Tree Trimming in El Dorado
In ZIP 95623, the town of El Dorado is one of ours. Give (530) 248-6054 a ring and say what you've got: an old oak, a row of pines, or one tree crowding the house. A pro from around here will come take a look.
Gold-rush roots
From Mud Springs to El Dorado
El Dorado sits 4 miles from Placerville toward the southwest, at 1,608 feet. Wikipedia lists it as California Historical Landmark #486. The old name, Mud Springs, came from the bog that livestock churned up at a watering hole.
A Pony Express stop once stood here. Then in 1945, a former Wells Fargo weigh station from the 1850s became Poor Red's Bar-B-Q. Drivers kept pulling in, since the town falls about midway between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.
Old towns have old trees. The oaks around buildings from the 1850s have had a long time to grow big, heavy limbs.
Oak care
What big old oaks need
A mature oak doesn't need much. The UC Master Gardener oak sheet says oaks are tough and drought-tolerant, and their motto is basically "don't panic." But a few things matter.
- Keep turf back from the trunk. A lawn that waters an oak too much can bring disease to the trunk and the shallow roots, per UC.
- Keep mulch back from the trunk.
- Cut leaf-dropping oaks in winter, and evergreen ones in summer.
- Remove big flat limbs that hang over a house, a walk or a drive.
Blue oaks grow up to 3,500 feet in shallow soils, says the same UC sheet. That includes this part of the foothills, at 1,608 feet. In wet springs they can turn pale blue or nearly white with powdery mildew, which UC says is caused by too much late-spring rain and needs no treatment. It looks bad, but the leaves grow back.
Rules and checks
Before you cut a big one
Size matters when it comes to oaks. Ask your pro whether any county rules apply to the work. Rules can change, and we won't guess here. The pro can check with El Dorado County or the City of Placerville, whichever applies to your address.
The International Society of Arboriculture also warns that heavy pruning is a significant health stress for a tree. So a big cut should have a good reason. For weak, diseased or dead limbs, ISA says the work can happen at any time of year.
Prices
What it costs
For an oak, Fixr lists $175-$1,500 and LawnStarter lists $230-$1,480. Branch removal at Homeyou runs $168-$486. A large tree of 30-50 feet costs $150-$800 at Fixr.
The wide range comes from the tree's size and what's around it. A pro will quote after seeing yours.
Records
Keep a photo diary
A big oak changes slowly, so memory is a poor tool. Take a photo of each large tree every season. A year of pictures shows a limb that is sagging, a crack that is growing or a clump of mistletoe that is spreading.
Show the photos to the pro. A before-and-after set also helps you see if the pruning did what you wanted. It costs nothing, and it makes the next visit a lot more useful.
Questions
El Dorado questions
Can I book a pro in El Dorado?
Yes, ZIP 95623. Call (530) 248-6054 with your road.
My oak leaves look white. Is it dying?
UC blames powdery mildew on heavy late-spring rain and says no treatment is needed. A pro can confirm.
Can I put a lawn under my oak?
UC warns that turf near an oak can overwater the trunk and shallow roots and invite disease.
Close by
Nearby
Close by are Placerville, Diamond Springs and Fair Play. See winter pruning, or the Camino home page.