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Oak Tree Pruning in Folsom

Got an oak that's getting heavy over the roof or the driveway? Call (279) 256-3385. We'll send a Folsom-area tree pro out for a look and book the date.

Call us now (279) 256-3385

What an oak problem looks like

Oaks are tough. UC Master Gardeners call them hardy, drought-tolerant and adapted to our climate.

Here's what Folsom folks usually notice first.

• One big limb stretching across the roof, deck or driveway.
• Dead twigs and bare spots inside the crown.
• Green clumps in the bare branches in winter. That's mistletoe.
• A limb that dropped on a hot, still afternoon with no wind at all.
• Low branches that hit the mailman, the mower or your head.

UC says a big horizontal limb over a house, walk or drive is one to remove. In summer, limbs tend to drop on hot, still days, and UC says they may be sound. So don't wait for a storm.

Folsom's rules for native oaks

Folsom treats its oaks seriously. The city's tree chapter protects native oaks that are six inches across or more, measured 54 inches above the ground. The city's list includes valley oak, blue oak, coast live oak and interior live oak.

The city adopted a new tree ordinance in 2020. Its Tree Care and Maintenance Standards also say a permit is needed to prune a protected tree when the work cuts live limbs bigger than 2 inches across, or takes off more than 10% of the canopy. Small cuts under 2 inches count as minor pruning.

When a permit is needed, the city says an ISA certified arborist has to do the work or watch over it. The city also lists topping and lion's-tailing as banned on protected trees.

Trees on your lot may also count if they're street trees. The city says street trees can be owned by a homeowner or by the public. So before a big cut, check with the city arborist. A short call can save a big headache.

What the work involves

Good oak pruning is gentle. Most jobs use a few of these cuts.

• Cleaning. Dead, sick, cracked and broken branches come out. The city defines it as selective pruning for just those branches.
• Thinning. A handful of live branches go, so light and air can pass. It also lightens heavy limbs.
• Raising. Low limbs come up for clearance over a walk, a drive or the lawn.
• Reducing a long limb back to a side branch, only when the limb needs to be shorter.

The cut belongs right outside the branch collar, which is the swollen ring at the base of a limb. No stubs. No flush cuts into the trunk.

Paint and sealer don't help. UC says wound dressings don't speed closing or stop decay. The city's standards also prefer many small cuts to one big one on a mature tree.

Topping is out. The ISA's brochure ranks topping as the most harmful pruning habit of all. One topping job can strip away half to all of a tree's leaves. The shoots that grow back are weak. A tree that's been topped is a worse tree.

The best season for oak pruning

For routine work, Folsom's standards point to winter and spring. Insects are less active in winter. Wounds close fastest in spring.

UC Master Gardeners say to prune leaf-dropping oaks in winter. With the leaves gone you can see the whole structure, and it's easier to spot dead wood and mistletoe.

You can take dead or broken limbs off in any month. The city says that does little harm to the tree.

Skip heavy live-branch cuts in a hot summer. The city warns that cutting live branches off a stressed tree can use up its energy reserves. UC also says to avoid summer pruning, because bark that was shaded can get sunburned.

One more tip. Native oaks grew up without summer water. UC says to keep the root collar dry and never aim a sprinkler at the trunk. If your oak sits in a lawn, keep a mulched, grass-free ring out to the dripline when you can.

What oak pruning costs

Oaks are big trees, and the price shows it. Here are ranges from published guides.

Height drives the price most. Then comes access, since tight spots add time. Limbs over a roof or near wires cost more too. If your oak is protected and needs a permit, ask the pro to say who handles the paperwork.

The pro quotes the job after seeing the tree. You see the price before any work starts.

Why call us

One call does a lot. We ask whether it's an oak, how big it is, and what's bugging you. We pass that to a local pro, so you don't spend an afternoon calling around. If you want to compare, we'll help you get a second quote.

You never pay us for the call. The work and the price are between you and the pro.

How it goes

1. You call (279) 256-3385 or send the request form.
2. We ask about the tree, the street and how soon.
3. We match you with a tree pro near you.
4. The pro looks at the oak and gives you a price.
5. You say yes, no, or "let me get one more quote."

More to read: crown thinning and raising, the pruning calendar, or back to Tree Trimming in Folsom.