Tree Trimming Questions from Shingle Springs
Here are the questions we hear most, with short, plain answers. Don't see yours? Call (530) 366-5087 and ask. There's no charge for asking.
About the service
Who comes out to look at my trees?
An independent pruning pro from your part of the county. Finding them and booking the visit is our job. Quoting and, if hired, doing the work is theirs.
Am I obliged to hire whoever comes?
Not in the least. Decline, ask for another opinion, or mull it over as long as you please.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
No, and a good pro won't either. The price depends on the tree, the ground and how hard it is to reach, so someone has to see it.
Which oaks get pruned in winter?
The ones that drop their leaves, like blue, valley and black oak. Evergreen oaks such as interior live oak and canyon oak get pruned in summer.
Why shouldn't pines be cut in summer?
UC's bark beetle guide rules pines out from February until mid-October. Beetles fly then, and fresh wounds lure them.
When are apricots and cherries pruned?
July and August, inland where we live. Per UC, cuts made then are no longer open to Eutypa by the time rains return.
Can dead branches come off any time?
Largely, yes. ISA notes that weak, sick or dead limbs may come out in any month with little effect on the tree.
How much of a tree should come off at once?
ISA's general limit is 25% of the crown at a time, and smaller amounts on mature trees.
Is topping a tree a good way to shrink it?
No. Topping may strip 50 to 100 percent of a crown's leaves, ISA warns, and the regrowth comes fast and weak. Reduction cuts to side branches instead.
What clearance do fire engines need over a drive?
The regional fire access standard for El Dorado County asks for at least 13 feet 6 inches of open height over fire access roads.
What about branches near the chimney?
El Dorado County's inspection notice calls for clearing every branch inside 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe outlet.
Does mistletoe grow back after it's cut?
Often, if only the clump is snapped off. UC advises cutting the branch at least 1 foot below where it's attached.
Does trimming an oak need a county permit?
The Fire Safe Council's summary of the county oak ordinance lists trimming that doesn't destroy the tree as exempt. Ask county Planning before removing an oak.
Should I paint the cuts?
Leave them bare. Dressings don't cut decay or quicken closing, per ISA.
More reading: oak tree pruning, fruit tree pruning, or the season table on the Shingle Springs tree trimming home page.
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