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Tree Trimming in Orangevale

Orangevale? Sure, we can help there. Call (530) 380-5512, and we'll get an Orangevale-area tree pro on the calendar.

Orangevale is the farthest west we go, past Folsom in Sacramento County. It's mostly rolling hills near the base of the Sierra foothills, about 25 miles northeast of Sacramento.

A town that grew from orchards

Orangevale started out as the Orange Vale Colony. The land was part of the 1844 Rancho San Juan, a Mexican land grant. It was rural, with lots of orange groves. Oak trees were common too, and you can still see what's left of them in Orangevale Park.

There were olive orchards here as well. Some of the original olive trees still stand along Chestnut, Orangevale, Main and Walnut Avenues. That's a neat thing to know next time you drive by. Trails made by the Maidu also crossed this land long before the colony.

Today it's a big suburb. The 2020 census counted 35,569 people, and 74.0% of the occupied homes were lived in by their owners. The median age was 42.5 years.

Old trees need a lighter hand

A town with roots in orchards and oak land can still have some very old trees around. Those are the ones that need the most care when trimming.

Why? The International Society of Arboriculture says young trees handle losing live branches better than mature trees do. As a general cap, it says to stop short of a quarter of the crown per pruning, with a lower cap for older trees. It also warns that taking off even one big limb can cost a lot of leaves and leave a wound the tree may not close.

So with an old oak or olive, the best trim is often a cleaning. That means taking out dead, dying, sick and weakly attached branches, and not much else. The ISA describes cleaning in just those words.

What a cleaning looks like

A cleaning usually leaves the tree looking about the same from the street. Up close, the dead stubs and broken twigs are gone, and crossing branches that rub are sorted out. If the tree looks bare and see-through afterward, too much came off.

Oaks: winter or summer

For oaks, use the UC Master Gardener rule. Leaf-dropping oaks are pruned in winter. Evergreen oaks are pruned in summer.

Sacramento County, not El Dorado

Since Orangevale is in Sacramento County, El Dorado County's oak ordinance doesn't apply. Check with Sacramento County before any big oak removal.

And if a pro offers to paint the cuts on an old tree, you can skip it. The ISA says wound dressings don't slow decay or help a cut close, and most experts say not to use them. Clean cuts in the right spot do more good.

What trimming costs in Orangevale

Smaller yard trees are the cheap end. HomeGuide puts trees up to 30 feet, like ornamental lemons, peaches and plums, at $250 to $700. Big oaks run $450 to $1,500 in the same guide.

HomeGuide also says hauling the branches away can add $75 to $250. If you have room, ask about leaving the wood chips for mulch.

Orangevale questions

Will you set up tree trimming in Orangevale?

Happy to. Call (530) 380-5512 and tell us your street, and we'll look for a tree pro who covers Orangevale.

How much should come off my old oak?

Less than you'd think. The ISA's limit is 25% of the crown at once, and mature trees should lose less than that.

Does El Dorado County's oak rule matter here?

No. Orangevale is in Sacramento County, so check with Sacramento County for its rules.