AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Humble, TX

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Humble?

Although Humble gets a good amount of precipitation year-round, there’s no denying how harsh our summers can get. In many cases, the heat can drag on too long with temperatures too high, causing dry spells that seem to suffocate the air and leave us all begging for more water. When this happens, humans aren’t the only ones clutching their glasses of water — trees need a little extra love and care with watering as well. 

Fortunately, there are trees accustomed to Humble’s climate (although they still need proper watering), and they should be planted over others because they’ll survive these conditions the best. Some Texas natives include Live Oaks, Cedar Elms, Texas Ash, Black Cherry, and American Sycamore. You may find more tree planting options on Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Tree Planting Guide.

Even the most acclimated trees in Humble are susceptible to tree issues. Of all of them, the most common in our area to be aware of include the following.

Oak Wilt

Oak wilt is a fungus known to move through the water-conducting tissues of oak species and can be transferred from tree to tree through splashing water, unsanitized gardening tools, and insects. It isn’t always a quick death sentence for your trees. However, red oaks are particularly susceptible and typically only make it 4 to 6 weeks before dying. 

AgriLife reports that oak wilt has killed millions of trees in 76 counties of Central, North, and West Texas. “This native fungus has been affecting oaks for decades in Texas,” reported Texas A&M Forest Service regional forest health coordinator Demian Gomez. “Prevention and early detection are vital to stop the spread.”

To ensure early detection, look out for common signs like wilted or curling leaves, discoloration, premature falling, and apparent declining health. Otherwise, check out Texas Oak Wilt for more in-depth and specific information on Oak Wilt about different oak species.

Bacterial Leaf Scorch (BLS)

Bacterial leaf scorch is a tree disease common to Texas because of its love for hot and dry spells in the area. Insects and splashing water droplets spread these bacteria, causing damage to many of our oaks and elms. 

According to the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab, common symptoms to look for in elms include what looks like leaf scorching, health decline, curling, premature dropping, and dead/dying tree branches. In oaks, they suggest keeping an eye out for scorching, yellow bordering green and brown tissues, premature falling, and symptoms similar to oak wilt and tree stressors.

We recommend proper watering and other nutritional values when necessary to combat the disease and protect your trees from the effects of Bacterial Leaf Scorch. However, if your tree has oak wilt, it must be removed immediately and properly to reduce the risk to the rest of your landscape. 

Texas Tree Pests

Like anywhere you live, tree pests are unavoidable. They vary depending on the habitat, but they exist no matter where in the world you live. For your trees, this can mean a death sentence over time or severe damage and weakening — making them susceptible to death caused by other tree diseases.

According to APHIS, the most common bests in our area and what they eat are:

• Asian Gypsy Moth — North American tree and shrub species
• Asian Longhorned Beetle — hardwood trees and national forests
• Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle — palm trees, including coconut, date, and oil palms
• European Cherry Fruit Fly — Sweet and tart cherries and other environmental hosts such as honeysuckle and dogwood
• False Codling Moth — plants, fruit trees, and field crops
• Spotted Lanternfly — fruit, ornamental, and woody trees

Additionally, they report federally quarantined insects in Texas to look out for, including Asian citrus psyllids, imported fire ants, and Mexican fruit flies.

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

The City of Humble does not help private property owners with tree issues on their property. Contact our professional arborists for this service request. However, public trees are another story as they are the city’s responsibility to take care of, maintain, and remove when necessary. 

Suppose residents in Humble notice that their or a neighbor’s tree has fallen onto the public property (i.e., alleys, right-of-ways, parks) or obstructs roadways, traffic obstructions, and need to identify road closures. In that case, you should direct your issue to Harris County by filling out the proper application and sending it in.

Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Humble?

It can be a challenge dealing with the aftermath of a falling tree. Fortunately, we have the breakdown for who is responsible for what in the following scenarios. For more information regarding Tree laws and Neighbor Laws, the Texas State Law Library covers more in-depth topics and information for reference. 

Meanwhile, here is who is responsible in the most common cases.

If you’re a homeowner?

As a homeowner, you are responsible for all the trees on your property, including removing a fallen tree. While this can change depending on the scenario (check our ‘neighbor’ section for more on that), it is the case most of the time.

However, if a tree lands on multiple properties, there is what is called ‘shared responsibility between owners; meaning that all owners — including the City if it’s on public property — pay for removing the portion up to their property line.

If you’re a renter?

Great news! As a renter, the responsibility of removing a fallen tree does not fall on you. Instead, it is up to your landlord to take care of the huge expense. We suggest that you keep an eye out for damaged, dead, or dying trees to inform your landlord of a needed removal before the tree falls. This not only ensures you and your family’s safety but allows the landlord ample time to get the job done before it falls on its own.

If you’re a landlord?

As the landlord, your responsibilities are much of the same as a homeowner. Not only are you responsible for the care and maintenance of all the trees on your property, but you are also responsible for their removal. Considering you have the additional responsibility of your renters and tenants, we recommend regular tree checkups and upkeep from our specialists to secure their safety. 

If you’re a neighbor?

As a neighbor, it can be a little more confusing on who is responsible for what, especially since it all depends on the state of the tree before it fell over. What we mean by this is if the tree was healthy and fell over from your neighbor’s property onto your property due to natural causes, then it is your responsibility to remove the tree and take care of damages.

On the other hand, if the tree was dead, dying, or damaged, and that was the reason it fell over — then it is your neighbor’s responsibility to remove the tree from your property and take care of all damages that resulted. 

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Humble?

Considering our trees are rooted and grown from the soil in Humble, it’s safe to say they are affected in every way by the soil in our area. However, it depends on the tree for whether it’s a good or bad way. For instance, native trees will be more positively impacted than ones accustomed to a different soil in another state. 

In Texas, the state soil is Houston Black. Soil Series describes this soil as one that “consists of very deep, moderately well-drained, very slowly permeable soils.” Our generally clay soils make water transmit through it slowly, allowing it to retain moisture for your trees, making the soil more nutrient-rich.

However, Soils 4 Teachers adds that its limitations include “high clay content causes the soil to be very hard when dry and very sticky when wet, and it tends to shrink when dry and swell when wet.”

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Humble?

No matter how acclimated our native Humble trees are to our hot and wet weather, they will always be susceptible to natural disasters common in our area. 

According to Texas Ready, the most common of these natural disasters to make it into Texas are hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, thunderstorms, winter storms, and extreme heat — all of which can add a lot of stress and damage to our Humble trees. Weather plays a significant role in tree health, whether through extreme heat where we must water our trees more often to keep them safe or through tornadoes where it is out of our hands when trees are swiped from the ground and thrown miles away. 

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Humble?

If dead trees are near a power line in Humble, it is up to residents to call their electric company and tell them right away. By no means should any resident ever take the matter into their own hands and remove branches or the tree as a whole. It is very dangerous.

According to one of our area’s electric companies, Oncor, they will prune or remove any trees that interfere with power lines, following the best practices and guidelines in the industry and using a team of qualified professionals. They also note that pruning of trees within 10 feet of a power line is absolutely prohibited. 

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Humble?

A lot of things can go into the final cost of removing a tree from your Humble property. On average, most residents pay between $200 and $1,900 with an average of $720, but that number can change dramatically based on the following cost factors.

Height of Your Tree

The height of your tree plays a big part in the price of your service because a tree well over 30 feet is going to be much more challenging to take care of than one well under 30 feet — taking more of our crew members, equipment, and time to remove from your property safely.

If the tree is fallen, expect to pay as much as half the price of a standing tree since most of the job is done regardless of the tree’s height.

Additional Services — Tree Protections/Land and Lot Clearing

You should also budget for any additional services you might be interested in. For instance, tree protection includes trunk injections meant to help new and surrounding trees keep safe from potential threats that may have killed your fallen tree. Trunk injections range from $40 to $50 and depend on the tree in question.

On the other hand, land and lot clearing consists of our professionals removing yard waste and properly disposing of it. This can be a little more than a thousand more but saves you from the hassle of disposing of yard waste according to local laws and regulations. 

Hourly Rate of Your Expert

Hourly rate is another important factor to consider. Our experienced professionals will rightfully cost more than one who has only been in the field a short time, but the risks associated with tree removal are diminished when you work with our skilled experts.