Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Collierville?
- 2 Does the City of Collierville Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Collierville?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Collierville?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Collierville?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Collierville?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Collierville?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Collierville?
To keep your plants and trees alive and free of problems, you first need to understand some of the more common tree diseases the area often has to deal with, such as:
Asian Long-Horned Beetle
This beetle kills hardwood trees, including birch, maple, horse chestnut, elm, buckeyes, and ash trees. It does so by tunneling through the stems and branches, causing the dieback of the tree’s crown before it eventually kills the tree.
Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer is a green or jewel beetle native of northeast Asia that feeds on ash species. Generally, females tend to lay eggs in bark crevices on the ash trees. As the larvae grow, they feed underneath the bark and emerge as adults in one to two years. Depending on the health and the size of the ash tree, it can take anywhere from two to five years for a tree to die from an emerald ash borer infestation.
Thousand Cankers Disease
The thousand cankers disease primarily affects black walnut trees. The condition is a result of the combined activity of a fungus and the walnut twig beetle. Typically, what happens is the adult walnut twig beetle will carry spores of the fungus with it as it travels from tree to tree. As a result, when it tunnels into the trunks and branches to produce its egg galleries or create a shelter, the fungus will be introduced into the tree during this wounding period, where it will subsequently grow and germinate.
The early symptoms of the disease include yellowing of the leaves and foliage, thinning of the upper crown of the tree. Unfortunately, as the disease progresses, the larger limbs are killed, followed by the trunk.
Does the City of Collierville Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The town of Collierville is in charge of assisting with tree removal problems. Typically, the town planner and town engineer will collaborate and make decisions regarding the removal of trees that are dead, dangerous, injured, or a threat to the public safety and welfare, without having to present a revised tree plan to the planning commission. They sometimes do this for practical reasons, too.
It is also unlawful for residents to remove any tree or begin changing the elevation, grading, or earthwork of a property without first applying and receiving a permit from the town.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Collierville?
Property owners in Collierville are responsible for maintaining their trees. Yet, determining liability for the costs associated with removing a fallen or dead tree is not as apparent as many people expect it to be. It will often depend on numerous factors.
If you’re a homeowner?
If a tree falls because of a natural cause, such as a severe storm, the property owner of the place where the tree has fallen will be responsible for taking care of the removal costs. However, it is also essential to add that homeowners in Collierville need to reasonably care for their trees to make sure that they do not damage their neighbor’s property. Otherwise, they can be held responsible for the damages that result due to the fallen tree.
What does reasonable care mean exactly? If a homeowner notices that their trees show signs of weakness or instability, they need to take suitable action and call us to either trim the tree or remove it within a reasonable period.
If you’re a renter?
Before a renter moves into a rental property, they will enter into a rental property agreement with the landlord, which will discuss how each party will care for the property. However, if problems come up that are not mentioned in the contract, the landlord will often be responsible for making any necessary repairs to the property, while the renter will be in charge of maintaining the premises. Consequently, if the tree falls, it will most likely cause damages beyond the renter’s responsibility and become the landlord’s problem.
If you’re a landlord?
As discussed above, it will often be the landlord’s responsibility if a tree falls unless their property agreement indicates otherwise. For these reasons, the landlord will be responsible for the costs associated with removing the fallen tree.
If you’re a neighbor?
Tennessee often follows the legal theory of negligence when it comes to fallen trees. Based on this principle, the property owner from where the fallen tree originated will only be liable for the tree if they knew or should have known it was dangerous. Otherwise, if the tree falls because of natural causes, the property owner will generally not be held accountable for the damages that it causes and the costs associated with removing the tree.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Collierville?
Western Tennessee is mainly made up of alluvial soils, which are amongst the more productive soils in the state. Alluvial soils are soils that are deposited by surface water, which means you will often find them along rivers, in deltas, floodplains, stream terraces, and areas called alluvial fans. These soils are formed differently from many of the other soils which are made through the long process of rock transformation and can often take thousands of years. As a result, this nutrient-rich alluvial soil makes it easy to grow plants, shrubs, trees, and other vegetation in Collierville.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Collierville?
Most of Tennessee is considered to have a humid subtropical climate, which means that the weather is generally moderate with four distinct seasons. Typically, the budding of dogwoods and wildflowers occurs in the spring, while honeysuckle comes in the summer. Due to the gorgeous fall foliage and the crisp air, Tennessee autumns are one of the most memorable times of the year, while the winter brings mild snowfall and flurries with it.
However, since the area’s climate changes throughout the year, it is important to plant trees that can handle these dynamic conditions. Some of the best tree varieties for the region include:
- Autumn blaze maple
- Thuja green giant
- Arapaho crape myrtle
- Weeping willow
- Sycamore
- Liberty holly
- Tulip poplar
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Collierville?
Utility companies, such as Memphis Light, Gas, and Water, are responsible for ensuring that trees do not create power outages or dangerous situations. This means these companies are responsible for taking care of the root of the problem and preventing these situations from even occurring. Simply put, they are in charge of cutting and trimming the trees.
Memphis Light, Gas, and Water maintain one of the most proactive tree-trimming programs in the nation. Through this program, trees are trimmed, on average, once every three to five years. Yet, although they perform this trimming regularly, it is still important to call the customer care center at (901) 544-6549 if you are aware of a tree that is interfering with a power line.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Collierville?
In Collierville, the cost of removing a tree or unwanted shrub can cost property owners anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, depending on certain factors, such as the work that needs to be done, the area surrounding the tree, the size of the tree, and the tree’s accessibility. Homeowners must understand these factors, so they can be better prepared to cover the costs of their tree removal project.
Tree Size
Tree size will be one of the most significant factors when it comes to determining removal costs. In Collierville, to remove a medium-height tree that ranges from 30 feet to 60 feet tall, the costs can be anywhere from $150 to $850 or more. In comparison, tall trees which generally range from 60 feet to 80 feet tall may start at $700 but can cost upwards of $2,000 to cut down.
Tree Accessibility and Surrounding Terrain
Another significant factor that will impact tree removal costs has to do with access to the tree. For example, our arborists will look into whether:
- Removing the tree debris from the area will be incredibly labor-intensive and time-consuming
- It will be challenging to get large equipment into the yard, especially if the property is small
We will also check the area surrounding the tree to verify that it does not pose any issues, such as if a fence or a garden is blocking the tree, the tree is on a slope, or next to a power line. If any of these factors are present, it can impact the final costs of the removal.
Tree Health and Fall Risk
If the tree is diseased, dying, dead, or has a risk of falling over, our arborists may need to implement further safety measures and use special safety equipment to ensure that injury is prevented when the tree is being removed. As a result, if these special precautions need to be applied to the project, the tree removal bill can increase significantly.
