Tree Service in San Marino, CA
Even a dead tree needs a permit to come out in San Marino, where big trees are closely protected. On these large estates, our tree service in San Marino removes and trims trees and explains the rules as we go.
Tree care in San Marino
Large lots, heritage trees and strict rules
San Marino is a city of large lots and old trees. Many lots are over 30,000 square feet, and most homes were built between 1920 and 1950. The city keeps a heritage tree list that includes oaks, sycamores, deodar cedars, stone pines, magnolias and palms. In the 2011 windstorm, The Huntington lost many large trees, and up to 100 were expected to be removed. On lots this size, one storm can bring down more than one big tree.
In San Marino, the first question is not how to cut the tree. It is whether the city allows it.
Who governs tree work in San Marino
City of San Marino
Tree work in San Marino follows the city's own tree rules. A tree pruning permit is required when a homeowner wants to prune a city parkway tree located in front of their property. Rules change. Confirm current requirements with the jurisdiction before work begins — filing a permit is the property owner's responsibility, not ours.
Source: Tree Pruning / Removal Permits
Services
San Marino estates need careful pruning, removals and new box trees
Supreme Tree Experts prunes, removes and replaces big trees on San Marino lots, many over 30,000 square feet. Even a dead oak needs a permit here, so San Marino owners plan each removal with Supreme Tree Experts.
Tree Removal
We start every removal in San Marino with a permit, even for a dead tree. That rule covers established, heritage and oak trees alike. The fee is waived when a certified arborist confirms the tree is dead, or a storm tree is found dangerous.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Our crews plan each trim to stay inside the city's yearly limit. An oak can lose up to 10% of its live leaves in 12 months, other large trees 20%. More than that needs a trimming permit.
Stump Grinding & Stump Removal
We grind stumps low so replacement trees can go in. Here, a tree 37 inches or more across is replaced with twelve 24-inch box trees or eight 36-inch ones. Grinding clears room for that planting.
Palm Tree Trimming & Skinning
We cut only the dead fronds and seed stalks from palms here, never stripping one bare. Canary Island date palms and fan palms are on the city's heritage list. We skin fan palm trunks gently from our palm lift truck.
Emergency Tree Service
Our 24/7 crews make storm-hit trees safe fast. Once the city calls a storm- or fire-damaged tree a hazard, it can be made safe without a trimming permit. We handle the cleanup after that.
Tree Maintenance
We check mature trees here each year for decay and weak limbs. Most homes were built between 1920 and 1950, and many of their oaks and cedars are about as old. Older trees need that steady watch.
Tree Height Reduction
Our crews lower tall crowns with proper cuts to side limbs. Topping and severe pruning are not allowed at all in San Marino. We shorten a tree the way the rules and the tree both allow.
Estate Tree Care
We set one care plan for every oak, cedar, pine and magnolia on a large estate. Tree permits here go only to C-27 or C-61/D-49 license holders. Our CSLB license #1002853 covers both, and the work is led by an ISA Certified Arborist.
Tree Shaping & Shrub Shearing
We shape clipped hedges and formal gardens on a steady cycle through the growing season. We shear to the lines the garden was designed with, so the look holds between visits. Clippings are raked from beds and hauled away.
Landscaping
We start new planting after a removal with the city's replacement rules. Heritage and oak trees must be replaced with the same kind of tree. We plant the new boxed trees and set up drip watering that suits their first summers.
Hardscape
We lay walls, paths and patios on a firm base, kept clear of big roots. Many lots here run over 30,000 square feet, with room to route work around old trees. We set out the layout before any digging.
The license San Marino asks for, and the family crew that holds it
Tree work goes wrong when it is rushed or under-equipped. We run our own 75-foot boom trucks, lift trucks, chippers and stump grinders, and every crew works under an ISA Certified Arborist — so the job gets done right the first time.
We hold California license #1002853 for both landscaping and tree and palm work, we are bonded, we carry general liability and every employee is on workers’ compensation.
ISA Certified Arborist
An arborist checks the tree and tells you what the city will ask for before any work is booked.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
San Marino gives tree permits only to C-27 or C-61/D-49 license holders. We hold both, under license #1002853.
Southern California Since 1985
Storm clean-up has been part of our work across Southern California since 1985.
Our Own Equipment
Our own boom trucks and lift truck reach tall cedars, pines and oaks without driving across your lawn.
Reviews to read before you book in San Marino
Every word below was written by a customer on Google, not by us. Long reviews are shortened to fit the card — never reworded. None of them was left in San Marino: they come from customers across Southern California. Read them for how a crew behaves on a job, then decide whether that is who you want in San Marino.
“Great pricing & service. Highly competent with tricky jobs. We have used them for more than 10 years.”
Melanie Butler
Local Guide
“We got bids from five contractors. After I talked to them all and checked out their licenses and work, we decided to go with Supreme. … The job took a day and a half, and when they were done, they left the place immaculate.”
Hank Shaeffer
“Great tree trimmers! I’ve used Supreme Tree Experts twice to trim the palm trees in my yard. … The guys who come out are quick thorough, and clean. And very careful not to damage property.”
Emilie Pacheco
“These guys have worked on my property 3 times now. They are always on time and do a fantastic job. I highly recommend them!”
Ray Thompson
“After soliciting several quotes on some difficult yard work, we chose Supreme because of their licensed Arborist Temis … The crew was extremely hard working and we couldn’t believe their continuous work ethic on one of the hottest days of the year.”
Gary Brown
Local Guide
The three stages of a job in San Marino
- 01.
Free visit
An arborist looks at the tree and measures the trunk. The size tells you if a permit is needed and how many new trees the city will want.
- No charge for the visit
- Trunk measured on site
- 02.
Permit and plan
You or a licensed contractor file the permit with the city. Once it is approved, we set a date and plan the work.
- Rules checked first
- Work planned around your garden
- 03.
Work and replanting
The crew removes or prunes the tree, cleans up, and can plant the replacement trees the city asks for.
- Full clean-up
- Replacement trees planted
Tree work in San Marino: the common questions
6 answers for San Marino, no hedging. If yours is not here, call 877-787-7363 and ask.
Yes. An established, heritage or oak tree needs a permit to come out even if it is dead. The good news: there is no fee when a certified arborist confirms the tree is dead, or when a storm or fire tree is found to be dangerous.
For an oak, you can take up to 10% of the live leaves in 12 months. For other established or heritage trees, the limit is 20%. More than that needs a trimming permit. Topping and severe pruning are not allowed at all.
Yes. San Marino issues tree permits only to contractors with a C-27 or C-61/D-49 license. Supreme holds both, under California license #1002853.
It depends on the trunk size of the tree you remove. A 4 to 8 inch tree needs one 36-inch box tree. A tree 37 inches or more needs twelve 24-inch box trees or eight 36-inch box trees. Heritage and oak trees must be replaced with the same kind.
Yes — $600 for tree services, wherever the job is. On estate lots, the price also depends on how many trees need work and whether replacement trees must be planted.
Yes, 24/7. Storm-damaged trees can be made safe without a trimming permit once the city calls them a hazard. Call 877-787-7363.
Find San Marino
San Marino is a small city of large estates, home to The Huntington and Lacy Park.
- ZIP code
- 91108