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.