Tree Trimming in El Dorado, CA
Need tree help in El Dorado? You bet, ZIP 95623 is on our list. Ring us at (530) 238-3614 and a nearby pruning pro can check your oaks, fruit trees or whatever's growing a little wild.
We book it. They size things up and quote you.
A little about El Dorado
El Dorado means "The Golden" in Spanish. Before that, the town went by Mud Springs. Its first post office opened under that name in 1851, and the name changed to El Dorado in 1855.
It even became an incorporated town in 1855. Two years later, in 1857, it gave that up. Today it's an unincorporated community and California Historical Landmark #486.
Folks driving to Tahoe know it too. Poor Red's Bar-B-Q opened in 1945 in an 1850s building that was once a Wells Fargo weigh station. The town sits about halfway between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, so plenty of travelers have stopped there.
Why does any of that matter for your trees? Mostly the unincorporated part. More on that below.
When your blue oak turns white
El Dorado sits around 1,608 feet, which is blue oak country. After a wet spring, some of those oaks can look frosted or chalky.
That's usually powdery mildew. A UC Master Gardener talk for El Dorado County says it's generally caused by too much rain late in the spring. It shows up most on blue oaks, turning them pale blue or almost white.
The good news? The talk says nothing needs to be done. The tree may drop most of its leaves, but it will most likely grow them back by the next spring.
So don't let anyone talk you into a big cut because of mildew. Pruning won't fix it. Wait and see.
Trimming oaks in El Dorado
Because El Dorado is unincorporated, the county's oak rules apply here. They cover all private land in the unincorporated part of the county.
Light trimming is fine. But the county says trimming that substantially cuts down an oak's size or density, or changes its natural shape, doesn't count as minor. If you want a lot off, ask the county Planning Division first.
Timing matters as well. The Master Gardener talk says to prune oaks that drop their leaves in winter, and evergreen oaks in summer. Blue oaks drop their leaves, so winter is their time.
And keep it modest. The International Society of Arboriculture says no more than 25% of a crown at once, less for mature trees.
Other trees around town
Got fruit trees too? Most get their main cut in winter. Apricots and cherries are the odd ones out. UC says to prune those only in July and August in inland areas, to keep a fungus called Eutypa out of the cuts.
If you have pines, hold off from February to mid-October. UC says fresh cuts in those months can draw bark beetles.
What trimming runs in El Dorado
We don't have prices just for El Dorado. National cost guides give a good idea though. HomeGuide puts most trims at $400 to $900 per tree, with small trees as low as $80. Its range for oaks is $450 to $1,500.
Trees far from the road or on a slope can cost more, since the gear has to get to them. The pro gives you the real price after seeing the tree.
El Dorado tree questions
Do you send pros to El Dorado or only Diamond Springs?
Both. El Dorado sits right next door, so it's covered. Ring (530) 238-3614 with your street.
My blue oak looks white and dusty. Is it dying?
Probably not. It's likely powdery mildew after a wet late spring. UC Master Gardeners say nothing needs to be done and the leaves usually come back next spring.
Do I need a permit to trim my oak in El Dorado?
Not for light trimming. A cut that substantially shrinks the tree or changes its shape isn't minor, so check with county Planning first.
When should I prune my blue oak?
Winter. Blue oaks drop their leaves, and the Master Gardener rule is to prune those oaks in winter.
Nearby
Next door: tree trimming in Diamond Springs and tree trimming in Placerville. A bit farther: tree trimming in Shingle Springs. For oaks, see oak tree pruning. Or go back to all towns.