Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Kirkland?
- 2 Does the City of Kirkland Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Kirkland?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Kirkland?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Kirkland?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Kirkland?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Kirkland?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Kirkland?
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington and a suburb east of Seattle, with a population that makes it the sixth-largest city in the county and the thirteenth-largest in the state.
Kirkland is an attractive, vibrant, and inviting place to work, live, and visit. The heart of downtown Kirkland is a destination street known for its bustling nightlife, decadent desserts, impressive boutique shopping, and award-winning restaurants. Yet, it is the area’s natural attractions that really bring the place to life.
With its lush beauty, it has been said that Kirkland’s parks reflect the soul of the city. As a result, numerous people, including residents and tourists, visit the waterfront parks regularly or hike through the thickly wooded areas to experience the never-ending wonders the area tends to bring. That is why it is not a surprise that Kirkland residents take so much pride in caring for their gorgeous foliage. However, to ensure that their trees and plants are protected throughout the year, homeowners need to first learn more about the area’s common tree diseases and what signs and symptoms they need to watch out for.
Armillaria Root Disease
Armillaria Root Disease is a soil-borne fungus that results in root and trunk rot. The fungus tends to become well-established in the roots and often causes the roots to turn brown before any symptoms actually become visible above the ground. Once a tree becomes infected, it will usually die prematurely. However, if a younger tree gets infected, the tree will die quickly after exposure.
Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease is a fatal fungal disorder that is spread by the elm bark beetle and through root graphs from surrounding infected trees. Once this fungus infects the tree, it begins to show symptoms of yellowing, wilting, and curling leaves in the outer canopy. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disease once a tree is contaminated.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a fungal disease that can affect a variety of trees. However, it tends to target deciduous trees, including ash, oak, maple, birch, and sycamore trees. Once the disease infects the trees, it results in small, round, and irregular spots on the leaves that appear to be tan, black, or dark brown. These spots can enlarge to blotches and encompass mid-ribs and veins. Young leaves will often die and fall soon after infection, which will result in the tree experiencing severe early defoliation.
Does the City of Kirkland Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
Kirkland strives to achieve a healthy, resilient urban forest with a 40% tree canopy cover to maximize the endless public benefits that trees provide. To succeed in these goals while still making sure that growth is maintained, the city of Kirkland will be responsible for regulating tree removal, tree retention, and tree pruning on development sites.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Kirkland?
In Kirkland, property owners are responsible for maintaining their private trees, flowers, and plants. Yet, determining who is responsible for the costs associated with removing a dead or fallen tree is not as apparent as many people expect it to be. In truth, it will often depend on the circumstances of the situation. Let’s take a look at some examples:
If you’re a homeowner?
In Washington, if a tree falls because of natural causes such as intense storms, the property owner of the place where the tree has fallen is held responsible for removing the tree. These homeowners often have to contact their own insurance company to get reimbursed for the costs.
However, it is also important to note that property owners in Washington must take care of their trees to prevent them from damaging another person’s property. This means these property owners need to make corrections within a reasonable period of time if they see that their tree shows signs of weakness or instability. Otherwise, if the tree falls, it can result in the property owner being held liable for the costs associated with the tree’s damages.
If you’re a renter?
Typically, a renter and a landlord will enter into a rental contract before the renter moves in. This contract will specifically discuss the terms of their agreement and their separate roles in taking care of the property. However, if issues arise that are not mentioned in the contract, the landlord will be responsible for making the necessary repairs to the property, while the renter will be in charge of maintaining the premises. As a result, if a tree falls, it is more likely a situation that will go beyond the renter’s responsibility and become an issue for the landlord.
If you’re a landlord?
As mentioned above, the landlord is often held responsible for a fallen tree unless the rental contract indicates otherwise. Consequently, these landlords will be held accountable for the costs associated with removing the fallen tree.
If you’re a neighbor?
In Kirkland, you may have to pay damages to your neighbor and take care of the tree removal costs if your tree is damaged or diseased and falls across your neighbor’s property, causing injury or damages. This liability exists even if your tree fell because of natural causes, such as strong winds or heavy rains, as long as you knew that your tree was at risk of falling over.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Kirkland?
Tokul soils are quite prevalent in Kirkland, as they are unique to the Pacific North-West. These soils are made up of volcanic ash and loess over glacial tilt and have large amounts of organic matter deposition from abundant plant life growing in them. The native vegetation of this type of soil includes western red cedar, western hemlock, and Douglas-fir. But, it is also considered to be great soil for the following vegetation:
- Vine Maple
- Swordfern
- Huckleberry
- Oregon Grape
- Trailing Blackberry
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Kirkland?
Kirkland tends to have a reputation for dreary, rainy weather all year round. However, the climate is not as bad as many people make it seem. On average, the area gets over 38 inches of rain over 156 days throughout the year, and temperatures often remain between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The fall and winters tend to be colder and wetter than the spring and summer seasons, which tend to see many dry days and sunshine, often starting as early as February.
That is why before planting trees in Kirkland, gardeners must make sure to grow trees that can handle this ever-changing climate. Some of the more popular tree varieties that work great in this type of weather include:
- Weeping Willows
- Red Pointe Maple
- Thundercloud Plums
- Douglas Fir
- Emerald Green Arborvitae
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Kirkland?
According to the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), electric utility companies are responsible for trimming and pruning trees near power lines. That is why companies such as Puget Sound Energy are responsible for trimming hazardous trees and branches away from these cables. These companies take care of these trees because falling branches can bring down poles and power lines, causing dangerous situations on the ground, while limbs coming into contact with power lines can cause significant power outages. For these reasons, if you see a tree near a power line, you will need to reach out to Puget Sound Energy’s local arborist or email vegetationmanagement@pse.com so that they can send a PSE-certified arborist like Tree Triage to investigate the tree at no cost to you.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Kirkland?
In Kirkland, the cost of removing a tree will often depend on several factors, including the area surrounding the tree, the equipment needed to remove the tree, and the size of the tree that needs to be taken down. Yet, before you unknowingly spend thousands of dollars on your tree removal project, it will be helpful if you learn about these different cost elements that can impact the job’s overall price. This way, you can be better prepared to cover the removal costs of the tree.
The Size of the Tree
In Kirkland, the tree size will often be the most substantial factor when determining the overall costs of a tree removal project. For instance, removing medium-height trees that range in height from 30 feet to 60 feet tall can cost anywhere from $150 to $850 or more. While tall trees, which are typically around 60 feet to 80 feet tall, may start at $800 or cost more than $2,000 to take down.
The Area Surrounding the Tree and The Terrain It Is on
Another vital factor you need to consider is the terrain the tree is located on and the accessibility of the tree. For example, many times, we will look into whether:
- The property where the tree is located is small and can create a problematic situation for our contractors to access the tree
- Removing the tree’s debris will be a labor-intensive and time-consuming undertaking
- It will be difficult to get equipment into the yard to remove the tree properly
Additionally, our arborists may also need to check the area surrounding the tree, as the terrain can pose numerous issues for them, such as when the tree is on a slope, blocked by a fence or a garden, or next to dangerous power lines. Consequently, if any of these issues are present, it can affect the total costs of removing the tree.
The Overall Health of the Tree
If the tree you want to be removed is sick, dying, dead, or at risk of falling over, our experts may need special equipment and safety precautions to ensure that injury can be prevented while the tree is being removed. However, if this special care is required, then the overall costs of the removal process may also increase.
