by Steve Turner

Trees provide us so many benefits it would be hard to place a true dollar value on their worth. They provide shade, beauty and clean the air we breathe. Essentially as a group they help support life on earth. But how much is one tree worth and how do you figure it out? A tree’s monetary value in a landscape is measured by the cost of replacement, unlike a tree in a forest that is measured by its timber value.

Many factors go into appraising a landscape tree, including size, age, location, health, structure, and species. Each category is judged by its level of importance and a score is given in each. A formula is used to then determine a cash value of the tree’s replacement.

Obviously size and age are going to be very important factors because we use the cost of the largest tree we can plant and then start multiplying it until we get to the size of your tree. So take a tree that has a circumference of 100 inches, and the largest replacement tree is only 10 inches and costs a thousand dollars. If all the other factors are good, the value could be up to $10,000 for replacement. Slow-growing trees are going to be worth more than fast-growing trees of similar size in the same situation.

Just the mere location of a tree can affect its value. For example, if you have a huge elm in the center of your front yard as the centerpiece of your landscape, it is going to be valued much more than the same tree growing in the corner of a parking lot. Just like the value of a home, when it comes to trees an important asset is location, location, location.

The health of a tree is probably the most important factor. Obviously a dead tree has little value in a landscape, so trees that are stressed or dying are going to be of less value than strong, healthy ones. One factor to consider when determining the degree of a tree problem is judging whether or not it is a temporary or a permanent situation. Does it have an insect feeding on its leaves this year or is it infested with borers that will surely kill it? A short-term problem will have a minimal effect on the value of a tree, while more severe problems will decrease the value.

Tree structure is another important factor. A solid tree with good branching is going to be worth more than a tree that has hollows and poor branching, or one that has never been pruned to eliminate or reduce structural deficiencies. Keeping a tree properly maintained can add value and no maintenance or improper pruning such as topping a tree can significantly reduce its value. In fact, topped trees hold little value because the structural integrity of the tree was lost – over time the tree will likely fall apart.

The species of tree will be a major factor in determining worth. A large oak will be worth much more than a Chinese elm of the same size. Species with known problems such as weak structure or disease susceptibility will have a lesser value than those that do not. Volunteer trees such as mulberry, box elder, and tree of heaven are not as valuable as planned specimen trees like beech or Japanese maple.

Yet another factor is availability. If a tree is rare or in high demand it will be harder to find a comparable replacement to help determine its value. I know of a company that had to go to New York to find a suitable replacement for a damaged tree and the cost was well over $20,000 to purchase and move the tree back to Michigan.

So why is it important to put a price tag on trees? It is difficult to sell a large tree and move it, and the demand for this is minimal, so why the fuss for an appraisal? A few reasons come to mind, such as insurance, taxes, vandalism or neglect. If you have many large, mature trees that increase your property value and would be virtually irreplaceable, you can ask your insurance company about possible riders to your homeowners policy that would cover the removal and clean up of a tree if necessary.

With unpredictable storms and the presence of the emerald ash borer, which is killing our ash trees, many of us will be faced with the unplanned loss of a tree. Check with your accountant about IRS casualty loss provisions and find out if you are eligible for any tax deductions as a result.

Then there is the subject of neglectful damage or vandalism to trees. Let’s say a situation gets to the point where a settlement needs to be worked out. If the damaged tree is appraised, the tree’s owner can argue for the real value of the tree instead of settling for some small replacement. Appraisals can be done from old pictures or even stumps, which can tell a lot about the tree’s health and can aid in determining their worth.

Although most of us appreciate the beauty that trees provide us, fewer know the monetary value associated with their trees, and they would be surprised to find out they are so valuable. Maybe this increased awareness can save a few trees from removal and increase the level of care they receive. But to those who hold a sentimental attachment to a favorite tree, the dollar amount placed on it could never replace its loss.

Steve Turner is a Certified Arborist from Arboricultural Services in Oakland County, Michigan.

by Steve Turner

With the huge numbers of ash trees being removed due to the emerald ash borer, many people are experiencing sticker shock when they get estimates to perform the work. I hear it so often, “How come it costs so much to remove this tree?”

The biggest reason is insurance – our industry is a high risk business and we have to pay high premiums just to operate. Our workman’s compensation insurance is up there with coal miners or iron workers. We have to pay close to 25 percent of what an employee earns just for this insurance, and additionally, most companies will have a million dollar liability policy to cover any property damage that may occur in case of an accident.

Also, employees earn skilled labor wages, and the equipment required to be competitive is expensive and needs continuous maintenance or replacement.

Factors that affect the removal cost
So how do tree care companies determine what it costs to complete a job? We estimate time and the cost of disposing the debris. Most companies are charging between $65 and $125 per man hour. While this seems like a big difference, it’s really not because the ones who charge a higher rate often have more equipment and better-trained employees. This allows them to work faster and more efficiently than those with less.

When we are estimating a job, we are looking for things that are going to slow us down removing or trimming the tree, and looking to see how close can we get our equipment to the work site. The most common obstacles are structures, wires, fences and other trees and plants. If we are in tight areas with lots of obstacles, we have to remove the tree in smaller pieces and lower most or all of it to the ground with ropes and rigging devices to avoid any damage. This takes a lot more time than a tree we can let fall into an open area and cut apart on the ground.

Access to the job site is important and the less accessible it is, the higher the price will climb. Sites with limited or no access will take longer to remove the debris and get it to the chipper. The closer we can get the chipper to the work area without causing damage to the lawn the better. Jobs where everything must come through a 36-inch gate or are on the bottom of a steep slope are difficult and often require extra men to keep the debris from backing up under the work area.

Trees that span more than one yard can be tricky. We need to have written permission from the neighbor to access their yard or we have to lower all the debris back to the yard we are working from, which requires more skill and time.

Jobs with no backyard access or those that have large trees over many obstacles, especially houses, will often require the use of a crane. This technique is becoming popular because it reduces the amount of cuts and rigging that has to be done in the tree, which reduces the chance of accidents. If we use a crane, we can attach it to large sections of the tree and make one cut to release it and raise it over the house to the front yard where it can easily be cut up on the ground close to the chipper. So a tree that might take over 100 cuts and lots of rigging with little room for error can be removed in just a few sections and be placed in a more accessible area relatively quickly and safely.

If both the climber and crane operator are skilled in these techniques, a job that would have taken days can be done in hours. This will save the homeowner money and the company is able to reduce the amount of workman’s comp and hourly wage in exchange for the cost of the crane rental. Not all companies are skilled in these techniques and it would be wise to discuss their experience when considering them to perform the work. They will need to accurately judge weight and engineer the proper rigging in order to avoid tipping the crane or losing a load.

The condition of the tree is critical
Another important factor in quoting a tree removal is its condition and structural integrity. Can the tree be climbed or will it have to be done with a bucket? If it can’t be climbed, can we get the right equipment close enough or not? How long has the tree been dead; is it brittle or not? The worst thing you can do is delay removing a dead tree until the bark starts to fall off. If you wait a year or two after it dies it will surely cost you more, assuming it can’t be felled into an open area. Trees that have been dead for more than a year are very hazardous to climb and in many cases impossible to safely remove without the aid of aerial equipment or cranes.

Dead wood does not flex, it just cracks or breaks. When we cut a piece off and it swings down into the trunk or another branch, it explodes into pieces which can cause damage to nearby structures that would normally be out of harm’s way. I have seen pieces of dead trees fly well over a hundred feet upon impact, and trying judge where this debris might go is difficult.

The only advantage that dead trees have is that they weigh much less than live wood since they don’t have all that water in them. If a dead branch were to hit something it would do far less damage than if it were live. Nevertheless, don’t make the mistake of delaying the removal of a dead tree. If you don’t have it taken down in the first year it will cost you more, as well as creating a more hazardous work environment and increasing the chances for accidents.

Winter time is a good time
If your budget is tight, schedule the work for the winter, since most companies will give discounts for off-season work. It is faster to remove trees in the winter because we don’t have to be concerned as much about lawn damage or flower beds. This allows us to remove larger pieces with less rigging, saving us time and you money. Winter is also the best time to prune your trees because insects and disease organisms are dormant and the tree will have plenty of time to seal the wounds before they are active again in the spring. Winter is a slow time for tree companies and most would welcome any additional business at that time, so be smart and take advantage of a good thing for both you and them. The only drawback to winter tree work is scheduling around the weather – sometimes jobs can be delayed due to snow or very cold weather. The shortened daylight can also turn a one-day job into two, but in the end the work will get done and you will likely have more money in your pocket.

Steve Turner is a Certified Arborist from Arboricultural Services in Oakland County, Michigan.

by Steve Turner

This is were the law can get a little gray because removing similar types or amounts of limbs from different species of trees can have different effects. Some species are much more tolerant than others to pruning, and the size and amount that can be safely removed will vary greatly between them. Most shrubs and many smaller ornamental trees will tolerate heavy pruning without damage and would most likely be able to regrow back to their original form if left alone.

On the other hand, if you remove large limbs from medium or mature trees, it is unlikely that the tree will be able to replace them and the loss will be permanent. In some cases this would be tolerable, but if the tree is stressed or in competition with other trees, the heavy pruning could indeed damage it.

Also, the size of the limb is very important. Removing a limb that is very large may cause a wound that will never close, and form a cavity or structural defect in the future. If you cut lower limbs back to the property line and the canopy above shades them, they will most likely die due to lack of sunlight.

Nevertheless, you do have the right to remove any deadwood or hazardous limbs, regardless of size or effect on the tree.

Getting access to the tree
Another issue becomes access. Do you need to enter the tree from the neighbor’s property or can you do the work from your side? Many tree care companies will not work on neighbor’s trees without written permission from the owner. I would suggest that both parties agree on which limbs are to be removed ahead of time and not just leave an open-ended statement saying that any limb that has crossed the property line can be removed. You may come home to find that your expectations have not been met.

Shared trees
A common situation is a tree or any portion of its base that is growing directly on a property line. In this case the tree becomes joint property and both parties must agree to remove or prune the tree before any work is performed. If the tree dies or becomes a hazard, it is the joint responsibility of the owners to remove it and the cost is to be shared between them.

Hazardous trees
Another situation I run into often is when a neighbor has a hazardous tree that is threatening someone else’s property. You cannot force them to remove it unless your city has some type of ordinance that would allow the city to order its removal. Such is the case with many diseased elms and Dutch elm disease. What you can do is have the tree inspected by an arborist and if it is a hazard, the arborist can write a report that clearly states the tree’s defects and why it is hazardous. This can be presented to the owner and if they ignore their responsibility they can potentially be held liable when the tree fails because it is now a known hazard. If the tree were to fall on or damage your property, you can claim it against their insurance and they would have to pay the deductible.

This only applies if the tree is a known hazard – it will not apply to a healthy tree that fails in a storm. That would be considered an act of nature. Even if the tree showed internal decay at the point of failure, without prior knowledge of this defect you would have to claim it on your own insurance and pay the deductible. For a tree to be considered a known hazard it must evaluated by a qualified individual or be obvious to a reasonable person that the tree has a high chance of failure before it fails. An example would be a dead or leaning tree with a large cavity and decay. You would not have to have a prior evaluation in order to claim it as a known hazard because most reasonable people would be able to tell that this is a danger and act accordingly by having it removed. A tree can only be judged a hazard if it has a target under it, such as a structure or object, or is in an area that a person could be present such as a sidewalk, road or playground. A tree in the back forty with no targets and little chance of people being present could not be deemed a hazard no matter what shape it is in or how dead it is.

As an arborist I am always looking for hazard trees and the signs of structural defects whenever I do an estimate because I can potentially be held liable if I visit a property and fail to recognize a hazard and it ends up causing damage in the future. One of the hardest hazards to detect beforehand is root rot on trees because the damage is below ground and can only be seen if the soil around the base of the tree is removed and the roots inspected. Often the only above ground sign we have is the presence of the fruiting bodies of the fungus in the form of mushrooms around the base of the tree or on the roots. If you see any mushrooms or conks on any part of a tree, it would be wise to have the tree checked out by an arborist. These are signs that decay is present and the arborist needs to determine the extent of the decay to see if the tree is safe or needs to be removed.

These are just a few common examples and brief summaries of how the law applies to trees. For more detailed information about these or other questions, check with your insurance agent and/or an attorney about the specifics of your situation.

Steve Turner is a Certified Arborist from Arboricultural Services in Oakland County, Michigan.