Average Cost of Tree Removal

Sometimes, trees must be removed from the property altogether, often due to disease, death or severe storm damage. The average cost of tree removal in Greensboro, North Carolina is about $575, and usually no more than $680. Tree removal can be more affordable if the site is convenient, the tree is small and the work doesn’t take too long. For difficult jobs and the toughest and tallest trees, however, the price of removal could exceed $1,100.

Average Cost of Stump Removal

If it becomes necessary to remove a tree from the property, the next service homeowners will need is stump removal. Most tree removal companies consider this part of the job as an additional service. Having a midsize stump removed in Greensboro may cost as little as $75. For a large stump, the price may be a little higher, but most won’t pay more than about $132 to have a single stump ground up and removed from their property.

Average Cost of Tree Maintenance in Greensboro

Maintaining trees is essential not only for preserving their natural beauty, but also their health and the safety of human inhabitants. Timely maintenance services such as pruning, fertilizing and staking will extend the life of a tree and enhance its long-term value. In North Carolina, the average price for tree maintenance services is $730. The most common range is between $600 and $860, although some have paid as little as $200. The maximum cost reported by residents is $1,660.

Trees that Thrive in Greensboro

Like the white oak, most Greensboro trees are deciduous hardwoods rather than evergreens. Here are some of the most common trees seen around town:

• Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
• Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa)
• American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
• Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
• Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
• Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
• Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides)
• Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
• Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

Guilford County is home to a prodigious number of large trees over 100 feet tall, including a variety of oak, hickory, elm and poplar species. The city of Greensboro houses one of the oldest post oak trees on record. Greensboro also boasts the oldest specimen of North Carolina’s state tree – the longleaf pine. The longleaf pine is a famous native of the Southeast, capable of living up to 250 years. It is the longest-living southern pine.

Municipal Tree Codes

The municipal government in Greensboro employs an Urban Forester to enforce its tree laws. While there are extensive rules that guide landscaping and tree conservation for new development, single-family residences are largely exempt from these ordinances.

Homeowners do, however, need to maintain the appearance and health of those trees on their lot that are planted adjacent to a public right-of-way, such as the street or sidewalk. The City will pay for the maintenance and removal of such trees as it deems necessary, but is not responsible for any hazards that persist solely on private property.

Poorly sited trees can interfere with electrical supply lines. The state Utilities Commission directs utility companies to trim back trees as needed to protect the integrity of electrical transmissions. Residents, for their part, should avoid planting tall trees underneath power lines. Greensboro authorities say understory trees of short stature should be chosen to preempt conflicts. The City has specified which tree species are suitable for planting under lines; these include:

• Buckeye
• Crabapple
• Crape myrtle
• Witchhazel
• Redbud

Growing Conditions on the Northern Piedmont

Typical of the Southeastern U.S., Greensboro lies in a humid subtropical zone. Each of the seasons is pronounced, with warm, wet summers and cold, dry winters. About 900 feet above sea level, the city enjoys a mild climate tempered by the Appalachian Mountains to its north and west. Its USDA Hardiness Zone is 7b.

The surrounding northern Piedmont features rolling hills and fertile farmland, with a growing season shorter than the coastal plains but longer than the mountains. Native trees are those naturalized to the Piedmont during the pre-colonial era.

Cultivating Tree Fruit

Greensboro growers who are interested in tree fruit cultivation have a variety of choices. Apples, pears and chestnuts can be grown throughout the state. Late-blooming plums, figs, persimmons and pecans can be grown in the Piedmont without much trouble. Cold-hardy varieties of nectarines and peaches are viable, although they are notably high maintenance. Strawberries and other berries are grown here, too, but keep in mind they sometimes succumb to fungal diseases brought on by the rains.

Special Cautions for Growers

In recent years, Greensboro has suffered severe droughts, making drought-tolerant species ideal. The region averages one or two major droughts lasting more than four years about every century. Tree growers should also beware of diseases and pests that could affect their cultivars.

Dutch elm disease in North Carolina was first discovered in Greensboro several decades ago and continues to haunt the American and European elms of the Piedmont. Additionally, the widely disruptive emerald ash borer was sighted in North Carolina for the first time in 2013, posing a threat to area ash trees.

Plant Hardiness Zones in North Carolina

Here are the plant hardiness zones for North Carolina as provided by the USDA:

Image Sources:
Mimosa
Southern catalpa

Local Tree Services in Greensboro