Tree Trimming in Somerset, CA
Living in Somerset? We serve it, ZIP 95684. Call us now at (530) 238-3614 and a nearby pruning pro can check your pines, oaks and the rest.
We book the visit. The pro gives you the price.
About Somerset
You'll find Somerset, unincorporated, roughly 6.25 miles below Camino to the south. Elevation is around 2,093 feet. Its earliest settlers were from Somerset, Ohio, so they borrowed the name.
The post office moved here from a place called Youngs in 1950. If your yard backs onto woods, the next part is worth a read.
Funny-looking pine branches
Ever notice a pine branch with a tight, bushy tangle of twigs on it? People call that a witches' broom. One cause is dwarf mistletoe.
UC's pest program says dwarf mistletoe attacks pines, firs and other conifers. It's small, with short yellow to orange stems, and easy to miss. UC says it can be a problem in yards at the edge of the forest in the Sierra foothills.
It's slow, but it adds up. UC says infected trees grow slower, get stunted, and can be killed over time. Brooms aren't always mistletoe though. Mites, fungi and other things can cause them too. A pro should look closely at the branch before cutting.
How dwarf mistletoe gets handled
Dwarf mistletoe doesn't need birds to spread. UC says the seeds shoot out of the fruit. A tree has to stand within about 40 feet of an infested one to pick it up.
UC's advice is to cut infested branches back at the next spot closest to the trunk, at least a foot from the swelling. In bad cases, taking the whole tree may make more sense. Trees that had it should be checked again for several years, since hidden infections are easy to miss.
And keep the pine calendar in mind. UC says pines should be left alone between February and mid-October, when bark beetles fly. So mistletoe cuts on pines are a late fall or winter job.
Oaks in Somerset
At about 2,093 feet, Somerset sits right at the bottom edge of black oak country. A UC Master Gardener talk lists black oak from about 2,000 to 6,000 feet. Black oaks drop their leaves, so they get pruned in winter.
The county oak rules apply here. Light trimming is fine. Ask county Planning before cutting a lot off.
Bugs in the oaks
Caterpillars in the oaks some years? The UC Master Gardener talk covers a few. The fruit tree leafroller rolls young leaves up in silk. It can strip a tree bare, which is hard on a tree that's already stressed. The California oak moth can strip an oak too, but the talk says it generally won't kill it.
The talk's overall advice is calm. Most of these insects won't kill a healthy tree, and spraying big trees usually isn't worth the cost and risk. Pruning won't get rid of them either. Keep the tree healthy and let the birds help.
What it costs
For a general idea, here are national numbers. Fixr lists trimming a pine at $200 to $1,800, and an oak at $175 to $1,500. Homeyou lists dead wood removal at $176 to $428.
Tall pines on a slope can take a climber or a lift. The pro quotes it after seeing the tree, and nothing starts till you agree.
Somerset questions
Do you cover Somerset?
Yes. Ring (530) 238-3614 and give us your road. We'll look for a pro who works your area.
What is the bushy clump on my pine branch?
It may be a witches' broom from dwarf mistletoe. Mites or fungi can cause brooms too, so have a pro check the branch.
When can mistletoe come off my pines?
Late fall or winter. February through mid-October is beetle season, so UC says pines wait.
Nearby
See tree trimming in Pleasant Valley, tree trimming in Camino and tree trimming in Pollock Pines. Also mistletoe removal, Diamond Springs, or all towns.