Tree Trimming in Cool
Yes, Cool is on our map, ZIP 95614. Call (530) 380-5512, and we'll hunt for a tree pro who's willing to work the Highway 49 side of the county.
Cool is the farthest north we go, near the edge of our area. Its hilltop spot on State Route 49, between Auburn and Placerville, sits around 1,532 feet up.
Caves, a preacher and a long race
Cool was first called Cave Valley, after the limestone caves nearby. The story is that a Methodist preacher, Aaron Cool, gave the town its new name in the 1880s. Its first post office opened in 1885.
The town sits near the American River Canyon. Every early March it hosts the Way Too Cool 50K, a 31-mile run along the Western States Trail with more than 4,000 feet of climbing and dropping. The area is full of trees, trails and camping spots.
Weather swings here. Summers run about 75 to 105 degrees. Winters drop to about 25 to 50.
Odd bushy growths on pines
Ever see a pine with a weird, dense knot of twiggy branches? Those can be witches' brooms. UC's mistletoe pest note says dwarf mistletoes cause that kind of heavy branching on conifers.
Gray pine has its own dwarf mistletoe. Wikipedia's gray pine article names one species that lives on it. UC says dwarf mistletoes tend to be more damaging than the leafy kind you see in oaks.
A pro can cut out infected branches, but remember the pine calendar. Bark beetles fly from February to mid-October, and UC's guide says to keep saws off pines in those months. That puts pine mistletoe work somewhere between late October and January.
Gray pines like elbow room
One more pine fact worth knowing. Gray pine is very intolerant of shade, its Wikipedia article says, and it has a sparse crown with fairly few needles. That thin crown helps it save water on dry ground. So if a gray pine is squeezed under a big oak, ask your pro which tree should get the room. Cutting the wrong one won't help either of them.
Cold winters are pruning weather
Winter lows here can dip to about 25 degrees, and the leaf-dropping trees are bare and resting. That's a fine time to prune them. The International Society of Arboriculture says growth and wound closing go best when pruning is done before the spring flush. A UC Master Gardener talk also says deciduous oaks should be pruned in winter.
Evergreen oaks are the exception. They get pruned in summer.
And keep an eye out after storms. Broken or dead limbs don't need to wait for any season, the ISA says.
What trimming costs in Cool
Some trees out here get big. Homeyou's guide puts a large hardwood tree at $296 to $805 to trim, about $521 on average. Small trees run $92 to $248.
Lots near the canyon edge can be steep. HomeGuide says trees with limited access may need smaller gear or hand work, which adds to the cost. Being farther out can add travel time too. Bundle several trees into one visit if you can.
Cool questions
Can you find a tree pro who'll come to Cool?
We'll do our best. Ring (530) 380-5512, and we'll go looking for someone who covers the north end.
What are the twiggy clumps on my pine?
They may be witches' brooms from dwarf mistletoe. A pro can take a look and plan cuts for the fall or winter.
Is winter a good time to trim here?
For leaf-dropping trees, yes. Evergreen oaks are pruned in summer, and pines from mid-October through January.
Close by
Related reading: pines with pests or thirst.