Tree Service in Sylmar, CA
Named in 1893 for its olive groves, Sylmar sits at the northern tip of the city, below the mountains. On its ranches and home lots, we prune and take down trees, and wind is the first thing our Sylmar tree service looks at.
Tree care in Sylmar
Named for olives, shaped by wind
Sylmar was named for its trees, and wind is now their biggest threat. The name, chosen in 1893, joins Latin words for forest and sea. It points to the olives that covered up to 1,700 acres by 1894. By 1906 it was the largest olive grove in the world. On November 14, 2008, the Sayre Fire ran on Santa Ana wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph. It burned 480 of the 600 homes at Oakridge Mobile Home Park. The ground here climbs from about 1,100 feet to over 1,700 feet.
In Sylmar, the question isn't whether the wind will come. It's which limb it takes first.
Who governs tree work in Sylmar
City of Los Angeles
Sylmar has no tree ordinance of its own — it is governed by the City of Los Angeles, and that jurisdiction's rules apply here. No pruning permits shall be issued for Historic-Cultural Monument street trees without written approval of Urban Forestry Division management. All tree planting requires a no-fee plant permit that is issued by the Bureau’s UFD. Additionally, UFD upholds protection of Oak trees and other native tree and shrub species protected by the City of Los Angeles’ Protected Tree and Shrub Ordinance. Rules change. Confirm current requirements with the jurisdiction before work begins — filing a permit is the property owner's responsibility, not ours.
Services
Sylmar ranch and home lots: thinning, frond clearing, olive removal
Supreme Tree Experts thins crowns, cuts dead palm fronds and removes old olives in Sylmar, once covered in olive groves. When Santa Ana winds drop a tree on a barn or fence, Sylmar ranch owners call Supreme Tree Experts.
Tree Removal
We take down hollow and failing olives, plus other old yard trees, in sections that clear homes and barns. Olives here once covered up to 1,700 acres, and old ones live long but can hollow out.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Our crews thin heavy crowns and remove dead wood well before the fall winds. The 2008 Sayre Fire ran on Santa Ana wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph. Thinned trees have less to snap and less to throw.
Stump Grinding & Stump Removal
We grind stumps and old roots so the ground works as a paddock, garden or new planting bed. Much of Sylmar was olive grove land, and old roots can still lie under yards. Grinding below the soil clears them for good.
Palm Tree Trimming & Skinning
We prune dead fronds and seed stalks from palms near homes and barns before fire season. Summer highs here average about 95°F, which dries old frond bases fast. From our lift truck, the crew skins those bases off the trunk.
Emergency Tree Service
Our crews take calls 24/7 when a tree drops on a home, barn or fence here. The 1971 quake hit Sylmar hard, and a strong shake can loosen roots. We clear the damage and check what still stands.
Tree Maintenance
We check trees every year for drought stress, dead wood and weak limbs, starting near the house. Sylmar gets only about 17 inches of rain a year. Deep, slow watering between checks keeps old trees going.
Tree Height Reduction
Our crews shorten tall trees on upper lots with cuts back to side limbs, never by topping. The ground here climbs from about 1,100 feet to over 1,700 feet, and higher lots take stronger gusts. A shorter crown catches less wind.
Estate Tree Care
We care for trees on horse properties with a plan that keeps limbs high over arenas, paddocks and trails. Sylmar is known for horse keeping, with Stetson Ranch Park among the city's equestrian parks. We agree where horses stay while we work.
Tree Shaping & Shrub Shearing
We cut back hedges and brushy shrubs near the house so there is space between plants and walls. In 2008, the Sayre Fire burned 480 of the 600 homes at Oakridge Mobile Home Park. Clippings go into our chipper, not a pile.
Landscaping
We plan planting for dry, sloped lots, with water sent deep to tree roots and low-water plants around them. Plantings stay spaced so fire has less to follow toward the house. Beds are kept back from barns and fences too.
Hardscape
We build patios and stone paths on a firm, drained base, since much of the ground here slopes. Water runs downhill, so every path gets a way to shed it. Walls and steps stay clear of big roots.
Sylmar wind, barns and paddocks: how our family crew works
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 comes out free and looks at your trees the way the wind will: which limbs are heavy, dry or leaning toward the house or barn.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Tree work beside Sylmar barns and paddocks runs under state license #1002853: C-61/D-49 for trees, C-27 for landscaping. We carry a bond, and each worker on your ranch is insured.
Southern California Since 1985
We have been a family tree company since 1985, long enough to know how hard the wind blows off the San Gabriel Mountains.
Our Own Equipment
Sylmar is horse country, home to Stetson Ranch Park. Our own 75-foot boom trucks reach in from the drive, so we stay off arenas and pasture.
Reviews to read before you book in Sylmar
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 Sylmar: 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 Sylmar.
“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 Sylmar
- 01.
Wind check
An arborist walks the lot and marks trees that lean toward homes, barns, fences or trails.
- Leaners marked
- Dry palms noted
- 02.
Safe-for-horses plan
We plan the cuts and the work area. On horse property, we agree where animals will be kept while we work.
- Work area set
- Animals kept clear
- 03.
Cut and clear
The crew lowers limbs, chips brush on site and rakes out the work area.
- Brush chipped
- Arena raked
Tree work in Sylmar: the common questions
6 answers for Sylmar, no hedging. If yours is not here, call 877-787-7363 and ask.
Thin heavy crowns and take out dead wood before fall. The Sayre Fire spread on gusts up to 80 mph. Trees that lean toward a house or barn, and palms with dry fronds, carry the most risk. Do the work well before red-flag days, when crews and cleanup are hardest to arrange.
Yes. Sylmar is known for horse keeping, and Stetson Ranch Park is one of the city's two equestrian parks. Before we start, we agree where the horses will be kept. Our boom trucks can often work from the drive, so heavy gear stays off arenas, pasture and trails.
Few of the old groves are left. The groves here once covered up to 1,700 acres. In 1962, the city proposed turning much of the 4,500 acres of farm land into homes and shops. If you have an old olive, know that they live a long time but can hollow out. We can prune a healthy one or take a failing one down safely.
It hit Sylmar hard. On February 9, 1971, a magnitude 6.6 quake killed 65 people across the region. Most died when the VA hospital collapsed, and the new Olive View hospital was badly damaged. The old VA site is now Veterans Memorial Park. After any strong quake, check trees for new lean or cracked soil.
Yes — $600 for tree services, wherever the job is. Here, big lots, slopes and working around horses and barns shape many prices.
Yes, 24/7. The Sayre Fire broke out at 10:29 at night, and wind-downed trees don't wait for morning either. Call 877-787-7363.
Find Sylmar
Sylmar is the northernmost part of the City of Los Angeles, rising toward the San Gabriel Mountains.
- ZIP code
- 91342