Oak Tree Removal?
 

We have a big oak tree on our property that creates a cleanup nightmare for us every year at this time of year. Inches of leaves on the lawn and incessant leaves on our driveway, front walkway, dragged into the house, etc. I had heard there was some restriction against removing these trees. But then I heard that restriction was recently removed. Does anyone know the actual situation? Can we remove this tree? If so are there any rules we must follow in doing so?

Look at your deed restrictions and the ARC manual for your District; both are available from districtgov.org. Then contact the county.

The deed restrictions will likely state that you need approval to remove a tree with a diameter 4" or greater.

The ARC manuals have been changing over the last few months and that requirement may have been changed but since there is a different manual for each District you need to check on the specific manual for your District.

After you know whether or not you need ARC approval, you also need to see whether you need county approval. I haven't found a good source of information on that.

Things are easier if you have a report from an arborist stating that the tree is a hazard but that may cost money and runs the risk of the report not being in your favor.

The best thing you can do is contact Tree Frog they have a licensed arborist on staff who is familiar with all of the rules and restrictions. My understanding (and it may be wrong) if the Oak is healthy and not endangering any buildings it cannot be removed as these are protected. If Tree Frog determines the tree can be removed, they can handle all of the necessary paperwork as well as the removal. I also understand there can be fines involved if the tree is removed without permission, so I would make sure to get the above approvals.

Why not call Community Standards and get the correct information ?

There are other requirements that need to be met, not just ARC requirements, it is the state of Floridia that protects these trees, not ARC, that is why I suggested contacting an expert in this area, aka Tree Frog.

I have a better idea. Instead of removing a beautiful tree that shades your expensive roof and cuts your utility bills, just because it drops its leaves for a couple of weeks every year, why don't you sell your house with the valuable, rare, oak tree to someone who likes trees and move to one of the hundreds of other TREELESS neighborhoods in The Villages? You'll probably make money on the deal!

But if you want to keep your home and then suddenly come to your senses and decide not to destroy a valuable neighborhood asset, here's a tip on the leaves.

QUIT RAKING THEM UP, just to throw them in a landfill. They represent valuable lawn fertilizer -- even more so, now that a bag of fertilizer now costs $50 at Lowes. Instead, just MOW them and you will discover that the chopped-up remains magically disappear in a couple of weeks, right about the time the trees quit dropping them!

Well Said!!
 

Oaks take years to grow in the first place, but then they are there for a long time. The habitat, beauty, and shade they provide are of far more value than the minor inconvenience of leaves once a year. I have 5 large oaks on my property - one is over 150 years old, and it is magnificent. Don't turn your area into another urban blight project by removing a beautiful tree. Your shortsightedness will far outlive you.

Blueblaze, you obviously do not have an oak tree on or near your property. If you did, you will realize how much work is involved in maintaining these trees, if you want your property to look nice and prevent the "suckers" from taking root, and having to dispose of the acorns. It is not a few days work, it is MONTHS of DAILY cleanup starting about Sept/Oct right through March. Don't be so judgmental. Maybe if people took the leaves and acorns and dumped them on YOUR property, you would change your tune

tbatterman, call the district office and get the CORRECT answer.

My thoughts exactly. Oh the "inconvenience" of having to deal with falling leaves and yet the much longer list of benefits the tree brings.

Go to The Villages Office and ask them. (We found we did not need a permit for ours)
But when needed the arborist is free.

I believe T V is allowing palms to be removed but you are supposed to have one tree on every lot as the developer planted per PUD state requirement (you know trade for stripping land to nothingness like they do for the $$$). An oak would require ARC apprival particularly if over 4" trunk diameter is my understanding.

Palms are considered weeds in South FL. Oaks provide
oxygen palms not so much so South FL is planting more TREES like oaks now.

Give me a break. We're not all desert-lovers here. Not everyone buys trees because they're pretty, only to cut them down the moment they defile a stupid high-maintenance lawn.

I live in WOODBURY on the North side, specifically BECAUSE it has an abundance of beautiful oak trees. I have two oaks on this quarter-acre, plus 5 magnolias, one Drake elm, and one hated lemon tree. If you hate raking leaves, try cleaning up three bushels of giant Meyers lemons, dropped over three months of every year, and then every week mowing around a tree with 2" thorns! My previous 2 acre property in Texas had 15 huge live oaks and 5 loblolly pines. Before that, my one acre property in Oklahoma was in the middle of a hickory and post oak forest. I had to remove 20 trees just to build that house. The leaves were shin-deep every week in the Fall before I mowed them. And those leaves disappeared the same way these do when I mowed them.

I LOVE trees. If you don't count lemons, they are SO MUCH easier to live with than the lawn you are forced to own and mow every week, practically anywhere you buy a house. The secret to dealing with the 2 weeks out of 52 that a live oak drops its leaves is to quit freaking out over it and just do the same thing you do with your precious lawn -- mow them.

If you hate trees, WHY DID YOU BUY ONE?

Wasn't the tree there before you bought your house? These trees were kept by the developers for a reason.

I am sure the generations of builders and trade people who earned income building the villages would not say it was nothingness
Not would all the owners of small businesses making their living from the residents.

oak tree removal
 

I recently had one removed and had to get a written statement from a licensed arborist stating it was diseased or damaged before removal

What reason was that?

Easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission.

I just had an oak tree cut down. Simply get a licensed arborist to signoff on it. Stanage Tree does an EXCELLENT job!

Blueblaze, you sound like a tree hugger. Why do you want to impose your beliefs upon others. Some people don’t like, or can’t do, all the upkeep. Why don’t you start a service and go around The Villages and offer free oak tree cleanups? You can call it “Johnny Acorn”!

A mature oak tree absorbs about 48 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year and in turn releases oxygen back into the air.

🤦🏼
 

Ask a question here, you’ll get 20 opinions from 10 people. Reach out to ARC and ask someone who can answer your question.

If this property is in one of the Villa communities of TV, then you do not need permission to take it down.

If you live in a villa then your deed restrictions *MIGHT* not require ARC approval to remove a tree. (every area has its own version of the deed restrictions)

HOWEVER, it still is not clear if County approval is required. At least two posters have given good advice to contact a professional tree company to learn what approvals may be required.

At least one of your neighbors probably bought next to you, or behind you, because that wonderful tree gave them shade in the summer. What a shame.

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

Oak tree
 

Too bad the tree couldn't be moved/transported to someone who loves them rather than the resident who finds it a nuisance. Moving to TV from New England meant never to rake another darn leaf. Loving that.

Consider Triming
 

Mature oak trees are a lot of work. Mature oak trees are also beautiful. Mature oak trees with Spanish Moss are even more work and more beautiful.

Before you cut yours down, consider hiring a good tree service like Tree Frog to do a thorough trimming of the tree. This will clear out a lot of small branches, unnecessary clutter, and shape the tree in an attractive manner. Tree Frog will also cut out the surface roots that cause problems in the lawn.

Proper trimming will also result in a dramatic reduction in the leaves, acorn, and small branches that cause you so much work and aggravation. If your tree overhangs or is close to your house, trimming will greatly reduce the leaves that end up in your rain gutters which can clog the gutters and cause water to back into the soffits and damage the house.

Perfect reply!
 

I could not have said it better myself. Well, I could have but I would have most likely been banned for life. :swear:

I'm no tree hugger. I believe in private property. If it's your tree, cut it down if it pleases you.

But I also believe in freedom of speech. So don't be surprised when your neighbors point out what a fool you are for killing a valuable tree that you foolishly paid good money for, just because you have suddenly discovered that trees have leaves.

Here is Tree Frog contact info:
Kanani Morris 352-446-5043,
Tree Frog Tree Service
11962 County Rd, The Villages, Fl 32162 · ~5.1 mi
(352) 446-5043
Tree Frog Tree Service - Tree Frog Tree Service - Home

Oak Tree.
 

Please do not destroy a beautiful tree, Just mow the leaves!

You are wrong
 

Our neighbor decided he didn't like raking leaves, so had this beautiful oak tree cut down. Guess what that tree was providing valuable shade to our front room (and the neighbor who cut it down), resulting in higher electric bills for the beating sun in the room, not to mention the extra a/c we had to install to keep up with the heat. For eight months of the year, the average temp in my office is 83 degrees, and that is with the house temp set at 70.

And yeah, when neighbors leaves blew into our yard ole Blueblase just mowed them. We have no 'suckers' as you put it.

When we purchased our home we did not have a tree, but our neighbor had two beautiful oaks, one in the front yard and one on the lot line in the back ..... which, of course, was our shade over our sun room. She brought in an arborist who refused to touch the tree and suggested she talk to us first, she did not. The next thing I knew was the tree was down. She had found a couple of "people" looking for work who took both her trees out and one across the road from her. work. Shortly after that several trees were removed before TV came down hard on removing oaks. I did get the opportunity to ask this person why she took down the trees and her reply was because they were going to fall into her house during a storm!!

We planted five trees and I love them.

Why did the builders strip South of 44 of trees? Plenty of artificial ponds with dangerous gators on walking paths and hardly a tree?