Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Sammamish?
- 2 Does the City of Sammamish Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who’s Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Sammamish?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Sammamish?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Sammamish?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Sammamish?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Sammamish?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Sammamish?
This area of the Pacific Northwest is home to some uncommonly large and stunning trees. They seem to soar into the sky and beyond. There is a diverse selection of native and non-native trees in the area. Here are the trees that we see most commonly in Sammamish:
- Purple Leaf Plum
- Red Maple
- Douglas-fir
- Big Leaf Maple
- Yoshino Cherry
- Western Hemlock
- Western Red Cedar
- Japanese Maple
- Japanese White Pine
These trees bring fruits, wonderful scents, and color to your outdoor space. When one needs to be removed, we often hear people wondering what they did wrong. Typically, the homeowner did nothing wrong. Here’s a look at a few common tree issues that we see in the Sammamish area:
Root Rot
You know that Seattle and the surrounding area have a reputation for constant rainfall, but Sammamish sees more than 15 inches of rain higher than the national average each year. This constant moisture helps your yard grow lush and green. However, it can also lead to root rot.
Root rot is a fungal disease that develops when a tree’s roots spend too much time submerged in water. Unfortunately, when it begins in one tree, it tends to spread to others in the area. We might be able to treat this disease if you catch it early. Here are a few of the signs of root rot that we notice in Sammamish:
- Fungus growing on the tree
- Paler and smaller leaves
- Areas that appear sunken on the trunk
- Patches of missing bark
- Sudden stunted growth
Our team can evaluate any trees that you expect might suffer from root rot and advise you on the course of action that you might choose.
Damage from Winter Weather
Even though the average winter temperatures in Sammamish are moderate, hovering in the mid to high 30s, there’s almost always a few weeks each year when the temperatures plummet. Temperatures below freezing that last for several days or weeks can create a condition called a hard freeze.
A hard freeze occurs when temperatures are below freezing long enough for the soil to freeze, as well. This includes the water and nutrients that your trees need to survive. If your tree goes too long without needed nutrients, it might not recover in the spring.
Young trees and saplings seem to take the brunt of this type of damage. Evergreens weather this cold snap fine unless it’s a young tree. However, it’s entirely possible that you have a tree in your yard that roars back to life in the spring only to wither and die in a few months.
This happens when a part of the tree can no longer process nutrients and dies. Eventually, the damage spreads, and the tree withers and dies.
Insect Infestation
All living creatures serve a purpose in the natural ecosystem, even the creepy crawly ones. However, insects can infest your tree and kill it. These pests are usually looking for a home or a food source when they find your tree.
Most pest infestations aren’t localized to a single tree, so you may have multiple trees under attack in your Sammamish yard. Some insects that we see most commonly in the area include:
- Asian Citrus Psyllid
- Asian Gypsy Moth
- Asian Longhorned Beetle
- Emerald Ash Borer Beetle
- European Cherry Fruit Fly
- European Gypsy Moth
- Spotted Lanternfly
There are some treatments available to stop the infestation and save your tree if it’s caught early enough. You need to be vigilant when looking for the signs of an infestation that include:
- Damaged or discolored leaves
- Bugs crawling on the tree
- New leaves and limbs appear smaller
- Dead or sunken areas on a tree
- Bark missing or bald spots on a tree
- The tree suddenly stops growing or withers
- Misshapen leaves or holes in them
- Holes and channels in the trunk
Our team can evaluate your trees and help you choose a course of action.
Does the City of Sammamish Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The city of Sammamish takes its tree preservation seriously. If you remove a tree that isn’t a hazard, you can be fined and charged with a crime. The city will remove any hazardous trees on public lands. However, if a tree is located on private property, such as your yard, the homeowner bears the responsibility and expense of having it removed.
Who’s Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Sammamish?
The responsible party for removing a fallen tree is determined by where the tree grew in Sammamish. If it grows on public land, the city will remove it. However, when the tree grows on private property, it’s up to the homeowner to have it removed. There might be a small parcel of land on your property called an easement. If the tree grew there, you might be able to get the city or a local utility company to handle its removal.
If you’re a homeowner?
As a homeowner, it’s almost always you who is the responsible party for removing a fallen tree in your yard. There might be an exception if the tree grew in an easement. In that case, the city or one of the utility companies will remove it.
If you’re a renter?
When you rent a home in Sammamish, the homeowner might ask you to take care of the yard. This includes things such as mowing the lawn, sweeping the walkways, and pulling weeds. It won’t, however, include large and expensive jobs like having a tree removed. When you see a dead, damaged, or fallen tree, you need to let the homeowner know, so they can deal with it.
If you’re a landlord?
If you are the landlord, you’re also the homeowner? You, as the homeowner, are responsible for removing a damaged or fallen tree from the yard of a Sammamish home, even if the lease with the tenant says that they handle yard maintenance. The scope of removing a fallen tree is well above the maintenance level.
If you’re a neighbor?
With trees that are so tall, it isn’t unusual to find a single fallen tree lying in more than one Sammamish yard. When a tree falls in multiple yards, you need to determine which yard it grew in, and that homeowner handles the removal. You want to communicate with your neighbors when this happens to ensure that you retain a friendly relationship.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Sammamish?
The soil type in your Sammamish yard is almost always going to be a dark grayish brown silt loam. Loam is soil that absorbs water quickly, but it might have issues with drainage. The extra water that stays in your soil might lead to root rot. You might consider adding mulch around the base of trees to slow the absorption rate.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Sammamish?
Yes, the heavy rainfall in the Sammamish area can affect the health of your trees and promote root rot. Also, periods of extended below-freezing weather can create hard freeze conditions and damage the trees in your yard that aren’t evergreen trees.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Sammamish?
A dead tree on a power line creates a safety hazard. If you notice a tree lying on a power line, don’t approach it, and immediately call emergency services. In some cases, a dead tree near a power line once grew on an easement. This means that the power company might be responsible for removing the tree. If not, it is up to the Sammamish homeowner to take care of the tree’s removal.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Sammamish?
Cost is usually one of the first questions we hear from homeowners. While we can’t give you an exact cost without seeing your tree, the fees for removing a tree range between $270 and $2,175 with an average of around $670. There are a few cost factors to consider.
Tree Removal Permit
Whether a tree is healthy or hazardous, you need a tree removal permit before we can start the job. These permits tack on extra time and expense to your final costs. If you want a healthy tree removed, the city might refuse your permit application unless it presents a danger to your home.
Location of the Tree
One of the reasons that you might consider removing a healthy tree is its location. A tree close to your house can create a danger to it. It also takes extra time and equipment to safely remove a tree like this due to its location.
Additional Services
Many Sammamish homeowners ask to remove the stump when we cut down a tree. Another popular service is chipping the tree into tiny pieces to be used as mulch. Both of these additional services take extra time and equipment.
