HOW MUCH DOES OAK TREE REMOVAL COST?

The average cost to remove an oak tree in Phoenix is $600. Pine tree removal costs range from $200 to $1,000. For small oak trees, removal costs about $200. For giant oak trees, you can pay $1,500 dollars or more. As oak trees easily grow 60 feet and upwards they are pricier to remove than other trees because of their large density.

Larger oak trees (more than 80 feet) will cost an average of $1,500 because of the dangerous nature of the work involved in the removal process. The professionals wear high-quality safety gear to make sure they avoid injury by following all the safety regulations.

• The cost of stump removal averages $2.50 per inch of the stump with prices ranging from $2 to $3 per inch of diameter. Some companies have a minimum charge of $100 per stump. Others charge by the stump. For example, $150 for the first stump and a lower rate, perhaps $50 for additional stumps.
• The cost of removal can add an average of $50 for haulage charges.
• The cost of log splitting (oak can make good firewood) is often charged additionally and averages around $75.
• The cost of chipping averages $113 with costs ranging from $65 to $150.
• The cost for land clearance if you have a large area with many stumps to be removed may be charged on an hourly basis with an average of $150 per hour depending on the diameter of the tree stumps to be removed.

TYPES OF OAK TREES

There are nearly a dozen types of oak trees in Arizona but here are the most popular include the following.

ARIZONA WHITE – The largest oak in the southwest United States reaching in excess of 60 feet tall with trunk diameters up to three feet.

EMORY – From the size of a large shrub to more than 50 feet and sporting a trunk diameter of up to two and a half feet.

SILVERLEAF – This can grow as a shrub or a tree reaching heights of 30 feet with a trunk in excess of two feet in diameter.

SHRUB – Normally up to a height of eight feet.

HOW TO GROW AN INDOOR CACTUS PLANT

Arizona has a huge natural outdoor cactus population but a cactus can thrive indoors if it has the right condition. Two forms of cacti do well indoors, the desert cacti (a more traditional looking specimen) and the forest cacti that naturally grows in wooded areas. Both kinds of cacti can provide beautiful blooms, but they grow in very different ways.

INDOOR DESERT CACTI GROWING TIPS

Desert cacti are not difficult to grow and can produce beautiful flowers and blooms There are many different kinds of desert cacti but the basic rules for their maintenance are the same. Here are some tips for successfully growing desert cacti:

• Desert cacti need a strong light source, especially in the cooler winter months. Conversely, a cactus may scorch in direct summer sun if they have not been hardened first.
• Desert cacti prefer temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter they prefer a cooler period of time, to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In their usual habitats, many cacti are used to very cold nights.
• In the summertime whenever the compost starts to dry ensure the plant is thoroughly watered. In the winter time, only water if the plant starts to shrivel.
• Pot the cactus into a fast-draining cacti mix. Alternatively, amend regular potting soil with perlite (or similar inorganic agents) that increase aeration and drainage. Seldom do cacti need repotting and some may even grow better is slightly under potted.
• A specialized cactus fertilizer can be a huge help during the growing season. Often owners have seen substandard results with non-cacti fertilizers, so a specialist cacti fertilizer is the way to go.
• The most prevalent concern with desert cacti is overwatering them in the winter. This will cause rot, maybe at the tips of the plant but just as likely at the base. if you discover a cactus already rotting, you may want to establish new plants from cuttings. Cacti are also susceptible to pests, for example, mites and mealybugs.

INDOOR FOREST CACTI GROWING TIPS

Forest cacti most often grow in subtropical and tropical areas of the globe. Often found clinging to trees, their blooms are available in a multitude of colors. They can also make fine hanging plants. The following hints can help you grow forest cacti successfully:

• These plants prefer bright sunlight but not direct sunlight. In the summertime, move them to the outside to a position where they can receive bright light without being in direct sunlight.
• During their growing season, forest cacti thrive when the temperature is anywhere between 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, during the rest cycle of the plant, a cooler temperature of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit is essential. During the summer you can water the plant as you would any other household plant. When the plant is resting, it only needs to be watered when the soil is dry.
• Unlike desert cactus, the forest cactus needs to be re-potted at the outset of each growing season and use a regular potting mix.
• Forest cactus respond well to standard fertilizers. taper down the fertilizer during the growing cycle.
• If you are fortunate enough to own a Christmas cactus and you want to get multiple blooms from it, a little preparation is needed. Before you want the plant to flower, cut it back and induce a period of rest where fertilizing and watering is reduced and the plant keep in a cool (50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit) environment. After 30 to 60 days, take the plant to a warmer place and then resume the watering process. Shortly, buds will start to show. It is also required to move the plant outside during the summer.
• Forest cacti should not be watered heavily during the rest cycle of the plant. When a cactus does not bloom it is normally because by either not taking the plant outside during the summer months or caused by a rest period that was inadequate.

CITRUS TREE CARE IN ARIZONA

Many areas of Arizona are suitable for growing citrus trees, including Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Tempe, Bullhead City and Yuma. Read on to learn a step by step guide to successfully planting citrus trees in the wonderful state of Arizona!

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL CITRUS TREE GROWING

STEP 1 – Citrus trees are best planted in September, Find a location with plenty of protection from the wind and where there is plenty of sun. If you can locate a the trees on a slight incline, cold air will flow down. Similarly planting against a wall, will help keep the wind at bay from the citrus trees.

STEP 2 – The root balls needs holes that are 3 to 5 times wider to promote the growth of the roots of the citrus tree. This is very important to the overall health of the citrus tree.

STEP 3 – The citrus tree will require heavy watering and as Arizona receives most of its yearly rainfall in late summer, additional watering will most likely be required. Utilize a soaker hose to water to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. During the winter, water every 6 days, every 3 days during the summer.

STEP 4 – Once the citrus tree has been established you do not need to water it as often. That said the average yearly rainfall in Arizona is not enough to sustain the life of a citrus tree so after the initial year, use a soaker hose to deepwater once per week in the summer and every three weeks during the winter depending on the conditions.

STEP 5 – January, February, April and May should be the months you use fertilizer on your citrus tree. Do not fertilize after the month of August as the tree needs to go dormant over the winter.

STEP 6 – Your citrus tree will need springtime trimming. Remove dead or damaged branches with a pruning saw or shears. Remove inward growing branches will maintain a well-groomed appearance. Cut areas of the citrus tree should be covered with a whitewash using a paintbrush to prevent damage from the summer sun.

TREE DISPUTES WITH NEIGHBORS

Although Phoenix Trim A Tree is not a legal service nor does it offer legal advice, we sometimes face having to cut down or trim a tree or trees that have been part of a recent legal dispute. Should you be facing a situation with a neighbor where a tree is becoming an issue, read on to learn more regarding your options.

CAN I TRIM BRANCHES FROM A NEIGHBORS TREE THAT OVERHANGS MY YARD?

Under law you can indeed trim branches that go beyond the neighbors property line and infringe on yours. This means you cannot enter the property of the neighbor or trim the tree on the neighbors side of the property line. If the tree is harmed you may be found liable for a fine up to and including three times the value of the tree. Landmark trees or trees for ornamental purposes may have a very high value, so be careful before deciding on a course of action.

CAN I EAT THE FRUIT FROM A TREE OVERHANGING MY PROPERTY?

The fruit from the tree belongs to the owner of the tree and courts have gone back and forth on deciding whether fallen fruit belongs to the owner or the person whose property the fruit falls on. The laws will depend on your location.

MY NEIGHBOR BLOWS LEAVES INTO MY YARD. IS THIS GROUNDS FOR A NUISANCE CLAIM?

Sadly not. Leaves are a natural product and even if they cause clogging to drains or guttering you have no recourse. You can however trim the branches of a tree that is shedding leaves up to the edge of your property line.

A NEIGHBOR KILLED A TREE ON MY PROPERTY WHEN CLEARING HIS YARD. AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?

Anyone who engages in injury to the tree, tree cutting or tree removal without the owner’s permission is liable for compensating the tree owner.

A STORM KNOCKED DOWN MY NEIGHBOR’S TREE LIMB ONTO MY PROPERTY AND IT DAMAGED MY CAR, HOUSE AND YARD FURNITURE. ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES?

In most of these cases, the courts will probably apply what is known as a reasonable care standard. If your neighbor was not derelict in their duties to take care and maintain the tree branch and would not appear in the view of a reasonable person to be threatening to fall, then it is probable a court would not find the neighbor responsible. If the event could not have been forseen or action taken to avoid the event occurring, it will be deemed an “Act Of God” and the neighbor will not be liable.

MY NEIGHBORS TREE LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO FALL ON MY HOUSE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

The responsibility of maintaining trees falls upon the landowner. They have two legal responsibilities. Firstly, they make reasonable inspections with the purpose of ensuring the tree is safe. If the neighbor does not or will not remove the tree and damage is caused, your neighbor can be held responsible. If, having spoken to your neighbor, they do not do anything, you do have some laws that may offer protection. The tree may be considered a nuisance when it interferes with the enjoyment and use of your own property. The court may order the removal of the tree is a court finds it is a nuisance. Most cities have ordinances prohibiting property owners from maintaining conditions that may be considered dangerous on their property. In such cases, the municipality where you reside may order the neighbor to remove the tree or they may take it upon themselves to remove it. It may also be that one of the local utility companies will want the tree removed if it threatens any of their equipment or is a potential fire hazard.

THE SPREADING OF TREE ROOTS ON MY LAND DAMAGED MY NEIGHBORS SEPTIC TANK. DO I HAVE TO COMPENSATE MY NEIGHBORS?

In most states, the neighbor who has been aggrieved may trim the tree or cut the roots and will not have a claim against the owner of the tree. Yet some states maintain neighbors may sue if at least one of the following criteria is met:

• A landowner may sue her neighbor to make that neighbor trims the branches of a tree that encroach the landowner’s property regardless of whether there is damage to the property or not.
• Serious harm caused by encroaching tree roots or tree limbs may give rise to a lawsuit. “Serious harm” usually requires structural damage.
• The neighbor may sue if an encroacing tree was planted.
• A neighbor may only sue if the tree is noxious and is causing damage. “Noxious” means that the tree must be inherently poisonous or dangerous.