All posts by Texas Tree Surgeons

Why Does Storm Debris Cleanup Take So Long?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Resources

The recent storms in North Texas have produced an unprecedented amount of broken limbs, downed trunks, and other tree waste material. Local residents have become frustrated with the seemingly slow response to the mess, and both cities and tree services have been scrambling to clean up what is left before we have another storm. Why has there been such a delay? Why did tree companies not offer haul-away right after the storm? We hope this post will give a little insight and information, as well as give you the resources to contact your city for more information about storm debris cleanup.

Right after the storm we had in June 2019, thousands of tree crews, both municipal and private, took to the streets. Several dozen crews were called in from other parts of Texas or even out of state. Priority had to be given to rectifying hazards to life and limb, restoring power, and clearing roadways. As the massive amounts of debris were removed to complete these goals, it had to be put somewhere. Normally, tree waste and debris is taken to a conventional landfill or a “greenfill,” which specializes in recycling organic material. Unfortunately, the facilities in the DFW area were overwhelmed by the amount of debris, and there just wasn’t enough room. Tree waste dumps soon had long lines and increased fees. In Dallas, at the intersection of US 75 and IH 635, a vacant building site was called into service as a temporary tree debris disposal site. Wherever the debris was deposited, in many cases city crews, utility clearance crews, and other critical operations had priority over private tree companies. Even among private companies, there was a mix of experienced crews and smaller, “storm-chasing” crews, so the flow of debris management was disrupted.

Do You Always Haul Away Debris?

At Texas Tree Surgeons, our standard Work Proposals include full cleanup and debris haul-off. During storm periods, however, we are unable to haul away as we want to be able to help as many people as possible. When we give an estimate during a storm period, we will always give the customer the option to have the work done as soon as possible without haul-away, or to wait until we are able to take everything with us. In some cases, especially when insurance is involved, we are able to offer haul-away even during a storm period, but there is an increased cost, usually a percentage of the total job cost, to reflect the addition time and fees involved in accessing the debris dumps during times of high demand.

Can You Leave the Brush for the City to Pick Up?

During periods of normal operation, all of our proposals include debris haul-off at no extra charge (with the exception of stump grinding). Some tree owners prefer to schedule their tree work to coincide with their city’s bulky trash pickup. If we are able to leave all the debris on-site for city cleanup, we are happy to offer a 10% discount on the total job price. If you are considering keeping the debris for city cleanup, though, it is important to keep a few things in mind:

  • Depending on your city’s bulky trash schedule, the debris may sit on the law for quite a while, preventing light from reaching the grass below. This situation can cause parts of the lawn to die.
  • Even if the debris is not there long enough to kill the turf grass, its weight and size can cause major dents or gouges in the lawn surface.
  • Municipalities often use a claw-type device to pick up bulky trash. The large metal claws can cause further damage to lawns, sidewalks, and curbs.
  • During storm periods or at other times, your city may alter the schedule of pickup and levy increased fines for trash that remains too long on the curb.
Before City Pick-Up
After City Pick-Up

While it may be tempting to have a tree service leave the debris to save a little, it may cause more headache and expense in the long run! Additionally, depending on your location, we may not be allowed to stack brush for the city. We have put together a rundown of some North Texas communities’ rules for bulky trash haul-off as they relate to debris from tree trimming and removal.

Rules for Brush Haul-Off in North Texas

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! Storms and other bad weather can cause massive damage and confusion throughout our community, and we want to give everyone the information they need to deal with the aftermath. We hope that all of our residents and trees can stay safe through the storms to come, and we will always do what we can to keep you informed. If you have questions about storm damage, debris haul-off, or any of our policies and procedures, let us know!

Why Are My Oak Trees Turning Brown?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Ask Texas Tree Surgeons, Tree Health Care

As the summer heat drags on, we start to get calls about trees “looking bad.” Recently, for example, we have been seeing general decline of trees, especially oak trees, in the Plano area. In a densely-populated suburban area like Plano, there are many potential causes for trees showing signs of stress, displaying yellowing or browning leaves, or dropping limbs. While some issues may be symptoms of a disease, much of the oak decline we are seeing is, unfortunately, an inevitable result of the environment the trees live in.

Plano, Texas’ Urban Forest

Plano, Texas, is a great example of a community that loves its trees and values the beauty an urban forest can bring. As the city has matured, so have its trees, and many of them are now magnificent. However, when the community was planned and the trees were planted, developers depended heavily on different species of oaks: live oaks, red (Shumard) oaks, post oaks, and others. While these oaks are hardy, native Texas trees, any environment that is heavily populated by one species is susceptible to certain risks. The proliferation of oak wilt in North Texas is exacerbated by the heavy concentration of oaks in the area. Even without an outside stressor like the oak wilt fungus, any monoculture will slowly start to decline as competition for resources affects all members of a species, without the diversity necessary to replenish what was used.

The causes of oak decline in Plano run deep into the soil and deep into the history of the community. Before Collin County developed into the elegant mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas that it is today, most of the land was used for farming and ranching. Agricultural land becomes exhausted of its nutrients after long periods of use. Moving from heavy agricultural use directly into construction doesn’t give the land time to recover. Heavy construction activity also leads to soil compaction, and if mixed fill is used, precious soil space is taken up by rocks, cement, and other inorganic material. Decades of growth and the spread of structures and concrete have further challenged the ability of Plano soils to renew themselves. Changing weather patterns in the last several years, periods of drought followed by flooding, have stressed the soil and plants even more. As turf grass has proliferated, much of the natural process that would introduce nutrients to the soil through decaying organic matter has been interrupted.

What Can I Do About Oak Decline?

While oak decline is an inevitability for many Plano oaks, the situation is not completely hopeless; there is much that tree owners can do to help restore their trees’ vitality:

  • Proper Mulching
  • Proper Watering
  • Reducing Competition
    • Turf grass, ground cover, concrete, and over planting of trees can all contribute to nutrient competition.

However, there are some issues that may be beyond remedy:

  • Poor Tree Stock
    • If the tree was sourced from a tree farm with weak stock, or with trees that had been exposed to pathogens before, it may have been at a disadvantage from the start. A plant health care program may be able to ameliorate some issues, but not all.
  • Improper Planting
    • Planting issues can be corrected if the tree has not been in the ground more than a few years. The tree can possibly be re-planted, or root zone excavation can be performed to identify other root stability issues, such as girdling roots. A certified arborist can determine if any corrective efforts are possible for your particular tree.

Contacting a certified arborist to assess your trees is necessary to properly identify oak decline and address the underlying issues, not just the symptoms. Insect activity may need more involved care than just spraying a surface insecticide. Browning or yellowing leaves may be a sign of many issues: fungal root infection, insect activity, or herbicidal poisoning, and don’t simply mean that you need to water more. A certified arborist is able to evaluate the tree and its surroundings as a whole, not simply one component. An effective tree health care program involves many components: care modification, fertilization, soil management, proper trimming, pesticidal application. To preserve the value of an urban forest like Plano’s, certified arborists are key.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees, and we love our customers, in Plano and all over North Texas. If you live in Plano, and want more information about oak decline and what may be affecting your trees, let us know! If you’re not in Plano, don’t worry! We are happy to come and take a look at your trees to evaluate their health and give you the information necessary to keep them thriving for years. As always, let us know if you have any questions or concerns about trees!

Free North Texas Trees for 2019!

by Texas Tree Surgeons Events

Just like last year, the City of Dallas is giving homeowners free trees as part of its Branch Out Dallas program!

Registration starts September 1st, and continues until September 30th. The trees will be available for pick-up November 2nd.

This round, the available species are:

All of these are great Texas trees, but if you wonder which one might be best for your yard, get in touch with your arborist. We are happy to make a recommendation!

For more information about the tree giveaway and to register, visit the Branch Out Dallas site.

If you are not a Dallas resident, you can request a free tree through a partnership of Oncor and the Arbor Day Foundation. Trees can be mailed or can be delivered, as available. Plantings will begin this fall.

Visit the Energy-Saving Trees site to see what trees are available in your area!

After the severe storm damage we have seen this year, it is time to start renewing our urban forest. Fall and winter are the best seasons to plant trees, so start the process now!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we are excited about these local programs to encourage tree planting! If you have any questions about the best way to plant a tree, or any other tree questions, let us know!

Ask a Woodworker: Can You Make Something Out Of My Tree?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Ask Texas Tree Surgeons

When we remove a tree, the owners often ask us if they can do something with the wood, other than using it as firewood. In the past, we haven’t been able to give many options, other than leaving a few inches of stump for a plant stand or stool. However, we recently found out about Urban Timber Harvest, a sawmill in Colleyville, Texas that can use tree trunks to make something beautiful. Brent Schwanbeck, one of the owners of Urban Timber Harvest, was kind enough to answer a few questions about who he is and what his sawmill does.

 

How and Why Did You Begin Urban Timber Harvest?

Chad Ham, co-owner of Urban Timber Harvest, and I founded Urban Timber Harvest
felt like we saw a need. We are woodworkers who have a great respect for the trees in our community. There is so much history and beauty in the trees around us, but when they die, they are typically hauled off to the dump or the firewood pile. We saw an opportunity to preserve the unique beauty of the trees around us. By crafting furniture out of our trees, we are able to create unique furniture with a story. 

What Kind of Wood Do You Harvest and Use?

We typically harvest most hardwoods that grow in the area. While we enjoy milling unique and less common trees, most frequently we harvest white oak, red oak, pecan, and walnut. That is certainly not an all inclusive list, so when in doubt, reach out! Our minimum log dimensions are 2’ diameter and 6’ in length.

Do You Pay People for Wood?

Nearly all of the trees that we mill would have otherwise been hauled off as waste. All of the logs that we mill are sustainably sourced and were not farmed for a profit. It is for these reasons that we do not pay for trees we harvest. We are always happy to work with our clients on pricing for a custom piece of furniture built out of their own harvested tree.

Do You Sell Milled Wood or Just Completed Furniture?

With sustainability at the center of our business, our primary mission is to make the best use of our downed urban trees. With that mission in mind, we sell processed wood, as well as create custom furniture.

What Types of Things Do You Make from Tree Trunks?

Urban Timber Harvest is a fully integrated urban lumber company, meaning that by controlling the entire process (harvest + mill + design + build) we are able to create truly unique pieces. We enjoy letting each unique tree guide us in the creative design process. With our woodworking background, we can create custom pieces with classic joinery that last the test of time. We desire to create furniture that can be passed from generation to generation. Check out some of their work!

Will You Use My Tree to Make Me a Piece of Furniture?

We become attached to our trees. We enjoy their shade, we play in their limbs, and we grow old with them. We always enjoy the opportunity to create furniture for a client when the tree came out of their own yard. Using a “Tree to Table” process, we are able to create furniture with a unique story that can be shared with family and friends. 

How Do You Get the Pieces You Need?

When Texas Tree Surgeons removes your tree, the canopy is removed, and the log is felled. Once that is complete we will arrive and pick up your log.

Do You Take the Stump or Does It Still Need to Be Ground?    

We do not mill stumps or remove waste from your tree. Texas Tree Surgeons is happy to help with that part!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we are happy to find members of the community who are finding new ways to show the beauty of our urban forest. Whether you are looking to have something made, or just want to give you tree a second life after it is removed, get in touch with Brent. As always, if you have any questions about your trees or their health, or think you might need to have one removed, let us know!

Ask Texas Tree Surgeons: What Are the Bumps on My Pecan Leaves?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Ask Texas Tree Surgeons, Tree Health Care

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

As we move into summer, there are several tree health issues that can present themselves. One of the common questions we get around this time is about bumps on pecan leaves. The bumps are the result of insect activity that may or may not affect the pecan fruits themselves. Unfortunately, once the bumps appear, there is no effective control for the pests. Still, knowing what is afflicting the tree means you can make preparations for treatment next year.

Pecan Phylloxera

The insect that causes the bumps to appear on pecan leaves is called pecan phylloxera (Phylloxera devastatrix). Pecan phylloxera is a small, aphid-like insect that feeds on the shoots, leaves, and buds of the pecan tree. There are two main types of pecan phylloxera: one that affects leaves only, and one that affects leaves and nuts. The leaf phylloxera can cause defoliation but generally do no greater harm to the tree. The other kind, however, can cause severe leaf drop and inedible fruits. As both kinds of phylloxera cause leaf bumps, called “galls,” it can be hard to tell which one is affecting your pecans. However, if you have a lot of leaves falling, there is a good chance that it is the more invasive phylloxera.

No matter what particular kind of pecan phylloxera is present, the insects follow a similar life cycle. In the summer, eggs are laid in the bark of the pecan tree. The eggs hatch in the spring and the young insects move to the shoots and buds, where they begin to feed, forming galls on the new leaves for protection. Once the phylloxera have matured, they emerge from the galls to mate and lay eggs for the next year.

Treatment for Pecan Phylloxera

Because of their life cycle, the only effective time to treat for pecan phylloxera is in the spring, just as the leaves are budding. Applying insecticide at bud break can prevent the phylloxera from becoming established in the new leaves. Once the galls have formed, the insects are protected from pesticides, and cannot be effectively treated.

Pecan phylloxera moves slowly and may not affect every tree in an area every year. Variations in weather and tree growth can greatly affect the ability of the insects to survive. Still, if you have bumps on your pecan leaves, it is best to plan for insecticidal treatment for pecan phylloxera the following spring.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! We know it can be frustrating to find out about a problem too late to do anything about it. Hopefully, learning about pecan phylloxera now will help you be prepared for treatment in the spring. If you have questions about bumps on your pecan leaves, let us know, and a certified arborist can confirm what is affecting your tree and what you can do about it!

Ask an Insurance Agent: Does Insurance Cover My Trees?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Ask Texas Tree Surgeons, Resources

The recent storm activity has caused widespread damage in our community. When there is storm damage, we are often asked if insurance might cover damage caused by trees or the trees themselves. While we can’t predict what your particular insurer or policy covers, we reached out to Josh Jones with CoVerica to answer some common questions*. 

* – The information below is mainly from the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, and may not be applicable in other states or to your situation. Contact your insurance agent or carrier for answers to your specific questions.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Care?

Homeowners policies generally do NOT cover tree care. However, some carriers do offer coverage to replace or repair trees, shrubs, plants, and lawns after a covered loss.

My Tree Blew Over, Does Insurance Cover Removal?

Most carriers will only pay up $1,000 to remove a fallen tree, and only if the tree is blocking your driveway. If a tree damages a covered item, such as your house, the insurance company may pay to remove the tree. You can at least expect them to pay to get the tree off of the damaged item. Some high-value providers may cover as much as $1,500 for the removal of fallen trees, even if the fallen tree does not damage your property or block driveway.

A Neighbor’s Tree Fell on My House/Car; Who Is Responsible?

There are 2 possible scenarios that may apply:

  • If a storm blows over your neighbor’s tree, they are not liable. This is considered an act of nature, and your homeowners policy will take care of it.
  • If your neighbor neglected their tree, they are liable for damages and their homeowners insurance policy should pay for damages. An example of negligence could be if their tree needed treatment, pruning, or complete removal, prior to the incident.
    • If it causes damage, insurance will pay to move the tree off of the damaged area, but not to have the tree hauled away.
    • Payment is based on liability coverage, which means the tree’s owner will need to be considered negligent and liable for the damages.

I Know Trees Are Valuable to My Property; Is This Considered Part of My Homeowners Policy?

In general, NO. But there is coverage afforded on many high-value homeowners policies.
For example, one high-value provider covers 5% of the insured value of the home for landscaping (trees, shrubs, plants and lawn) or up to $5000 for any 1 plant.

What Are the Requirements for Insurance When I Have a Tree with Branches over My Roof?

Trees with branches that extend over the roofline may damage the roof if they break and fall on the home. Additionally, trees can cause wear on roof surfaces if they rub against the house. With new home insurance policies, an inspector will mandate overhanging branches be trimmed back. Existing home insurance policies may exclude coverage caused by the tree if damages occur as a result of negligent or improper pruning and maintenance.

When Is Tree/Debris Removal Covered by Insurance?

Typically, removal is only covered when the tree or debris damages something (home, detached structure, or vehicle). However, high value home policies may not make this exclusion. This is one fundamental difference between a “named peril” policy (covering listed events, such as storm damage) and an “open peril” policy (with broader coverage).

What Is the Maximum Replacement Value for Lost Landscape?

This is carrier-specific. Some carriers provide a specific coverage allowance for landscaping, while others include it with home contents or personal property. (Some providers cover up to 5% of the insured value of the home for landscaping.)

Josh Jones is Assistant Vice President at CoVerica. He is a hybrid agent, specializing in both commercial and personal coverage. If you have specific questions, get in touch with Josh, and he can evaluate your current policy and make some recommendations if you want to modify your coverage for the future.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we hope this information provides a basis for understanding how insurance may (or may not) cover your trees. As always, if you have any questions about your trees, or want an arborist to come out and take a look, let us know!