Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Alexandria?
- 2 Does the City of Alexandria Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Alexandria?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Alexandria?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Alexandria?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Alexandria?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Alexandria?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Alexandria?
All sorts of flowering, fruit-bearing, and deciduous trees are native to the Alexandria area. Popular trees include:
- Maple
- Mulberry
- Golden Jubilee Peach
- Ash
- Virginian Pine Scrub
- Hackberry
While these trees greatly enhance the landscape and give residence much joy, they come with their own troubles. Pruning, trimming, and general maintenance are required for all trees. They take care of themselves in nature, but in yards, there are fewer nutrients. Pruning and trimming help trees stay healthy. Without proper care, trees can become sick with disease or pests, as well as a variety of environmentally-caused issues. Some of the most common tree issues in Alexandria trees are listed below.
Improper Planting and Mulching
Trees must have the correct soil and nutrients to grow. Planting a tree without the proper requirements will cause it to die before the first year of life is complete. Things like sun and wind exposure matter. It’s important to make sure to know where and how a tree should be planted before you put it in the ground.
Scale Insects
Scale insects infest trees and shrubs. These types of insects cause stunted growth, premature leaf drop, twig dieback, and even death. Often, these insects cannot be detected until it’s too late. We treat them in a variety of ways, including chemical agents.
Bagworms
Bagworms are a type of caterpillar. They are highly recognizable by the brown, woody-looking bag they form in trees to incubate. The worst part about bagworms is their efficiency. They can easily devour a tree or large shrub in a matter of weeks or months.
Japanese Beetles
Every homeowner in Alexandria is familiar with the Japanese beetle. These colorful creatures start life as grubs that feast on your lawn. When they learn to fly, they begin chewing on the foliage of every tree and shrub in its path.
Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium Wilt is a fungus that thrives in deciduous trees. It causes stunted growth in leaves. Foliage turns a dark orange-brown color before falling off.
Apple Scab
Apple scab is a disease that affects apple trees, both wild and cultivated. The first sign is a brownish scab appearing over the flower buds. The fungus starts as small yellow fuzzy spots that get bigger as it grows.
Does the City of Alexandria Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
There are more than 20,000 trees on private and municipal property in Alexandria and so many thousands more in forests and natural areas. Alexandria Urban Forestry Management takes care of the maintenance of the city’s trees. Any trees that are on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. This includes any damages incurred when they fall on other people’s property.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Alexandria?
In most cases, it’s easy to tell who is responsible when a tree falls in Alexandria, but not always. This handy checklist explains where responsibility lies in the neighborhood.
If you’re a homeowner?
The financial responsibility for any mishap, not just fallen trees, lies with the homeowner. Should a storm knock one of your trees into the neighbor’s yard, you are responsible for the cleanup costs, but also the costs of replacing any damaged property.
If you’re a renter?
If you are renting your home you won’t hold any responsibility for a fallen tree. An exception would be if the rental agreement has a clause that the renter is responsible for any lawn maintenance like felled trees. In that case, the renter’s insurance may pay for the tree removal and clean-up, as well as any damages if there is a clause in the policy.
If you’re a landlord?
A landlord is also the property owner, so they have the same responsibilities as homeowners. If you instead work as a property manager and only oversee the rental payments, you could be responsible for the manual labor or the tree removal, but the costs would lay with the property owner.
If you’re a neighbor?
Neighbors aren’t held responsible for any cost of tree removal.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Alexandria?
Virginia has Pamunkey soil. It is deep and well-drained. Since the days of the Pamunkey Indians, the soil has been naturally highly fertile, able to produce high crop yields. The soil possesses sediments from all across the state due to the James River. The river crosses the whole state and carries sediment with it along the way.
Soils that drain well and have select mineral surpluses are useful to trees. It facilitates a better bloom time, longer life, and brighter foliage.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Alexandria?
Alexandria has a humid, subtropical environment that directly affects tree health. Alexandria is a medium-sized community and sees a variety of rough weather patterns. Temperatures are generally above freezing throughout the winter months, so there isn’t much damage due to frostbite or deep cold.
High winds off the water and storm salt can cause a salt burn that fatally damages trees exposed for several months. High winds bring in tropical moisture loaded with salt spray from the sea. This salt burn can have a devastating effect on a tree’s long-term health. Most trees will recover in 5 to 7 years, but just two bad seasons can certainly kill a tree.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Alexandria?
Sometimes a storm will come along and dislodge a limb, causing it to fall onto a power line. Other times they just snap under their own weight. A downed power line due to a limb not only knocks the power out, but is dangerous as well. Only a team of electrical professionals can repair a broken power line.
Dominion Energy takes care of most of the power needs in Alexandria. If a tree has fallen on a power line, or a dead tree is near a power line, call their office immediately.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Alexandria?
Tree removal is not cheap, but it is considerably cheaper than the price you’ll pay when a limb smashes the windshield of your car. Small jobs, such as a few stray limbs after a storm, will probably cost you a hundred dollars or so, but a big tree removal job might end up costing up to or more than $1,800. If you live in the greater Alexandria area of Virginia, you can expect to spend a minimum of a hundred or two and a maximum of around $2,200, with most jobs averaging $524. No matter what side of the fence you’re on, tree removal in Alexandria comes with a fairly hefty price tag.
Now, let’s take a look at some contributing factors in the cost of Alexandria tree removal.
Accessibility
Where a tree falls has a lot to do with how much it costs to clean it up. If major equipment, like bucket trucks or cranes, is required to complete the clean-up, costs will reflect it. On the other hand, a tree that falls over in the middle of a field with nothing around will be a piece of cake for our team. Another factor is whether the tree falls onto another structure, such as a well-house or garden shed. Costs will be higher to clean up the additional mess.
Size of the Tree
Not so surprisingly, the size of the tree has a big impact on how much clean-up will cost. A tiny sapling won’t cost as much to clean up as a huge oak tree. A 20-foot tree in Alexandria can cost roughly $400 to $750 to remove.
Tree Stump Removal
Tree stumps cost to remove, too. Sometimes a tree snaps at the base, or if it has to be cut down, you may not want the stump to stay in your yard. We can dig them up and remove them or grind them down. It is not a service that is usually included in the price of tree removal, so unless you have plans for that stump, you’ll have to pay to get rid of it.
Type of Tree
The type of tree affects the price to cut it down and clean it up. Oak and sycamore trees are some of the hardest wood there is. It can cost upwards of $2,000 to remove an oak tree, depending on the size.
Limb Chipping and Log Splitting
Limb chipping is when limbs are put through a wood chipper. We can provide this service if requested, but it will add to the cost.
If you have a fireplace, you may as well get some firewood out of a fallen tree. We can bring a log splitter and use it to split the fallen tree into pieces of wood perfect for your fireplace. There isn’t a fixed price for this type of service, but we can always add this to your estimate.
