[C.J. Moof]

We bought a new house this March- before the leaves were back. We realized as the spring went on that the elm in the backyard had a lot of dead branches, and this week, were informed that it has Dutch Elm disease.

Anybody know how fast Dutch Elm kills trees? I have to be suspicious that the previous owners knew there was something wrong and convienently failed to mention anything. After all, it's better to let the next guy get stuck with the $2K tree removal bill....

[Mrjinglesusa]

Google is your friend...

http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_ded/ht_ded.htm

[Cody Dawg]

Can I come and cut up your tree for $2000?

We had a huge banyan tree, 50 feet tall and 3 feet wide, fall down in our yard. We cut it down with a chainsaw and hauled it off even though we were flooded. (All from hurricane Frances.)

Took us 2 days, a chainsaw, a shovel and a pickaxe (to dig out the roots to cut them up also), and a truck to haul off the limbs. Our barn in the back had to be hauled away, basically, also.

(Editing due to JPEG size)

[C.J. Moof]

Difference is your banyan took itself down. This tree is going to have to be disassembled and hauled off in parts- I can't see how it could be taken down with no effect on other trees, houses, or power lines.

I found the google link myself, it's hardly specific. If introduced by bark beetles, it could kill the tree by the end of the growing season, or 2 or more years. Quite a range.

[Cody Dawg]

The banyan didn't take itself down. The hurricane did.

We have citrus canker down here and the state comes and takes out the tree.

Which is my next point: Because it is a disease that poses a risk environmentally you might want to check with your town and county and see if there is a program that will come in and remove the tree for free in your community.

As far as the tree being diseased and the people knowing about, virtually all elms have this disease - or will get it. I'm not so sure that the people were trying to pull one over on you as you are implying.

With all of that said, my husband said that if it was his tree he would still take it down himself. He'd take down the branches, lop the top off, then take it down piece by piece, vertically, then dig it out - if he was allowed to.

Down here in Florida we had estimates to take out our huge banyan tree before the storm did and the prices ranged between $350 to $500.

[AKcrab]

Cody, I agree with your sentiment, but not everyone is comfortable with a chain-saw, especially when roped in trying to top a large tree. Chain-saws are extremely dangerous, as even the slightest mistake can end in horrific damage.

I grew up with chain-saws, and frankly, I don't like using them, even a little bit.

There are times when do-it-yourself is a great money-saver, and times you should call a pro. Unfortunately, the decision of which to choose varies greatly in each individual. I've cut down a number of trees on my property, but there are some I wouldn't even consider trying to tackle.

I'm not sure how dutch elm disease kills the tree. Depending on how the tree dies, it could be perfectly viable as "standing dead". Think owl's, squirrels, old hollow trees, etc. (Of course, your neighbors would probably think you're nuts. )

[C.J. Moof]

Government will subsdize removal of diseased citrus trees b/c of the economic impact citrus canker could have on a valuable industry. Around here, a tree died in my backyard. Too bad. I really hope my already too high taxes aren't subsidizing a fight that we aren't going to win anyway. I've been reading about DED all evening, and it looks to me that around here, sooner or later, your elm is going to get DED.

They don't all have it as you say, b/c it kills in as little as 2 months, or at most a couple of years. It varies on which variety of fungus you have, the agressive or non agressive variety. They're most succeptable in the spring. So, the more I've learned, the less likely it is that the previous owners just failed to mention the failing health of the tree. (They did fail to mention the window leaks in heavy rains, but that's a different story....)

Cutting the tree down is only have the story- it has to be disposed of too. It's a disease vector, after all.

[CaseCom]

Most cities around here don't mess around with Dutch elm disease. If they see a diseased elm on private property, the city notifies the property owner, and then the owner has a short amount of time (usually two weeks or a month) to take it down. If it's still up, the city will go in, take it down, and bill the property owner for the cost.

The elm in front of our house got it a couple of years ago. It was on city property, though (between the sidewalk and the street), so they took care of the whole thing.

[RAILhead]

As mentioned already, check with the local gov't. If you're 100% certain your tree has DED, it can kill trees all over town like there's no tomorrow. Depending upon your finances, it may be easier to let the city take care of it and pay them rather than have someone remove the tree.

That said, if you haven't already had a local greenthumb come check it out, I'd urge you to do so in the hopes that all is not lost just yet.

Keep us informed, please!

Maury

[C.J. Moof]

Looks like I'm out of luck for the city to help pay:

(6) Assessment of Costs of Abatement and Spraying.
(a) The entire costs of abating any public nuisance as defined in Subsection (1) of
this ordinance, or of spraying any elm tree or part thereof as required by
Subsection (5) hereof, may be chargeable to and assessed against the parcel or
lot upon which such tree stands. The cost of abating any such nuisance or
spraying any elm tree, or part thereof, which is located in or upon any park or
public grounds, boulevards or public right-of-way shall be borne by the City.

The nuisance from subsection (1) is a tree with Dutch Elm Disease or Oak Wilt.

They seem pretty serious about it here too. The city ordinance I found basically says that if/when the city forester or his designee finds a diseased tree on your premises, you'll get written notification to get rid of it, and 30 days to comply, or the city will come do it for you and hand you the bill. It even makes it illegal to transport DED infected wood through the city.

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by C.J. Moof

Looks like I'm out of luck for the city to help pay:


The nuisance from subsection (1) is a tree with Dutch Elm Disease or Oak Wilt.

They seem pretty serious about it here too. The city ordinance I found basically says that if/when the city forester or his designee finds a diseased tree on your premises, you'll get written notification to get rid of it, and 30 days to comply, or the city will come do it for you and hand you the bill. It even makes it illegal to transport DED infected wood through the city.

This is typical, and there's not really any other way for a city to handle it -- so you're not get shafted or anything.

What I was saying was to skip the 30-day wait and see if they'll do and bill you now vs. pricing a local professional to do it. Whichever is less expensive, go for it now before it really gets out of hand.

Maury

[Railroader]

I wish the two huge Black Walnut trees in my neighbors yards (JUST off the property line) would die. Hardly anything will grow under them. I've read where the roots give off a natural toxic chemical to other plants. It took me a while to find a good grass seed that grows under them. But the lawn still gets torn up by the squirrels every Spring and Fall.

[C.J. Moof]

Our old place had a black walnut next door. Evil thing. It's toxin spreading isn't half as bad as the nasty walnuts it would drop on my property every fall. I'd fill a couple of contractor bags with the things every year.

Yuck.