AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Green Bay, WI

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Green Bay?

Green Bay, Wisconsin is a lovely little city tucked along a bay of the same name, and it is home to over 100,000 residents. Green Bay is known for being the host city of the fan-owned Green Bay Packers, its proximity to the scenic Door County, WI, and its abundance of gorgeous parks and nature trails. Green Bay residents care deeply about the natural beauty of their city, which is why it’s important to understand common tree conditions that can wreak havoc on our local trees and forests. Three of the most common tree problems we see in Green Bay include oak wilt, fire blight, and European Gypsy Moths. 

Oak Wilt

Oak wilt is a fungal disease that affects oaks of all kinds, though in varying degrees. For example, red oaks can die within a month of getting infected by oak wilt, but oaks in the white oak family can survive for several years with the disease. The fungus that causes oak wilt, Bretziella fagacearum, interferes with a tree’s ability to transport water throughout its trunk, branches, and leaves, and it spreads from tree to tree through root systems and insect transport. 

If you notice oak trees that have dead leaves and branches toward the top, it may be experiencing oak wilt. Once this disease takes hold, the only thing we can do to help is slow the spread to other trees before it kills them too. 

Fire Blight

Fire blight is a bacterial disease that can kill, or at least seriously harm, trees in the rose family, such as apple, pear, and mountain ash trees. Infected trees display some visible signs of fire blight, including droopy and wilted, gray-green leaves, hook-like branches, shriveled fruits, and cankered bark. In some cases, infected trees will also ooze yellow or white liquid, especially when the weather is humid. Fire blight thrives and spreads most easily in warm and humid conditions, which Wisconsin summers produce frequently. 

We can sometimes save trees by pruning the infected branches and applying certain pesticides if the problem persists over a few years. Either way, preventing the spread of fire blight from one tree to another is key in ensuring the fire blight problem on your property doesn’t get worse. 

European Gypsy Moths

European Gypsy Moths (EGM) are highly problematic in many parts of the Midwest, and Wisconsin is no exception. When EGMs are caterpillars, they munch on large volumes of foliage on many types of plants, which harms their health by preventing them from absorbing sunlight. EGM caterpillars are large and have several distinct features. When EGM caterpillars are young, they are black or gray with tufts of lighter-colored hair. They have a more yellow-grey appearance when they get older, and pairs of blue and red dots line their back. 

Once they transform into moths, males have brown wings with a wingspan of 1 1/2 inches. Females are slightly larger, and they feature beige or white wings with a brown zigzag pattern. Fortunately, EGM attacks don’t always result in tree death, but repeated infestations over a period of a few years can weaken a tree enough to kill it. As a result, it’s best to contact our tree experts as soon as you see severe defoliation or the presence of EGM caterpillars. 

Does the City of Green Bay Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

Yes, the City of Green Bay allows residents to submit requests for tree care when they notice issues or problems with City trees. If you see a tree on public property that looks ill, damaged, or dead, you can fill out their online form to request service. Green Bay residents can also request that brush and lawn debris be picked up by calling 920-448-3535.

Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Green Bay?

When a tree falls on personal property, it can be difficult to figure out who becomes responsible for having it removed when more than one party is involved. It’s best to understand how fallen trees are normally handled before you face an actual fallen tree scenario, allowing you to stay calm and know what to do if you are ever in this situation yourself. 

If you’re a homeowner?

When you own your land, you become responsible for the care of the trees on it. This includes preventative maintenance like pruning, and it also involves hiring a contractor to remove trees that have fallen on your yard. Taking excellent care of the trees on your lawn won’t prevent all of them from falling over during a strong storm, but it can increase the chances that they will stay strong enough to remain standing in high winds. 

If you’re a renter?

When you rent your home, you are usually responsible for basic maintenance, such as taking out the garbage, mowing the lawn, and shoveling the driveway. Larger maintenance projects, which usually include fallen tree removal, typically have to be handled by the property owner or landlord. This is true unless your rental contract includes a clause that states you, the renter, are responsible for fallen tree removal. 

If you’re a landlord?

As a property owner renting out homes to tenants, it’s your responsibility to keep your rental homes safe, well-maintained, and free from hazards. Trees that are not properly pruned, or are sick or dead, can pose a hazard to your residents by threatening to fall at any given time. When a tree does fall on your property, landlords are usually responsible for having them cleared away unless the rental contract says otherwise. 

If you’re a neighbor?

If your neighbor’s tree falls into your yard, it can feel unfair that you become responsible for having it removed, but that’s usually how these matters proceed. It doesn’t matter much where the tree was rooted, what matters more is where the tree ends up. Many neighborly fights and disputes have begun over a fallen tree, so it’s best to discuss these matters with your neighbors before they occur to avoid such disagreements. Some neighbors strike a deal to share costs associated with fallen trees. 

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Green Bay?

Green Bay’s soil can definitely affect the health of our local trees, as it tends to have higher concentrations of soil and gravel than soils in other parts of the state. Sand and gravel are helpful for allowing proper drainage to take place, which ensures that roots don’t get saturated in water for too long. Too much sand and gravel, however, can make it difficult for trees and plants to have enough time to absorb the water that enters the soil from rainfall or watering. This normally doesn’t cause a major issue in Green Bay, though we do experience some long stretches without rain in the summer. 

Our soil also tends to be slightly acidic, which is actually the pH that trees and most plants prefer. Even still, soil compositions can vary greatly even within the confines of a small yard. If you want to know more about your soil’s composition, you can submit soil samples to the University of Wisconsin Soil and Forage Lab to get a detailed report on the contents of your soil. 

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Green Bay?

It is often said that Wisconsin can experience all four seasons in just one day. Wisconsin’s winters are harsh, and summers can be brutal, which can both negatively affect the health of trees in the area. Although the soil in Green Bay typically drains well, periods of high humidity and lots of precipitation can saturate roots in water for too long, allowing the fungus to take hold and cause disease. Root rot is sometimes seen when temperatures and humidity levels are high. 

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Green Bay?

Wisconsin Public Service regularly prunes and trims trees on a rotating schedule to prevent them from interfering with power lines. Despite these efforts, trees can still entangle themselves within power lines, or they can knock them over during storms to cause power outages and hazardous situations. If you notice a tree that is growing too close to a power line or has fallen onto one, you can call their emergency line at 800-450-7260. It’s also important that you stay away from trees or limbs that fall onto a power line, as they can conduct high voltages of electricity that can cause severe injury or death when touched. 

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Green Bay?

The average cost of tree removal in Green Bay is about $650, but your actual cost can be much lower or higher depending upon a variety of factors. When we calculate tree removal costs, the three largest factors we consider include the size of the tree, whether we have to use special equipment to remove it, and whether other special services are needed after its removal. 

Size of the Tree

When you need small saplings removed, we can do that quickly and with a minimal crew. This leads to a much faster job, which often means a much lower bill. Trees that are as tall as buildings, or are several feet in diameter, are not as simple to remove, and they often require us to bring more team members in to get the job done safely. Generally speaking, the larger the tree you need to be removed, the more it will cost you. 

The Use of Special Equipment

When trees grow near homes, they can be much more difficult to remove, as one misstep can have it crashing through your roof. In order to prevent that scenario, we often have to use special equipment or techniques that are a bit more complicated and costly, but they prevent property damage and safety risks. The use of special equipment or more advanced tree removal strategies are likely to result in a higher bill. 

Other Services Provided

After removing a dead or diseased tree from your property, we often recommend that you allow us to apply fungicides or pesticides to other trees in the area to prevent the spread of whatever illness killed the tree in the first place. These services may cost a bit more upfront, but they can save you thousands down the road if they successfully prevent your other trees from also dying from the disease and needing to be removed.