Easy Gardening

Emerald ash borer. Oak wilt. And now a new fugus problem affecting spruce trees.

Disease, drought and even old age are all taking their toll, and a dying tree can quickly convert one of a homeowner’s greatest assets into a huge liability.

What’s a homeowner to do?

Tree removal, especially from tight backyard sites, can be expensive, said Ben Yost, owner of Farm N Garden on Staples Avenue in Kalamazoo. But homeowners should resist the temptation to go with the lowest bidder, or a relative with a chain saw. “Certified arborists will meet standards” for properly rigging heavy branches to safely lower them to the ground, Yost said.

They also will be properly insured, both against damage to the property and injury to workers, Yost said.

“Consumers need to see actual proof of insurance,” including workers’ compensation, Yost said, not simply rely on a prospective tree removal service’s verbal assurance that they are insured.

He said he had recently spoken with a customer who had an improperly felled tree land on the house.

“The standards are in place to protect the consumer,” he said.

Property owners also need a line-clearance certification for any trees on private property but within the range of power lines, Yost said, something the tree removal professional should procure.

Another tip make sure you and your neighbor agree about who owns the tree, Yost said, and be able to provide proof of ownership if dispute arises.

The cost of felling a mature tree can run into the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars. What options do homeowners have to recover some value from the tree to help offset that expense?

Linda Whitlock, horticulturist with Michigan State University Extension in Kalamazoo County, said some trees, such as walnuts, may be sold for cash, or the wood may be swapped out for the cost of removal.

That possibility depends on the size of the tree, it’s position on the lot, and whether it has been marred during its growth.

Homeowners may want to salvage lumber from some trees, too, especially those with sentimental value or attractive hardwood species. Some property owners can sell wood or use it themselves in woodburning furnaces, or even for conversion to art or furniture.

Those are among the suggestions in an Extension publication, “My Ash Tree is Dead…Now What Do I Do.”

If a dead tree stands in an unpopulated area or a woodlot, it may be safe to simply leave it alone, as habitat for wildlife, Whitlock said. That’s not an appropriate choice when falling limbs or trunks threaten the safety of people or property.

Whitlock said the cost of removing dead trees may be a wakeup call to the need to maintain trees to keep them healthy whether it’s treating for disease before trees become too far gone, or simply thoroughly watering them during dry periods to keep them healthy enough to withstand the disease and insect threats when possible.

New homeowners may want to think, too, about the choice of trees they plants, Whitlock said. Quick-growing varieties that give shade and beauty without a lengthy wait typically have shorter lifespans . 

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