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Tree Questions Folks Ask Us
Here are the questions we hear most from people around Shingle Springs. Don't see yours? Call (530) 771-8785 and ask.
About calling us
Who comes out to my place?
A tree pro based somewhere near your place. We find them and book the visit; they size up the tree, do the work and set the price.
Do I pay you anything?
Not a dime. The call and the matchmaking are both on us.
Am I stuck with whoever you send?
Nope. Turn them down, ask for a second price, or go with somebody else entirely.
What towns do you cover?
Shingle Springs and the towns around it, from El Dorado Hills to Placerville and from Latrobe up to Pilot Hill. The towns page lists them all.
Storms and fallen trees
Tree's tangled in the wires. What do I do?
Get yourself 10 feet away or more (PG&E's number, not ours) and call 911. Any wire on the ground should be treated as live.
A tree fell and blocked my only driveway. Is that an emergency?
We treat it like one when it's your only way out. Call and tell us, and we'll push to find someone fast.
What wind is strong enough to break trees?
The weather service says isolated damage can start once winds hold at 40 to 50 mph. Weak or rotten trees can fail at less.
Can I chip the storm brush for free?
Maybe. When grant money is flowing, the county Fire Safe Council chips brush free for Western Slope homes. Pieces need to be 7 inches across or smaller.
Hazard and leaning trees
How can I tell if a tree might fall?
Watch for fungus at the base, cracks in the trunk, dead limbs up top, cracked soil near the roots, and a lean that's getting worse.
Can a leaning tree be saved?
Sometimes. Taking weight off or adding cables can help, though ISA says supports are no guarantee. A pro will lay out your options.
Do big oaks really drop limbs on calm days?
They do. UC Master Gardeners even named it: summer branch drop. Hot, windless afternoons are when it tends to strike.
Prices and insurance
How much does emergency tree removal cost?
National guides put it at about $450 to $5,000. A Sacramento-area guide lists a standard emergency charge of $1,084. Your pro sets the real price.
Will insurance pay to remove a tree?
If it hit your house or another structure, often yes, up to a limit. If it hit nothing, usually not, though a blocked driveway might be an exception.
The neighbor's tree landed on my roof. Who pays?
Most often your own policy. Consumer Reports says the claim goes through your insurer, even when the trunk stood on their side of the line.
More: storm and hazard help · price ranges · tree service in Shingle Springs