks. ARR can live in the soil for up to a century, according to Clemson University, Cooperative Extension. It may take an infected tree a year or two to show signs of the disease which include leaf cupping, small fruit, and reduced extension of the tree’s annual shoots. The fungus itself appears as a white lining under the bark, growing upward. When the crown becomes girdled, water and nutrients are blocked. Once signs appear, the tree will likely die within a year.

Powdery Mildew

Comprised of a group of fungi, powdery mildew will attack almost any type of tree or plant life. Some common trees susceptible to it include dogwood, magnolia, crabapple, and oaks. While it does not cause significant harm to a tree, it can appear unsightly. The fungi grow on the flower buds, upper and lower parts of leaves, shoot tips, and young stems. As the spores multiply, they produce a white, powdery appearance. It can cause yellowing or browning of the leaves and premature leaf drop. Powdery mildew prefers warm days and cool, humid nights with the life cycle of the spores lasting only a week in prime conditions.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

This caterpillar enjoys many types of trees, including cherries and other stone fruit, crab apples, ash, birch, willows, maple, oaks, and poplars. They spin webs in the branches, where an adult moth will lay her eggs (up to 300 of them) during the summer. When the caterpillars hatch the following spring, they feed on the leaves of the host tree. While areas of the tree may lose a lot of leaves, there is no permanent damage to the tree, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. It is easy to eradicate as all you need to do is simply destroy the web with a stick. 

Sycamore Anthracnose

A fungal disease, sycamore anthracnose is rarely fatal to a tree by itself. The disease enjoys cool, wet weather and is most often seen in early spring. Signs include leaf drop, twigs dying, and cankers growing on the trunk and larger branches. Repeat infections will further stress a tree, leaving it more susceptible to other diseases and pests. While it can spread from one sycamore to another as well as members of the same family including the London plane tree and Oriental plane tree, sycamore anthracnose does not affect other types of trees.

Dutch Elm Disease

A vascular wilt fungal disease, as the name implies, Dutch elm disease affects elm trees in Hanahan and almost anywhere elms grow throughout the world. Early symptoms include yellowing and wilting of the leaves. There may be a mixture of healthy and diseased foliage. The leaves curl up as the branches die off. The disease attacks part of the tree crown initially, but will progress aggressively throughout the crown, blocking water transportation systems throughout the tree. While some trees may die within a single year of exposure, others may linger with the disease for many years. 

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

The City of Hanahan does not offer help in tree removal. In some instances, a permit may be required for the removal of trees eight inches in diameter or larger. Permits are free and available online or through the city’s building department.

The city does, however, offer pick-up services for yard debris weekly, including small limbs and branches as well as grass and hedge clippings. There are specific guidelines spelled out on the city’s website for how the debris must be cut and placed. Portions of whole tree removal are the responsibility of the homeowner who should have a tree removal company like Tree Triage haul it away. 

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Hanahan?

A property owner bears the responsibility for the removal of a fallen tree most of the time. Below are some scenarios you may find yourself in.

If you’re a homeowner?

As a homeowner, you are responsible for the removal of a tree that has fallen, whether it landed in your yard, a neighbor’s yard, or public property. 

If you’re a renter?

Renters are responsible for notifying their landlord or the leasing agent of a fallen tree on the property. A renter is not responsible for having it removed unless otherwise stated in a rental agreement. 

If you’re a landlord?

As the property owner, a landlord is responsible for a fallen tree on their property. They should arrange to have it removed and notify the renter in advance of the date and time that it will take place.

If you’re a neighbor?

Occasionally, this can be a sticky situation, but if a neighbor’s tree falls on your property, that neighbor is responsible for having it removed. You should work together at a time convenient for both of you to have us come to remove the tree.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Hanahan?

Much of South Carolina, specifically parts of Hanahan have clay soil. Yet, other areas of Hanahan have better draining and moderately permeable loam soils. Different types of trees enjoy different soils. The white oak which can live for hundreds of years, for instance, does poorly in more compacted clay soil and in soil that isn’t acidic enough for its needs.

Soil testing is available through Clemson University’s Cooperative Education department. It is an inexpensive way to understand the soil within your own backyard, providing information on your soil type and its pH values. 

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Hanahan?

For the most part, Hanahan’s weather is of no particular danger to tree life. But in case of severe flooding or a hurricane, it can be. On average, Hanahan receives close to 50 inches of rain per year. Flooding from rainwater does not cause danger to trees if the waters recede within a few days or a week at most. But if a hurricane brings in a lot of saltwater off the ocean, that can be damaging to some trees and their roots. The high winds of a hurricane along with wet soil can uproot whole trees from the ground. The winds can also knock loose any dead or dying branches from the tree and move them far away.

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Hanahan?

A tree falling on or near power lines is a dangerous situation. If this happens near main electrical lines, call Dominion Energy immediately. They will send a crew out to prune any wood on or near the lines. In some cases, the energy company crew may remove smaller limbs and debris, but it is up to the homeowner to have the trunk and larger limbs cut up and removed by a professional tree removal service like Tree Triage.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Hanahan?

As you can imagine, there is no set price for removing a tree. There are a lot of variables involved. You wouldn’t pay the same price to cut down a 15-ft and 60-ft tree. The higher tree will take more time, and labor charges will be higher. Most jobs fall between $150 and $2,000 with an average cost of $570. But other things affect the cost beyond labor. In some cases, additional equipment may be needed. You will need to decide if you want all parts of the tree, branches, and trunk hauled off, and then what about the stump?

Location and Equipment

Additional equipment may be needed, depending on how tall the tree is and/or whether it is located close to the house or garage. Use of a bucket truck may be needed for our trimmer to access branches close to the house, with the use of additional roping needed to pull those branches away from the roof and lower them safely to the ground. The specialty truck and roping of the tree branches will drive the cost up.

Disposing or Keeping the Wood

Additional care must be given to remove any possibly diseased or pest-infested wood. If the tree was healthy, you may wish to keep some of the wood for the fireplace. Retaining some of the wood could save in the cost of hauling all of it away and disposing of it. 

Additional Stump Removal Fee

Removing the stump, especially from a large tree, is another project in and of itself. Many homeowners decide to simply have the stump leveled off at ground level. This entails a bit of grinding after cutting down the last of the trunk and may not raise the price. But if you want the stump dug and ground out farther into the soil, say, if you plan to replace the tree with another plant, you can expect an additional charge.