Can someone please help me identify these two oaks in my backyard. We live in central Florida and just bought this home. Are they laurel oaks? They really worry me especially with the severe storms and hurricanes Florida has. Any thoughts?
Hello Shannon, Using several links on your first post put it into moderation. I approved your post, so others can see it now. It is possible (and preferable) to attach your images directly in your post. See: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=725 Welcome to the forums.
Should I be concerned if they're laurel oaks? With Florida being known for having pretty bad storms I've heard alot of bad things with these trees. We just moved into this house about a month ago and now all I can think about is these trees falling down on top of my house during a storm.
I can't view the pics, but saltcedar is probably right with Quercus laurifolia or laurel oak. First, I know Palm Coast, second, it's the most commonly planted oak in modern housing developments here, and third, Quercus virginiana which is also relatively common here is not planted in housing tracts because of slow rate of growth and massive size when mature decades later. Unfortunately laurel oaks will uproot or topple in storms, and they don't live all that long. If your home is twenty years old, you might think about having a tree specialist give you a reading on them. Smaller trees will generally mean younger. Most of the time people will not plant oaks unless the home or lot is new. Consider also that the Pinus palustris or long leaf pine of your area is also not the ideal tree in a subdivision. They snap off at about roof height in quartering winds. Marginally preferable the uprooting of oaks, but both are hazardous. Trees are important in your area for making use of groundwater, for providing shelter from the sun, and for adding some substance to the sandy soil to lessen erosion. If you have a St Augustine lawn, it won't do well in full sun and drought. Kinda either/or. So if you remove the trees, you may have to increase watering, and air conditioning.
Tillandsia spp. visible on your trees would only indicate the tree is failing enough for you to see it. That said, none that you see might also indicate the trees are fairly young. Don't worry all that much if the trees appear healthy. I've had a live oak and a hackberry tree fall on my roof but that's only two in thirty years of living here.
My home was built in 85. I absolutaly love the trees but at the same time I am scared of them. Should I have a tree service come and "prune" them? How would I go about getting someone (not looking to make money) to let me know the true condition of the trees?
Well owing to your concerns I'd remove them and replace them with some Palms. Phoenix canariensis or Sabal palmetto, these are two of the most wind-fast trees. A poor pruning job can make a tree more susceptible to wind damage not less so.
This may be a really stupid question but.... what would be a ballpark amount charged for having them removed (which I TRULY would hate to do)? It makes me sad to think of chopping them down when they are so beautiful, but at the same time I don't want them to fall on top of my house w/ our 3 children inside during a simple thunderstorm. So you really think they need to be removed? :(
During a thunderstorm they're unlikely to fail, but a Hurricane is a whole 'nother story. You sound like a transplanted northerner who has yet get their head wrapped around Florida's unique weather. Yes? Figure a couple thou' depending on how professional your tree company is. Fly-by-night maybe half that much.
You could try the county agricultural extension office for basic info. They might have cards there for tree specialists that will do the job. I've actually used a guy once who drove a beat up old station wagon and roped his tools and ladders to the top. Oddly, he turned out to be really good. You want someone who is licensed and insured. My guy was both, but it was a sideline business post hurricane, kinda blue tarp special. Also try talking to the neighbors with the best lawn and trees. Just be wary of the very young men who cut lawns a lot. Braggadocio and false bravado means heavy on the BS. They don't have to know the latin names but they do need to know one oak species from another, and they do need to know where power lines and water mains are.
Definitely over a thousand for a couple of trees removed, more depending on size and if you want the roots ground down, or the wood cut up for your use. If they ask for $300 a tree, something is fishy. My crazy guy with the station wagon was maybe $500 for a hackberry that was already toppled with the crown on my roof, leaving the roots and stacking the wood on the curb. It took him and his nephew maybe an hour and a half. I can see the pics now. Looking at the size and other aspects of your property, these are fully mature, and will be expensive to remove. Expect to pay $700 or so per tree, minimum. And if they have to contend with structures and power lines, it goes up.
LOL! Nope, I'm a true Florida girl born and raised. I think this is why I'm scared because I know how bad the weather can be here. Palm Coast isn't known for being hit hard by hurricanes directly but we do get some pretty nasty storms not to mention tornadoes (like the 2 we had last year). I've just heard and witnessed some pretty bad damage caused by laurels and now am truly concerned.
