Tree Trimming in Coloma
Live in the Coloma valley? We can help. Call (530) 380-5512 and we'll find a tree pro who'll come out to the valley and look at your trees.
Coloma sits low along the South Fork of the American River, north of Cameron Park. It's tiny and famous, and its river flats are the kind of ground valley oaks like.
Gold, then a park
On January 24, 1848, at Sutter's Mill, James Marshall spotted gold, and California went gold crazy. Now the old townsite is the core of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Since July 4, 1961, it has also carried National Historic Landmark District status.
Cullumah, the Nisenan name for the valley, means "beautiful," and the town grew up on top of a Nisenan village called Koloma. A post office opened in 1849 as Culloma and switched to Coloma in 1851. Silas Sanderson, one of the first settlers, later served as California's 7th Chief Justice. The 2020 census counted just 521 people, at an elevation of 764 feet.
Valley oaks: big trees, big limbs
River bottoms are valley oak country. Picture a giant with huge sideways arms and a wide crown. That's how the UC Master Gardener oak talk sketches the valley oak. It prefers moist bottomlands and streamside spots.
Those long level limbs are the thing to watch. That talk also covers summer branch drop, a habit of dropping limbs on still, hot days. The ones that break tend to stick straight out and snap 3 to 12 feet from the trunk. Its fix: remove the big horizontal ones hanging over roofs, paths and parking spots.
Winter is valley oak season
Valley oak drops its leaves for winter. The Master Gardener talk lists it as a deciduous member of the white oak group, and it can grow anywhere up to about 6,500 feet. The Master Gardener rule says to prune deciduous oaks in winter. With the leaves off, a pro can see the whole structure and pick the right cuts.
Go light, though. Per the International Society of Arboriculture, one round of pruning shouldn't take a quarter of the crown, and older trees deserve a smaller bite. An old valley oak deserves a much smaller one. Taking off one huge limb can cost a lot of canopy and leave a wound the tree may not close.
A fire safe council of your own
The Coloma-Lotus Fire Safe Council covers both towns. It shows up on the countywide fire safe council's list of local groups. The county council also lists a chipping program. It's worth asking about for the pile of branches after a big trim.
What trimming costs in Coloma
Valley oaks get big, so they sit at the high end. Fixr's size guide gives a rough idea.
- Large trees, 30 to 50 feet: $150 to $800.
- Extra large trees, 50 to 100 feet: $300 to $1,800.
Fixr also says those biggest trees often need larger equipment, like bucket trucks, to reach the top. A river lot with soft ground or a narrow lane can make that harder. Expect the pro to walk the lot before naming a number.
Coloma questions
Can I get a tree pro out to Coloma?
Yes. Give us a call at (530) 380-5512 with your road, and we'll look for someone who covers the valley.
When should my valley oak be pruned?
Winter, when its leaves are off. Dead wood can go in any season.
Should I worry about the long limbs on my oak?
Only the ones over a house, walkway or drive. The UC Master Gardener talk suggests removing those big level limbs.
Close by
Related reading: oak pruning, season by season.