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Is my concolor fir (white fir) dying or just stressed?

Answered for Martinsville, Morgan County (county seat) County.

Genuinely over-mature in the old grid: the Northside Historic District developed circa 1850–1935 and the East Washington Street district circa 1869–1940, so those blocks carry trees well over a century old on shallow-setback lots where the crown sits directly above the roof and the sidewalk. The newer neighborhoods the comprehensive plan maps — Eagle Crest Estates, Southern Acres, Country View — are the opposite extreme, open ground with young stock. (Age is inferred from district survey dates; a species inventory was not available.) That context matters for concolor fir (white fir): this is the conifer extension services now recommend in place of colorado blue spruce, so it is what people are planting — and morton is explicit that you must not plant white fir in heavy clay soil. Removing a concolor fir (white fir) around Martinsville runs roughly $250–$1,400, and in Northside Historic District, East Washington Street Historic District and Colonial Hills access is usually what decides where in that range you land.

What's actually growing in Martinsville

Genuinely over-mature in the old grid: the Northside Historic District developed circa 1850–1935 and the East Washington Street district circa 1869–1940, so those blocks carry trees well over a century old on shallow-setback lots where the crown sits directly above the roof and the sidewalk. The newer neighborhoods the comprehensive plan maps — Eagle Crest Estates, Southern Acres, Country View — are the opposite extreme, open ground with young stock. (Age is inferred from district survey dates; a species inventory was not available.)

Martinsville's housing stock, and what it means for tree size

The oldest housing stock of the three, and the city's own 2022 comprehensive plan says so with numbers: more than 35 percent of Martinsville's homes were built before 1950, only 10.3 percent since 2000, and 89 percent of its 5,086 units predate 2000. Total housing units grew just 0.26 percent between 2010 and 2020, so the street trees planted with the houses are now 75 to 150 years old and are the largest, most defect-prone trees in the county.

What's specific to concolor fir (white fir)

Dieback starts at the top and the leader and works downward, which is the signature of a root problem and the opposite of the bottom-up interior browning you see from foliar disease on spruce. Interior needle shed and some color fade are normal; a limp or dead leader with needles that pull off green means check the root flare and the drainage, not the foliage.

Morgan County (county seat) County rules

No municipal tree-removal permit for private property could be located. Martinsville holds its own zoning jurisdiction (the Morgan County Unified Development Ordinance expressly excludes it), but the city's code is not published on the major code libraries, and neither the comprehensive plan nor the county ordinance imposes any permit to remove a tree in your own yard. What is regulated is development-stage landscaping and work in the city right-of-way. Homeowners should confirm right-of-way work with the city Planning Department before cutting, since the ordinance text could not be independently verified.

Crews near Martinsville

Sorted by distance
Humble Hunt's Services, LLC, photo 1 of 3Photo author: Bob Schacht

Humble Hunt's Services, LLC

9188 W County Line Rd, Camby, IN 46113

5.041
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +1

Great experience using Humble Hunt Services for tree removal. It was a very large tree and very close to two houses. Every call, every question…

David · 3 months ago · Google
D & S Tree Service, LLC of Mooresville & Greencastle, photo 1 of 3

D & S Tree Service, LLC of Mooresville & Greencastle

7701 S County Rd 375 E, Mooresville, IN 46158

5.025
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +1

We used D&S twice now, and we love them. Owner comes out himself to do estimates, he's always on time, Friendly and informative. Then, before he…

Jennifer Spencer · 2 years ago · Google
Andy's Tree & Landscape, photo 1 of 3

Andy's Tree & Landscape

7532 Brattle Dr, Camby, IN 46113

4.9100
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

Andy and his crew member did not disappoint. They did an exceptional job cutting down my tree and also provided additional services on another. They…

Susan McAllister · 3 months ago · Google
McDaniel’s Tree Service, photo 1 of 3

McDaniel’s Tree Service

5741 Gallagher Dr, Greenwood, IN 46142

4.640
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +1

McDaniels Tree Service did an excellent job on a recent work order for tree removal. Their crew arrived on time, worked efficiently, and handled the…

Carl Schwander · 5 months ago · Google
Hair Cuts For Trees LLC, photo 1 of 3

Hair Cuts For Trees LLC

4141 W Southport Rd Lot 10, Indianapolis, IN 46217

5.049
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

I highly recommend Hair Cuts For Trees! Sebastian and his crew were promptly on-site the next day after I called him. His pricing was very…

P Ellis · 4 years ago · Google
Jimmy's Tree Service, photo 1 of 2Photo author: Dena Marks

Jimmy's Tree Service

597 Shady Brook Hts, Greenwood, IN 46142

4.115
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

I had a tree blow over and hired Jimmy’s crew to cut it up and haul it away. I was expecting to have to do clean up after the job, but I came home to…

Tim Doyle · 3 months ago · Google

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