Tree Service in Sierra Madre, CA
Planning to prune an oak? In this foothill town, the city says oaks get pruned only from July to September, so our tree service in Sierra Madre trims and removes yard trees on the city's calendar.
Tree care in Sierra Madre
A foothill village with a 250-ton vine
In Sierra Madre, when you prune matters as much as how. The city says prune oaks only from July to September, and eucalyptus and pine only from November to April. Nathaniel Carter bought the first 1,103 acres in 1881, and the town became a city in 1907. Its wistaria vine was planted in 1894 for 75 cents. It now covers more than an acre, weighs over 250 tons and once collapsed a roof. In December 2011, winds uprooted trees across town and damaged about 28 buildings. Bailey Canyon still keeps an oak grove at the town's edge.
In Sierra Madre, the calendar decides when the saw comes out.
Who governs tree work in Sierra Madre
City of Sierra Madre
Tree work in Sierra Madre follows the City of Sierra Madre's Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance (SMMC 12.20). Coast live oak, Engelmann oak, western sycamore and Southern California black walnut with a trunk over 4 inches across are protected on private property, and removing one or trimming it substantially — more than 25% of the canopy or any limb over 3 inches — needs a Tree Permit. The City asks that oaks be pruned only from July to September, and eucalyptus and pines only from November to April. Rules change. Confirm current requirements with the jurisdiction before work begins — filing a permit is the property owner's responsibility, not ours.
Source: Trees | City of Sierra Madre
What we do here
Sierra Madre pruning and crown lowering, timed to the city's calendar
Supreme Tree Experts prunes Sierra Madre oaks from July to September and lowers pines from November to April. Timing a cut to the city's calendar is the reason Sierra Madre owners book with Supreme Tree Experts.
Tree Removal
We take down yard trees after checking them against the city's protected list. Coast live oak, Engelmann oak and western sycamore over 4 inches thick are protected here. Removing one needs a city permit first.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Our crews book oak trims for July through September, the window the city sets. Sierra Madre says pruning oaks only then helps prevent fungal infections. Heavy cuts on a protected oak may also need a permit.
Stump Grinding & Stump Removal
We grind stumps left by fallen or removed trees below the soil. The 2011 windstorm uprooted trees across town, and the city expected three to four weeks of clean-up. Grinding clears the ground so you can replant or lay turf.
Palm Tree Trimming & Skinning
Before the windy months, our crew cuts dead fronds and seed stalks from palms. Skinning then takes the old frond bases off the trunk. Our palm lift truck works from the curb, and how close it can park shapes the price here.
Emergency Tree Service
Call our crew 24/7 when a tree hits your house or blocks your street. In December 2011, winds damaged about 28 buildings here, and 7 were red-tagged. Downslope winds like those can uproot big trees overnight, so we keep crews ready.
Tree Maintenance
We check yard trees each year for rot, dead wood and weak forks. The city also runs an Adopt-A-Tree program for its community forest. Your private trees are part of that same canopy, so we care for them with the same aim.
Tree Height Reduction
We lower tall eucalyptus and pines from November to April, back to strong side limbs. The city says pruning them then avoids the time when pests are active. We plan every height cut on those trees for those months.
Estate Tree Care
We plan care for larger lots near the canyons, where protected oaks and sycamores stand beside tall pines. Removing 25% or more of a protected tree's canopy, or any limb over 3 inches, counts as substantial trimming. Our pruning stays under that line.
Tree Shaping & Shrub Shearing
We shear vines, hedges and shrubs back from eaves, gutters and walls. The town's famous wistaria grew so heavy it once collapsed a roof. Heavy vines on your own home need regular cuts to keep their weight in check.
Landscaping
Oaks set the rules for our yard planting here, so beds and sprinklers stay off their trunks. Bailey Canyon still keeps an oak grove at the town's edge. We choose plants that share the ground well with oaks.
Hardscape
We set walks and patios well back from the roots of protected oaks and sycamores. Parkway trees between the sidewalk and the curb are City trees. We keep front yard work on your side of that strip.
Sierra Madre's protected oaks, and the family crew that cares for them
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 visits for free, names each tree, and tells you if it is one of the four protected kinds.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Work on a protected oak should be done right. Our license, #1002853, is for tree service and landscaping. We carry a bond, and insurance covers each of our workers.
Southern California Since 1985
Sierra Madre had been a city for 78 years when our family business started in 1985. The same family runs it now.
Our Own Equipment
Our own boom trucks reach 75 feet, high enough for tall eucalyptus and pines, and they come with our chippers.
From your first call in Sierra Madre to the final clean-up
- 01.
Name the tree
Our arborist identifies each tree and checks whether it is a protected kind.
- Species named
- Trunk measured
- 02.
Pick the season
Oak work waits for July to September. Pine and eucalyptus work waits for November to April.
- Oak window
- Pine window
- 03.
Quiet street work
The crew works from the curb, chips on site and leaves the street clear.
- Curbside setup
- Street cleared
Reviews to read before you book in Sierra Madre
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 Sierra Madre: 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 Sierra Madre.
“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
Questions worth asking before you book in Sierra Madre
The 6 worth settling before tree work starts in Sierra Madre. If yours is not here, call 877-787-7363 and ask.
From July to September. The city says oaks should be pruned only then, to prevent fungal infections. Coast live oak and Engelmann oak over 4 inches thick are also protected, so heavy cuts may need a city permit. Check first.
From November to April. The city says pruning then avoids the time when pests are active. That is also when we plan height cuts on tall eucalyptus and pines. If one is a hazard in another month, ask the city first.
It covers more than an acre and weighs over 250 tons. Alice Brugman planted it in 1894 from a 75-cent, one-gallon bucket. In 1990 Guinness named it the largest blossoming plant in the world. It blooms from March to mid-April, and the public sees it during the Wistaria Festival.
It left uprooted trees and snapped branches all over town. On Dec. 1 and 2, 2011, about 28 buildings were reported damaged, and 7 were red-tagged. Parts of W. Carter Avenue, W. Laurel and Manzanita Avenue were blocked. The city expected three to four weeks to clear the debris.
Yes — $600 for tree services, wherever the job is. Price here often depends on the season the city allows for your tree and how close our truck can park.
Yes, 24/7. Downslope winds like the 2011 storm can uproot big trees here overnight. Call 877-787-7363.
Where Sierra Madre sits
Sierra Madre rises from its small downtown up to the canyon trailheads at the forest line.
- ZIP code
- 91024