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- Costs – Oakland, California trees enjoy mild weather most of the year, which means they’re almost always growing. Learn more about what costs are to maintain them and even remove if they happen to need removal because of the drought season.
- FAQs – Trees in Oakland are often protected under the rules of the city, but there are other considerations for residents who want to plant or trim trees in the area. Find out more about common trees, fruit trees, diseases currently affecting the greenery, planting regulations in regards to power lines and more!
- Services – Keep the city’s mission to preserve natural beauty alive and call a professional today.
How Much Do Tree Services Cost in Oakland?
Oakland, California is dedicated to keeping its neighborhood trees alive, as they help contribute to the natural beauty of the city. See how much your trees cost to maintain in Oakland versus removing, so you can know quotes ahead of time and be prepared when the professional comes by.
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?
Oakland’s desire to keep trees alive in the area means that a lot of work before and during the process itself goes into taking one down. As such, tree service professionals will be charging residents between $830 to $1,150, with an average cost of $990.
How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?
Removing a stump in the Oakland area will cost around $350 and take about two hours for the professionals to either uproot from the ground or grind down into wood chips, depending on the kind of service they provide.
Average Cost of Tree Maintenance in Oakland
Tree pruning, cutting and general maintenance will cost homeowners in Oakland between $537 to $769 for keeping their plants in good health, which will avoid them spending more money on taking the trees down altogether. The average cost will be around $653, barring any problems like overhead power lines, multiple trees, diseases in the tree and so forth.
Oakland Tree Facts & FAQ
As the third largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland is home to various trees. They work to keep the environment in control and take steps to plant new trees while cutting down ones that might threaten the environment. They’re very conscious and encourage their residents to be as well. Learn more about the Oakland tree environment and then add to it with your own trees!
Rules and Regulations in Oakland
A permit is required for tree removal if the tree is a protected tree. A protected tree in Oakland is a coast live oak that’s four inches or larger in diameter or four and a half feet above the ground, and any other species with nine inches in diameter or larger. The only non-protected trees that can be removed without a permit are eucalyptus and Monterey pine trees, though the Monterey pines must be verified by the city beforehand as the correct species.
Best Time to Remove a Tree
The best time to remove or prune a tree heavily in Oakland is in January, when the trees aren’t growing new branches, leaves or buds. Schedule an appointment with a tree service professional then to have the tree uprooted, as it will probably be an easier job than in spring or summer.
California’s State Tree
California chose two redwoods as their state trees in 1937: the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the giant sequoia (Sequoia gigantea). The coast redwood is the tallest tree in the world, reaching almost 300 feet in height. The giant sequoia is the largest in the world with 30-foot trunks.
Common Trees to Plant in Oakland
When Oakland residents decide to plant a tree, there’s a guideline that the city provides so that residents don’t plant it too close to utilities or electric lines. Some of the trees they recommend as part of those guidelines include:
- African fern pine (Podocarpus gracilior)
- Raywood ash (Frazinus oxycarpa ‘Raywood’)
- Red horse chestnut (Aesculus carnea ‘Briotii’)
- Saratoga laurel (Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’)
Tallest Tree
The tallest tree in Oakland is a blue gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) tree in Mosswood Park. While its specific height is unknown, it’s been identified as the tallest tree in the Oakland area and is maintained by the city, although it is not part of the protected species list of trees.
Fruit Trees that Thrive
Because the Bay Area has almost a year-round growing season, the different types of fruit trees open to home growers is just about limited to the types of fruit that requires extreme heat or cold. So citrus fruits like oranges, limes and lemons are good choices for the area, as well as pears, pomegranates, figs and any other fruit trees that like the sun without needing sauna-like or freezing climates.
Difficult to Maintain Trees
Because of the drought that hits the northern part of California every year, fires become a real possibility for Oakland residents. Having flammable trees doesn’t help. Non-native trees like eucalyptus, Monterey pine, golden wattle acacias (Acacia baileyana) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) put homes in more danger than having native trees that are more f-re-resistant. It’s why FEMA is currently seeking to cut down 85,000 non-native trees in the Oakland area and lessen the risk of fires every summer.
Common Diseases Affecting Oakland’s Trees
A major disease Oakland trees get is fireblight, a bacterial infection that causes the leaves and twigs of trees to shrivel and look scorched. Oak tree death has also been hitting the area for the last 20 years, killing many of the oaks. Citrus greening disease causes the trees to produce misshapen fruit and kills the tree within a few years. The key to handling these outbreaks is treating the trees early on with either pesticides or pruning.
Regulations Regarding Trees and Overhead Power Lines
The city requires that trees be planted at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. The city’s utility company, PG&E, regularly inspects vegetation around their power lines and prunes them as needed. If residents do hire someone to prune trees near power lines, PG&E recommends that those tree service professionals be well-versed in electrical safety, or else their workers and the resident could be injured.
Plant Hardiness Zones in Northern California
Here are the plant hardiness zones for Northern California as provided by the USDA:
Image Sources:
Raywood ash
Golden wattle acacia
Local Tree Services in Oakland