Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Front Royal?
- 2 Does the City of Front Royal Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Front Royal?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Front Royal?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Front Royal?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Front Royal?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Front Royal?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Front Royal?
Located in Warren County, Virginia, Front Royal brings its own private charms to the table. It’s considered to be a natural, quaint country town, and offers a mixture of historical sites as well as homemade pickings for eating. Part of what makes the city such a beautiful place is the greenery. Front Royal prides itself on being one of the top cities in the nation when it comes to arbor day. Throughout the year, trees are properly trimmed and pruned to provide a sense of elegance and natural shine to public areas. Unfortunately, even with all of the hard work and care, the trees aren’t 100% safe from common diseases and pests.
Volcanic Mulching
Primarily caused by human error behind positive intent, volcanic mulching is when mulch is piled against the base of a tree year after year and begins to limit or prohibit the root development of that tree. While mulch is a good thing, large quantities of it can cover the root flare and reduce stability in young or growing trees. Mulch also leaves the bark of trees in consistent states of being wet, leaving them prone to diseases and decay.
Oak Wilt
Caused by a fungus, oak wilt is one of the most prominent killers of oak trees. It’s found in at least 21 states and causes leaves to turn green or bronze before wilting and curling, ultimately turning yellow or brown as the leaves die. The fungal disease starts at the tips of leaves and works its way back into the tissues and vessels of the tree, sometimes causing them to experience stages of decay through death in the span of a couple of months.
Does the City of Front Royal Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The town of Front Royal has an Urban Forestry Department made up of 5 leaders that serve terms of 4 years voted in. This department is responsible for the maintenance, care, and planting of trees that are on public property. If a tree is in an alleyway or located on public property and poses a risk of falling on private property, it is the responsibility of the property owner to notify the town about having it removed.
In unique situations where a tree is considered a private tree but designated as a Memorial, Heritage, or Specimen tree, the town will assist in the removal if the tree is decaying due to disease or natural infestations caused by insects. However, if the tree falls on its own accord, it is then up to the property owner to handle the removal.
There is a group of tree stewards in the town that works with the Urban Forestry Department to provide assistance in maintaining and caring for trees all throughout the city. This group helps direct homeowners to the forestry team as necessary and works alongside Virginia state’s forestry teams, assisting in getting help with tree issues for the elderly, organizing educational events, and helping keep track of protected trees.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Front Royal?
In many situations when a tree falls, your homeowner’s insurance may assist in paying or reimbursing you for the removal or any damages caused by the fallen nuisance. This is one of the many reasons it’s important to know who is responsible for dealing with the tree, outside of needing it removed from your property in general.
If you’re a homeowner?
Tree law in Virginia is pretty specific in the way it handles civil cases with damage caused by trees and Front Royal primarily sticks to these state laws. If a tree on your property falls on your property, then you are primarily held responsible for the removal of that tree.
If you’re a renter?
Responsibility for the maintenance and care of potentially diseased or decaying trees stays under the homeowner’s care unless stated otherwise in your lease agreement. However, if a tree falls due to negligence and it can be proven that there was visible rot and you failed to report that to your landlord, you may be held partially liable for the lack of care and maintenance.
If you’re a landlord?
Unless your binded lease agreement with your current tenant states that they’re responsible for more than basic lawn care, including the maintenance and care of trees, then you retain the responsibility for handling issues with fallen trees the same way you’d be responsible for issues with a water pipe bursting.
If you’re a neighbor?
Clinging to tree law in the state, you are allowed to trim back branches or limbs from a neighboring tree that encroaches on your property. However, you can not enter your neighbor’s property to do so without permission. When dealing with a fallen tree, to receive restitution, you have to be able to prove that the neighbor acted in a negligent way when caring for and maintaining the tree and that the fall caused actual damage. Providing proof of damage is fairly easy, but being able to provide evidence of negligence can be difficult. In most situations, unless you can prove negligence, then the responsibility of removing a tree that fell from a neighboring property is your duty.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Front Royal?
Surveys show that Front Royal and most of Warren County, VA has a mixture of well-draining, clayey and loamy soils that are perfect for helping growing greens absorb much-needed nutrients. From lodi-enclave soil types to rock-out-crop-carbo-Chilhowie soil types, you’ll commonly find traces of silt loam and limestone. The various soils in the area are naturally nutrient-rich, often being surrounded by small streams or rivers, and are fairly deep which make great homes for trees to comfortably extend their roots as they grow.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Front Royal?
Throughout the year, Front Royal experiences mild to warm weather, only embracing the chill of the winter season for typically 3 months. Throughout the winter, temperatures are likely to drop below freezing and snow could cause the ground to freeze for extended periods of time. This often leads to trees needing a little maintenance and trimming once the weather warms back up. By trimming branches and twigs following snow or freezing weather, you can help young or healthy trees get back to absorbing nutrients as quickly as possible.
During spring, summer, and fall, you’ll notice a mixture of sunny and cloudy days. Fortunately, the heat in Front Royal doesn’t commonly cause alarm with trees by causing dehydration. If there are several weeks back to back without a little bit of rain, you can comfortably water your yard and around trees to help loosen up the ground and ensure trees are gathering nutrients from the soil.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Front Royal?
We’re all aware that trees near power lines can be a cause for concern, especially if they’re showing signs of decay. Luckily, in Front Royal, the city has created a pretty unique tree replacement program to encourage homeowners to report risky trees that are near electrical lines. The idea behind the program is that the city will work with local utility companies to safely have the tree removed, and as part of the line clearance program, they’ll provide homeowners with a $75 voucher to purchase a replacement tree or shrub from Springtime Garden Center. This helps preserve the safety of everyone, reduces electrical disruptions, and promotes new growth.
To help understand just how dangerous interacting with live lines can be, Osha created an easy-to-read prevention study. You can find cases where victims have fallen and wound up in critical care to unfortunate situations where somebody has lost their life while trying to remove a tree nearby a power line. Active lines can carry anywhere from 2,100 volts up to 765,000 volts. That’s a lot of electricity and a great deal of risk.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Front Royal?
Common tree removal services in the area average at around $580-$600. This cost typically includes dealing with a medium-sized tree, the labor and work that goes into removing it, along with any equipment and machinery used. Depending on certain dynamics of the removal project, your quote may raise or lower in cost.
Size and Diameter
The size of a tree is routinely the biggest cost factor in removal services. Size is determined based on height, diameter, and even the type of tree. The type of tree is considered along with the size, based on the fact that a hardwood and softwood tree may resemble the same height and diameter, but the weight of the tree is going to be incredibly different. Size is usually one of the first cost factors considered since it helps determine what kind of equipment is going to be used, if additional harnesses or safety precautions need to be made, and so forth.
Accessibility
Determining how far the tree needs to be removed from the roadway, will alter the pricing of removal slightly. For example, if the tree being removed is in your front yard, then it’s likely that there won’t be a period of time toting large equipment or machines around in order to get to the tree. However, if the tree in question is across a river and down an embankment or near some type of structure, it may be a little more difficult to get the necessary tools to the tree. Plus, trees near structures require more attention to detail and planning to ensure no damage comes to your home or building.
Equipment and Machinery
Each tree removal project is unique and uses similar equipment but may require additional tools to safely remove it. During some jobs, grinders and other machinery will need to be used for additional work such as removing a stump and hauling it off. This typically won’t add a large jump in price, but it will slightly increase due to the extra work and additional equipment.
