Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Hampton?
- 2 Does the City of Hampton Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Hampton?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Hampton?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Hampton?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Hampton?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Hampton?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Hampton?
Our Hampton yards offer a variety of trees that provide shade in the summer heat or a great spot to hang a hammock. You see a blend of native and non-native trees of all shapes and sizes. The trees we see most commonly in the area include:
- Eastern Redbud
- Honey Locust
- Longleaf Pine
- Loblolly Pine
- Eastern White Pine
- Red Spruce
- Bald Cypress
Some of these pine trees can reach heights of 60 to 100 feet or higher. When you have such a tall and beautiful tree growing in your Hampton yard that needs to be removed, it may difficult for you to understand. The most common issues we see with trees in the area include:
Damages from Storms
With its premier location along the Chesapeake Bay and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is at risk of being hit by a tropical storm or a hurricane. Although Virginia doesn’t see as many of these storms each fall as Florida, these storms bring massive damage.
Tropical storms arrive with sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph, while a hurricane shows up with winds between 74 mph to 156 mph or higher. These storms can pick up boats and deposit them on a dock or knock a tree over in your yard.
Along with high winds, these dangerous storms bring lots of rain and the possibility of flooding. Floodwaters move fast and can pull a tree out of the ground. This is made more difficult if the storm stalls over the area, dumping rain for hours or days.
Once the storm passes, all the water gets absorbed by the soil. If it doesn’t drain quickly enough, your trees are at risk for root rot, which is a fungal disease that can kill or damage a tree in your Hampton yard.
Damage from Pest Infestations
In the spring and the summer months, Hampton has a warm and humid climate, which is an oasis for insects. These pests are an important part of the ecosystem, but can spell trouble for your trees.
These insects will use your tree as a home or a buffet. Either way, they can damage or kill an otherwise healthy tree. We see a variety of insects in the area, and the most common are:
- European Gypsy Moth
- Imported Fire Ant
- Asian Gypsy Moth
- Asian Longhorned Beetle
- European Cherry Fruit Fly
- European Grapevine Moth
- Light Brown Apple Moth
- Spotted Lanternfly
Unfortunately, these critters don’t pick a single tree to destroy, and you might find them in multiple trees in your Hampton yard. On the positive side, if you’re able to catch an infestation early, we might be able to treat it and save the infested tree or trees. The signs that you need to keep an eye out for include:
- Misshapen or discolored leaves
- Areas of weakness where the limb separates from the trunk
- New limbs and leaves that appear smaller than normal
- Thinning leaf canopy
- Insects crawling on the tree
- Holes or channels in the trunk
These are some of the most common signs, but not all of them. If you suspect that you have an insect infestation, our team can check out its condition and make a recommendation for treatment or removal.
Does the City of Hampton Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
While the city of Hampton takes care of the trees on public land including any necessary removals, they don’t offer any assistance when a tree needs to be removed on private land. Almost all the trees in your yard are on private property. There might be an easement on your land towards the front of the yard, where the city places sidewalks. If a tree needs to be removed from here, the city takes care of it.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Hampton?
Our Hampton team gets many phone calls asking who the responsible party is for removing a fallen tree. The callers have varied situations and want to know if that shifts the responsibility to another party. This section covers the most common situations and identifies the responsible party for the tree’s removal.
If you’re a homeowner?
When you’re the Hampton homeowner, a fallen tree in your yard is considered to be on private property. This makes you responsible for the tree’s removal. You may find that the fallen tree is on an easement, which is a small parcel of land that the city or a utility company retains the right to use. When the fallen tree is in this area, the entity is responsible for its removal.
If you’re a renter?
Many tenants in the Hampton area take care of routine lawn maintenance. While this includes mowing the grass and pulling weeds, the homeowner is responsible for removing a fallen tree from the yard. You need to advise the homeowner when you see a tree issue.
If you’re a landlord?
In most cases, the landlord and the homeowner are the same person. If this is your situation, then you’re responsible for removing the tree from the Hampton yard. Yes, this is true even when you have a renter living in the home.
If you’re a neighbor?
If one of the tall trees in the Hampton area falls, it may land in more than one yard. When your neighbor’s tree falls in your yard, you’re responsible for removing the portion of it in your space.
However, if your neighbor knew that there was a problem with the tree and didn’t act, they were negligent. This negligence leaves your neighbor liable for any damage and removal of the entire tree.
You probably want to contact your neighbor before you call an attorney. If the two of you can agree, it’ll be easier, and will help you retain a friendly relationship. You may need to live next to them for many years to come.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Hampton?
Pamunkey soil is the most common soil type in the Hampton area. This soil is great for healthy tree growth. It runs deep into the ground and drains well. Without excess moisture in the soil, your trees run a lower risk of getting root rot, a fungal disease.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Hampton?
The weather can affect tree health in your Hampton yard. The fall brings with it the possibility of tropical storms and hurricanes, which can damage or kill a tree.
The winter temperatures can dip below freezing for days or weeks on end, even though most of the winter brings moderate temperatures. An extended period of below-freezing temperatures creates a hard freeze that freezes the nutrients in your soil. This can damage your trees, and you may find one in the spring that doesn’t bounce back.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Hampton?
You need to be cautious when dealing with the combination of power lines and dead trees. When you see a tree on a power line, leave the area and call your local emergency service. You don’t want to remove a dead tree near a power line by yourself. It’s time to hire a professional service like Tree Triage to ensure the tree doesn’t wind up on the power line.
With a dead tree near a power line, it’s possible that the tree is on an easement and the power company will remove it. Otherwise, you need to call us to remove the dead tree from your Hampton yard.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Hampton?
Most homeowners want to know how much it’s going to cost to remove their tree. Unfortunately, until we see the tree, we can only provide you with an average. The cost of tree removal in Hampton runs between $190 and $1,930 in most cases, with an average of around $550. Certain cost factors affect the final price.
Tree Removal Permit
Before we can even start work, we need to get a tree removal permit from the city of Hampton. This adds additional time and expenses to the project, increasing the cost of your final bill.
Additional Services
When we remove a tree from your Hampton yard, there are additional services we can provide. You might want to have the stump removed or the tree turned into wood chips or firewood. Wood chips are a great source of mulch to use around your yard.
Tree Size
The size of the tree directly relates to the amount of time it takes to remove it. Tall trees require additional safety equipment to protect our team and your home.
