Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Murfreesboro?
- 2 Does the City of Murfreesboro Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Murfreesboro?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Murfreesboro?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Murfreesboro?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Murfreesboro?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Murfreesboro?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Murfreesboro?
It’s safe to say that there isn’t anything that sets the Murfreesboro, Tennessee area apart from any other city in the nation concerning tree problems. Trees and tree problems are pretty much the same no matter where you go or what species of tree you are talking about. There are, however, a few issues that occur frequently with regard to trees. What we’re going to look at now are the most frequently occurring tree issues here in the greater Murfreesboro area.
- Invasive Pests. Invasive pests affect the tree population. There are the aphids that will only attack the leaves of the tree and the borers which, like their name implies, bore small holes and feed either on the tree itself or the sap therein. Either way, these invasive pests can easily affect the tree population of any given area, given the chance.
- Mechanical and Natural Damage. Something as simple as a wound from a string trimmer can permanently damage the trunk of a tree. String trimmers that leave abrasions around the base of a tree can slow or alter the flow of nutrients to the tree and essentially starve it to death. The subtle scrape of a deer’s antlers against the tree trunk can do the same type of damage. The sad part is that we can only be aware of it and do what we can to prevent it, otherwise the damage is irreversible.
- Compacted Root Systems. When you plant a sapling, it’s kind of hard to imagine the roots of the adult tree being unable to spread out and properly grow. Things like sidewalks and buildings can hinder root growth. When you plant a tree, make sure there is room for the root system to fully develop.
- Proper Nutrient Absorption. This is a soil condition in which the soil plays the villain and doesn’t allow the tree’s root system to absorb essential nutrients. The reverse of this is just as bad. In some areas of Murfreesboro, particularly where there has been recent construction, the soil will hold excess water, some containing runoff from construction sites, which can devastate a tree in no time.
Most of these problems are caused by people. The more the public invades an area, the more damage to the area’s trees. We try to keep an eye out for the human invasive factor, but it’s one of those things where it will take everybody doing their part to make a difference. Decide to be a part of the tree’s solution, not an addition to the problems.
The trees in the greater Murfreesboro area are beautiful and the city itself takes the tree population seriously. That is exactly what we are going to look into in our next section.
Does the City of Murfreesboro Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
In most of the major metropolitan areas of the nation, certain agencies and committees tend to things like the rural landscape duties (trash and limbs from trees picked up for free) and urban canopy duties (a name referring to the tree population and the needs of those trees). Most of these agencies employ a certified arborist to oversee tree cleanup. Cities will usually go above and beyond to provide tree removal for their residents if the trees meet certain criteria. Murfreesboro, Tennessee does it a bit differently.
While there is nothing wrong with the way Murfreesboro goes about caring for its urban canopy, it just seems a bit out of the ordinary when compared to other cities. If you live in the greater Murfreesboro area and you have an issue with a tree that is going to require removal, you get a quote from a city-certified tree removal service that employs a certified arborist. This arborist has deemed the tree removal necessary, and then, if the funds are available from HUD (The Department of Housing and Urban Development), you can apply for up to $2500 in forgivable loans to have the tree removed. If you play your cards right, you could receive up to that amount per year as HUD makes this money available to these residents on a first-come, first-served basis.
It may sound like a rather strange ordeal to go through, but this way, the city can disperse the funds for the removal of dead, dying, or other hazardous trees that could potentially cost the cityto have removed. In this way, the City of Murfreesboro is using federal funding to pay for its tree removal issues within its town limits. Nothing wrong with that, all perfectly legal. Then the City can, in turn, use what would have been set aside for tree removal to promote overall tree health.
The tree removal process may not be how it is elsewhere, but when you stop and think about it, it’s another way that forward-thinking has found its way into the rural government of Murfreesboro, which is a good thing.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Murfreesboro?
There has been a storm. There are downed trees all over. However, the only one you care about is the one blocking your driveway. But wait, the same tree is also blocking your neighbor’s driveway. Who owns the tree and who is going to pay for its removal?
If you’re a homeowner?
If you’re the homeowner, you own the fallen tree, so you pay for the removal. The Laws of Tennessee are rather clear, if the main trunk of the tree or the main root system/ball of the tree is on your property, it’s yours. We have seen these issues fester into cases heard by State Supreme Courts, and guess what, those courts said the same thing: If it’s on your property, it’s your tree, and you are responsible.
If you’re a renter?
Contact the person(s) that you rent your home from and ask them if they possibly have any idea what to do. If they don’t, have those Laws of Tennessee handy and try to find some common ground.
If you’re a landlord?
If you are a landlord, you should already be aware of those laws referred to above. It just makes good sense that you would already know these things to protect yourself.
If you’re a neighbor?
You may have to be the bigger person and recommend reading up on the laws before bringing out the shotguns and declaring war on the neighbors. In all of these cases with renters, land and property owners, and neighbors, be an adult. Make sure no one is injured, refer to the actual laws, and call Tree Triage. Wasn’t that easy?
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Murfreesboro?
All soil affects trees to some degree. The soil in and around Murfreesboro is no different. There are issues with erosion and runoff from construction sites. Erosion problems in and around the greater Murfreesboro area are one of the more commonly seen issues discussed at the beginning of this guide. It is also one of those things that will take everyone doing their part to correct or at least slow down. Erosion and runoff also affect the tree’s ability to absorb nutrients and the root system’s ability to expand and thrive. The City of Murfreesboro has put in place measures to protect areas from erosion and runoff during any construction phase in the Murfreesboro area, but unless we all abide by these policies and procedures, we hurt the trees.
With reference to Murfreesboro’s location and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains, the soil is rather healthy for trees. Erosion from construction causes issues with the soil in this otherwise healthy part of Tennessee. The biggest problem that we see is trees that come down due to storm damage. That is what we are going to take a look at here in the next section.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Murfreesboro?
Weather is probably the number one enemy of trees in any city across America. Weather, wind, and floods are all enemies of trees and can bring them down in an instant when these forces are raging. Weather can attack every part of the tree, from the wind and storm taking out tall trees to the floods that weaken root systems and sweep trees away.
Weather and weather patterns can affect trees for up to weeks at a time and even more in severely stricken areas. When severe weather strikes an area, it may take weeks before all the trees can be addressed and cleaned up to properly restore the power grid.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Murfreesboro?
If there is a tree that poses a threat to the power grid in the immediate Murfreesboro area, the best thing to do is report it to Murfreesboro Electric. This electric utility company has policies and procedures in place to deal with problem trees before they cause outages and actual trees that have severed power lines. Whatever the case may be with a downed tree and power lines, report it immediately to Murfreesboro Electric.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Murfreesboro?
Now we are going to conclude our guide with a look into the financial end of having a tree removed in the greater Murfreesboro area. Here are the averages for a medium-sized tree to be removed in the Murfreesboro area.
- Average low cost for tree removal in Murfreesboro, TN: $515
- Average high cost for tree removal in Murfreesboro, TN: $701
- Average price paid for tree removal in Murfreesboro, TN: $608
Some issues can make those numbers increase or decrease:
Size
Those above averages are for the removal of a medium-sized tree (up to 40 feet tall). If your tree is any larger than 40 feet tall or considered, in any other way, to be larger than a medium-sized tree, your final bill will reflect that charge. With tree removal costs, it doesn’t get cheaper when you buy more.
Accessibility
How easy will it be to get to that tree you want removed? Will there have to be extra manpower to handle the traffic and run any extra equipment to remove your tree? The easier it is to get to, the cheaper your final bill will be!
Is the Tree Already Down?
If you have one of those large, dead trees that is still standing but poses a threat to a major city street, you may have to pay quite a bit more to have this tree removed in controlled sections, as opposed to one that has already fallen and simply needs to be cleaned up.