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Tree Trimming in Orangevale

Yes, Orangevale is on our list, ZIP 95662. Call (279) 256-3385 and we'll book a pro to look over your oak, old olive or backyard fruit trees.

We set up the visit. The pro looks the trees over and gives you a price.

A town named for oranges

Orangevale is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, about 25 miles northeast of Sacramento. Rolling hills mark the land, right where the Sierra foothills begin. The elevation is around 240 feet.

Wikipedia's history says the area began as part of the 1844 Rancho San Juan land grant. It was rural and full of orange groves. Oaks grew here too, and a few remnants still stand in Orangevale Park.

Olive orchards grew here as well. Look along Chestnut, Orangevale, Main and Walnut Avenues and you may spot some of the original olives. A gnarly old olive in your yard could be part of that story.

The 2020 census counted 35,569 people. About 74.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, so many of these trees have the same caretaker for years.

Caring for old trees

An old tree is a long story with a few bad chapters. The trick is to take out the bad chapters and leave the rest.

Start with cleaning. The City of Folsom defines cleaning as selective pruning that removes dead, sick, cracked and broken branches. Folsom's rules don't apply in Orangevale, but the idea works anywhere. Dead and broken limbs can come off in any month, with little harm to the tree.

Then look at weight. UC says to remove big horizontal limbs above a house, walk or drive. Old oaks tend to grow long arms like that.

Third, go easy. The ISA caps a single round at a quarter of the crown, and less for older trees. An old orchard tree that gets cut in half will often sulk, then throw up a thicket of weak shoots.

Oaks and lawns

If your oak grew up here, it grew up with dry summers. UC says native California oaks evolved without summer water. So keep the sprinklers off the trunk, and keep the soil near the base dry in summer.

Lawns under oaks are the usual problem. UC suggests a mulched ring without grass out to the dripline. It saves water and it helps the tree.

What it costs in Orangevale

Old fruit trees can be big, so check the ranges. In Fixr's guide, fruit tree pruning is $350 to $650, and a 30-foot apple lands near $450. Oaks often cost more. Fixr puts oak trimming at $175 to $1,500, sometimes higher.

The pro gives you the number after a look at the tree.

A winter walk around the yard

Pick a dry day in winter and walk around each tree with the leaves down. Bare branches tell you a lot.

• Look up for green clumps. That's mistletoe, and UC says it's easy to spot on bare trees.
• Check for dead branches. The City of Folsom says they can come off any time of year.
• Study the old fruit trees. UC says winter pruning shapes a tree and gives it fresh energy.
• Jot down what you see, then call us with the list.

A list makes the visit quick, because the pro already knows where to look. Orangevale's own history started with the 1844 Rancho San Juan land grant, and some of these trees have seen a lot of winters.

Next door

Neighbors we cover: Fair Oaks, Granite Bay and Gold River. Old fruit trees? Try the fruit tree page. Or start at the Folsom home page or browse every town we cover.