Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Everett?
- 2 Does the City of Everett Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Everett?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Everett?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Everett?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Everett?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Everett?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Everett?
Foliage Diseases
Northwestern Washington is home to several different types of foliar diseases. These include:
- Dothistroma blight, a fungal disease that affects pines by killing off needles and foliage. It causes premature defoliation and significantly weakens affected trees. It can also spread quickly.
- Swiss needle cast, which infects Douglas firs. Hundreds of thousands of firs across the Pacific Northwest have been affected. While it rarely kills trees on its own, it causes premature defoliation and leaves trees vulnerable to other diseases and conditions.
- Western larch foliar disease causes foliage discoloration. It’s a fungal disease that leads to premature discoloration and slow needle regrowth.
Root Diseases
Multiple different types of root diseases can cause rot, slow growth, and other problems with trees across the Everett, Washington, area. Annosus root disease is common across the United States, especially in the west, and it causes rapid root or butt decay and root mortality. As a tree’s root system decays, the tree itself intakes fewer nutrients and has less resistance to wind and weather conditions. It affects almost every type of conifer, but it is especially common in fits, pines, and hemlocks.
Another fungal disease, laminated root rot, is caused by Phellinus weirii. It causes severe tree loss, especially in Washington’s Douglas fir population. The fungus spreads gradually throughout trees but is difficult to catch or prevent.
Water Damage and Destabilization
Northwestern Washington has significant rainy seasons that can flood the soil and destabilize trees, especially if they have weakened root systems. Trees with fungal diseases and root damage are vulnerable to being felled or knocked into a poor growing position. This can make the trees potentially hazardous to nearby structures and require trimming or outright removal.
Does the City of Everett Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The city of Everett has an online permitting process so landowners can quickly apply to remove hazardous trees or trees that are interrupting development. Everett also handles the process of assessing and removing street trees that are a potential hazard. These hazards include infectious tree diseases, being a public nuisance, or posing a threat to other trees in the area, and more. As part of the assessment process for removing a street tree, Everett’s Tree Committee will determine if the property owner or the city is responsible for the cost of the tree removal. Generally, removed trees must be replaced by one or two trees.
Snohomish County also offers resources and information regarding hazardous trees along county roads and other public locations. If there is a structurally unsound tree that looks dangerous or like it may damage adjacent property if it falls over, you can contact Snohomish County’s Public Works office to report the issue.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Everett?
Generally, trees are determined to belong to whoever owns the property the base of the tree sits (or sat) on. However, if trees sit or fall across different property lines, knowing who is responsible for managing tree removal can be difficult. Here are some general scenarios to help you determine if you or someone else needs to remove a fallen tree.
If you’re a homeowner?
If your tree falls on your property, you’re responsible for arranging tree removal under most circumstances (such as if it fell due to weather conditions or general deterioration). However, your home insurance provider may cover all or some of the costs. We recommend contacting your insurance provider for an assessment as you work with us to arrange for tree removal. Removing the tree quickly can minimize potential danger and damage to your landscape.
If you’re a renter?
When you rent a property, either an apartment or a single-family residence, you’re not responsible for tree removal. Instead, you can report the fallen tree to your landlord. Also, report any structural damage that occurred as a result of the fallen tree. If your personal property was damaged when the tree fell, such as if it fell on your patio furniture, consult your renter’s insurance provider about covering the cost of replacements.
If you’re a landlord?
Whether you have a tenant in your property or it’s currently vacant, you as the property owner are responsible for managing tree removal for fallen trees. We recommend quickly arranging for tree removal to minimize disruption to your property and reducing your liability if the tree poses a potential safety hazard.
If you’re a neighbor?
If your neighbor’s tree fell across the property line and onto your property during a storm or as a natural event, you’re responsible for removing it. Your insurance provider may cover all or some of the costs of removing it and repairing damage on your property. However, if the tree fell because of negligence on the part of the tree owner, they may be responsible for some or all of the cost.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Everett?
Western Snohomish County, where Everett sits, is home to level, rolling plains. This reduces the risk of rapid soil movement that can affect trees in more hilly or mountainous areas (though there is still a risk of flooding due to weather events). The area around Everett also has dozens of different soil types and conditions that can affect trees differently. Most of the soil has plenty of nutrients to promote healthy plant and tree growth. However, there are varying levels of drainage in the soil across the city. Poorly draining soil with heavy clay components holds onto water and can be difficult for roots to penetrate and grow through. There is also well-draining and even excessively drained soil that requires irrigation to maintain adequate water levels. Tree owners should monitor their trees to look for signs of parched soil, yellowing foliage that indicates overwatering, and other indications of potential growth issues.
The soil in the area can also have a high concentration of phosphorus due to runoff. As a result, it’s generally best to avoid fertilizers with additional high concentrations of phosphorus to avoid contaminating the soil or water supply.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Everett?
Everett sees humid and temperate weather throughout most of the year. While dry summer seasons may demand occasional irrigation, trees receive plenty of water throughout the autumn, winter, and spring. In fact, trees may receive too much water especially if they have damaged or underdeveloped root systems. Snohomish County receives 83 inches of rain per year on average.
During the winter, Everett trees have to withstand occasional severe wind storms. Heavy rains and storms cause flooding, felled trees, and trees that pose a hazard to nearby structures because the root system has become dislodged or damaged. However, there are few freezes throughout the year, and Everett receives an average of only eight inches of snowfall per year. These mild weather conditions result in longer seasons of growth.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Everett?
Puget Sound Energy serves Snohomish County and maintains power lines in the area. This includes pruning and trimming trees that pose a hazard to power lines and which may disrupt the distribution of power. Trees are one of the most common causes of power outages. If you notice fallen or dead trees near power lines, Puget Sound Energy encourages residents to send them an email or report unsafe conditions.
If you see a dead tree against or near power lines from your property, do not approach the area. Instead, shuffle quickly away from the site and report it to the city or power company as soon as safely possible.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Everett?
Lots of different factors can impact the total cost of removing a tree from your property in Everett, Washington. You can expect your total to fall between $300 and $2,200. Depending on why the tree is being removed, your home insurance or property insurance provider may cover some of the associated costs. Consider these factors that commonly raise or lower the price of tree removal.
The Size of the Tree
Tall or wide trees cost more to remove than smaller trees. This is because there’s more bulk to cut to size and haul away. We will consider the height of the tree, the girth of the tree trunk, and the amount of current foliage on the tree as we make an estimate. Taller trees that are still standing will have a higher cost to remove, as the tree must be cut down before removal. If the tree is exceptionally tall, such as between 60 and 80 feet tall, this could require us to bring in a crane and specialized safety equipment to handle the removal.
Seasonality and Emergency Considerations
If your tree needs to be removed following a heavy windstorm or during the rain, this can increase the cost of tree removal. Our team will need to take additional precautions to ensure their safety and to minimize the risk of damage to your property. The demand for tree removal also increases following bad weather, which leads to higher costs if you want to have your tree removed from your property as soon as possible.
Additional Services
Your tree removal project may require more services than simple tree removal. Trees that have fallen over due to rot or bad weather may be quick and simple to haul away. Other trees may need to be cut down first. Standing trees also require approval from the city of Everett to remove under most conditions, and applying for the proper permit requires additional time and services. Additional services you may want to include: stump grinding, chipping, log splitting, clearing up room for new trees, and more.