AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Colonial Heights, VA

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Colonial Heights?

We see all sorts of tree issues pop up in Colonial Heights from time to time, but some issues are definitely more common than others in this part of Virginia. A few examples of the first things we look out for in trees here in Colonial Heights are:

• Dogwood Anthracnose
• White Pine Blister Rust
• Thousand Cankers Disease
• Sudden Oak Death
• Borers and other bark beetles
• Gypsy Moths

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

Not exactly. Colonial Heights doesn’t provide any direct assistance with tree removal problems, but they do offer a convenient way to recycle and dispose of trees and tree waste. Colonial Heights Recycling won’t pick up a tree at your curbside, but they’ll accept it at their recycling facility.

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Colonial Heights?

Under the law here in Virginia, if it’s your tree, it’s your problem. If the tree grew on your land, you must deal with its removal after it’s fallen, even if it fell on someone else’s property. If a tree from your property falls across property lines and your neighbor is forced to remove it before you get to it, you’ll likely owe them compensation for their costs during the removal.

It is important to note that while you’re responsible for removing trees that fall across property lines, typically, insurance will cover damages caused by trees falling as a no-fault incident. This means that insurance companies cover it as an act of God and won’t hold either party liable for the damages. If you’ve been warned in the past, though, that the particular tree is in ill health and at risk of falling, then your insurance company could find you negligent and refuse to pay for damages caused by the falling tree. This could leave you with a pretty hefty repair bill, so it’s extremely important to deal with tree care issues as soon as you become aware of them.

If you’re a homeowner?

If you own a home around Colonial Heights, the trees on the property are part of what you paid for. Your trees provide your home with shade, comfort, and beauty, and can literally grow the value of your property as they grow over the years. Trees don’t ask much in return for all these benefits except for sunlight, water, and a bit of maintenance once in a while. Taking care of your trees preserves the ecosystem on your property so that all of your plant life can thrive, and this includes tree removal when necessary.

Allowing fallen trees to sit and stagnate on your property not only creates an ugly eyesore but can also draw vermin and tree diseases to your yard that could have long-term implications for the health of every tree on your property. Just like the buildings on your property, the best way to protect your investment and avoid costly disasters is diligent maintenance and upkeep.

If you’re a renter?

If you rent property here in Colonial Heights, your landlord is probably the one responsible for removing fallen trees. Trees on your property are considered permanent and so, legally, are much more closely related to the buildings on the property than grass and other plant life. So while you may be responsible for mowing the lawn and basic yard care, trees are typically a maintenance obligation that falls on property owners.

If there are fallen trees on your rental property that need removal, you should call your landlord as soon as you are able. They’ll want to deal with these issues quickly to prevent long-term damage to their property and to avoid creating a safety hazard that could violate their obligations under the Virginia rental code. Even if you think they’ll want you to arrange for the removal, they should still be notified right away. Then they can choose whether you can work out details for removal or if they’d like to call us themselves.

If you’re a landlord?

While it may not be the answer you’d want to hear if you own a rental property in Colonial Heights, it’s likely that the responsibility to remove fallen trees is still yours and not your tenants’. Trees are considered permanent fixtures of the property. Just like with building maintenance, property owners are responsible for the upkeep of permanent fixtures like trees, unless it’s specifically stated otherwise in a lease agreement.

Don’t go rushing to redraft your lease agreements though. You don’t want tenants making choices about tree care and tree removal on your property. Your trees are a valuable part of your investment and property, and control of them should only be in the only hands that have a vested interest in the future of the asset: you. It may be a bit of a hassle to keep up with tree maintenance on your rental property, but a healthy and vibrant ecosystem of trees on your property keeps its appeal and value high, and maintaining that advantage is smart investing.

If you’re a neighbor?

If you have a neighbor who has fallen trees that need removal here in Colonial Heights, you do have some recourse. Colonial Heights city ordinances forbid public nuisances like fallen trees and other yard waste that clutter up any private property in town. Of course, you’ll want to try to settle things peacefully with your neighbor before escalating the situation. If you’re unable to resolve anything though, you may want to reach out to Colonial Heights Code Enforcement to see if they can help.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Colonial Heights?

You may encounter multiple types of soil in Colonial Heights, as our town is where the rolling hills of the Piedmont meet the sandy Coastal Plain. If you’re near the Appomattox or the basin surrounding our creeks, it’s likely your soil is the fine-grain, sandy loam of the Coastal Plain. These soils are great for trees but can harden on the surface and lock out water during periods of excessive rainfall, which can increase the chance of flooding and erosion.

If your home is on land that’s a little more Piedmont, then you’ll likely have much coarser grains of sand in your soil, and larger portions of it will be made up of silt and clays. These soils also feature excellent drainage qualities for trees and are much less likely to flood than their coastal counterparts. They may be too permeable for smaller trees, though, as water so readily drains deep into the soil that smaller trees may not be able to compete with large root systems.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Colonial Heights?

The weather around here is almost perfect for growing trees, but nowhere is ever exactly paradise. It gets hot around here in the summers. Strong trees should be fine through our hottest months, but trees with underlying health problems could struggle through the summer.

We do, however, get a significant amount of rain year-round in Colonial Heights. Though it’s always a little rainier in the autumn and dryer in the winter, trees can get the precipitation they need all year here. Although, this can also lead to another frequent problem for our trees, as heavy thunderstorms can put a serious strain on them. Again, healthy trees should be able to withstand a storm, and often, storm damage is related to issues that heavy rain and high winds simply exacerbated. Proper tree maintenance and care before storm season can both protect your trees and prevent the costly damage that trees can cause when they fall in a storm.

What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Colonial Heights?

Any tree that could fall onto a power line is an unacceptable risk. A tree should always be planted and trimmed so that they pose no threat to transmission lines or transformer boxes. Even small limbs that encroach on electric lines’ right-of-way could cause an interruption of service to thousands or even start dangerous fires.

If you have dead trees on your property that are already posing a threat to power lines, it’s far too late for warnings. For any tree trimming or removal near power lines, you’ll need to call Dominion Energy. Their utility workers have special training and tools to ensure that they can perform work near power lines safely, and they are the only people qualified to perform any work near power lines.

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Colonial Heights?

Tree removal is generally pretty affordable in this part of Virginia, averaging around $670. The cost of services usually runs between $200 and $2,100, though there are a few key factors that can vastly alter the cost of tree removal.

Tree Size

More tree means a much more involved tree removal. Removing big trees can pose a significant risk to surrounding plant life and buildings and, therefore, is going to require some extra planning and precautions to make sure the job is done efficiently and safely. Big trees have serious weight and can come down with immense force. Large trees can be extremely dangerous for our arborists to remove, and so we’ll have to take our time and make sure to do the job the right way. Safety is always our priority, and when it comes to the largest of trees, it has to always be at the forefront of our minds.

Tree Health

A tree that had health problems during its life may still have problems during its removal. Trees that died from sicknesses may still be carrying the infestation or pathogen that caused their health to decline. During removal, we may need to take extra steps to prevent their sickness from spreading to the other healthy trees on your property. 

If a tree’s been dead for a while and left out to linger, the wood has likely begun to rot. Rotten wood can create chaos during tree removal as rotten limbs, branches, and even trunks tend to splinter and shatter unpredictably. Often for these trees, it will take extra planning to ensure that tree removal goes exactly as expected. Any unforeseen incidents during tree removal could jeopardize the safety of people on the worksite or buildings in the vicinity, and it will take some extra effort to prevent them.

Tree Accessibility

Every once in a while, we encounter a tree needing removal that’s more than a little off the beaten path. If you have a tree on a remote area of your property that needs to be removed, it could pose some challenges for removal if we’re unable to get our trucks and tools to it. We’re always up for a challenge because, after all, tree removal is what we do. That having been said, any setbacks on the job often require more time, which can affect the cost.

Trees growing near obstructions could also complicate the removal process and lead to higher costs. Trees that have grown close to buildings or other healthy trees will require a little extra precision and planning to remove without causing damage to the other features of your property near them.