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Tree Trimming in Pilot Hill

Pilot Hill is in our service area, ZIP 95664. It's north of El Dorado Hills, up past Folsom Lake. Call us now at (530) 255-2773. We'll find a pro who makes the drive.

Three camps that became one

Wikipedia says mining began here in 1849. Three nearby camps, Centerville, Pilot Hill and Pittsfield, joined under the name Centerville. In 1854 a post office arrived and gave the town its name, Pilot Hill.

The town sits at about 1,175 feet, 13 miles west-northwest of Placerville. It's higher than El Dorado Hills, which sits at 768 feet.

The Farm Trails map lists Pilot Hill too, per Wikipedia. Lavender, olives and grapes can be picked in season at a farm on Salmon Falls Road, and Alabaster Cave is nearby.

Trees on a working-farm road

Farm country means gravel roads, tall equipment and trucks. Low limbs get hit a lot. So do the limbs over a barn roof or a farm stand.

The arborist brochure describes raising as taking off the lowest branches to clear buildings, vehicles and walkers. Its limit is about a quarter of the crown per visit. A tractor driver will want more than a quarter. A pro will say no, and offer a plan over a few seasons.

Prune oaks by the Master Gardener rule. Leaf-dropping oaks get winter cuts. Evergreen oaks get summer cuts.

A note on olive and fruit trees

Olive trees and grapevines have their own pruning rules, and those aren't ours to teach. Ask the pro whether they handle orchard trees or only landscape trees. We'll ask for you.

For the oaks and pines around the rows, our rules hold. Pines wait for October to January. UC puts the no-cut stretch at February through mid-October.

Long driveways, long wires

PG&E says the wire running from the pole to a house is the owner's to keep clear of vegetation. On a long farm road, that wire may run through trees for a few hundred feet.

It also says only trained workers should trim near the lines. Also dial 811 a couple of working days ahead of any digging or planting. Crews flag buried lines at no cost.

Sun, wind and lines on the ridge

At 1,175 feet, Pilot Hill sits a bit higher than the lake towns. More open ground can mean more wind. A tall pine or oak on an open ridge takes a beating from gusts, so a weak limb here is a bigger risk than it would be in a sheltered yard.

Check the crown for cracks, hanging branches and dead tops. The oak talk says summer limb drop comes on hot, calm days, though, not windy ones. So you need to watch in both kinds of weather.

Before you plant anything new, think about height and wires. PG&E calls it "right tree, right place." Planting a safe distance from overhead and underground lines can reduce the need for trimming later. And dial 811 a couple of working days before you dig.

Think about the season on a farm

Farm owners are busiest in harvest and slowest in winter. Winter is also the best time to cut leaf-dropping oaks. So book winter work early, while calendars are open, and let the busy months take care of themselves.

Prices for farm-road jobs

Per Fixr, a tree of 20 to 30 feet runs $150 to $450, while the 30 to 50 foot class goes up to $800. Thumbtack says about $50 to $100 more buys a chipper and mulch. A pro may want a minimum for a long drive, so ask.