Tree Trimming and Removal in Claremont, CA

We provide tree service in Claremont, CA, from the Village and the streets around the Claremont Colleges up to Padua Hills and the foothill neighborhoods of north Claremont. Claremont is known for its urban forest, and the City takes it seriously: trees in the parkway and in City easements are City trees and need a Community Services permit before any work. For trees fully on your property, outside the easement, the City's published policy says no City permit is needed. Call (909) 479-2666 and we will help you figure out which side of that line your tree is on.

Claremont's trees

Claremont's older streets are lined with big trees, many planted when the colleges and the Village grew in the early part of the last century. Common species we work on here:

• Coast live oaks and Engelmann oaks, especially in north Claremont and near the foothills.
• California sycamores along older streets and yards.
• Camphor, Chinese elm and magnolia in the Village and the grid of streets south of Foothill Boulevard.
• Deodar cedars and pines on larger lots.
• Citrus and avocado, left over from the groves that once covered the area.

The campuses of The Claremont Colleges and the native plantings at the California Botanic Garden are good reminders of how well native trees grow here when they are given room and the right water.

City trees and easements

The City of Claremont's tree policies treat parkway and easement trees as part of the City's urban forest. That means:

• Do not prune, remove or plant a City tree without a Community Services permit.
• Easement trees can sit back from the curb, so a tree that looks like it is in your front yard may be a City tree.
• If a City tree has a broken limb or looks unsafe, report it to the City rather than hiring someone.

When we visit, we look at where the sidewalk, curb and property line fall and tell you what we think. If it is unclear, the City can confirm.

What Claremont homeowners call about

• Oaks over the house. Deadwood removal and clearance pruning, done lightly to protect the tree.
• Sycamore dieback after wet springs, and shot hole borer damage.
• Heavy camphor and elm limbs over roofs and driveways that need thinning before wind season.
• Overgrown palms with dead skirts on older lots.
• Old stumps from previous removals that block replanting.

We use tree trimming and tree health assessments before we ever suggest removal on a mature oak or sycamore.

Foothill fire safety

North Claremont and Padua Hills sit close to the San Gabriel foothills, where dry brush and Santa Ana winds raise fire risk. Our defensible space work lifts limbs off roofs, clears ladder fuels and removes dead material near homes. Check the State Fire Marshal maps for your address, and ask the Los Angeles County Fire Department what clearance applies.

Power lines and storm damage

For any tree within 10 feet of a line, call SCE at 1-800-611-1911 first. After a windstorm, if a City tree has fallen, call the City. If it is your tree, call us. Our storm damage service covers fallen trees and hanging limbs on private property.

Nearby

Claremont borders La Verne to the west, Upland to the east and Montclair to the south. Pomona is just southwest. If you own property in more than one of these cities, the rules change at the city line, so tell us the address for each.

Pruning timing for Claremont's big trees

Claremont's oaks and sycamores do best with light, careful pruning during the cooler months, when the trees are less active and pests are quieter. Avoid heavy pruning of oaks in summer heat, and never top them. For the Village's camphor and elm trees, late fall thinning gets weight out of the long limbs before Santa Ana winds. From about February through August, we check for nesting birds and leave active nests alone. Read our pruning calendar for more detail on timing.

Getting an estimate in Claremont

Tell us the street, the tree and what is worrying you, and send a photo if you can. We will confirm whether it is a City or private tree, look at the condition, and give you a written estimate. Call (909) 479-2666.

Access on Claremont lots

Many Claremont homes south of Foothill Boulevard sit on deep, narrow lots with detached garages at the back and a single driveway along one side. That shapes how we work. Wood and brush often have to travel the full length of the driveway to the chipper at the street, so we lay mats on lawns and pavers and plan the order of cuts so the drive stays clear. On the bigger foothill lots in north Claremont, slopes and retaining walls decide where a lift or a grinder can go. If your yard is reached through a gate or a shared drive, mention it when you call so we can bring the right equipment.

Water, mulch and young trees

Claremont encourages drought-tolerant landscaping, and many homeowners have replaced lawns with native gardens. That is good for water bills, but large trees that grew up with lawn irrigation can struggle when the sprinklers stop. Give mature trees a slow, deep soak at the edge of the canopy every few weeks in summer, and spread a layer of wood chips over the root zone, kept back from the trunk. Young replacement trees need regular water for their first couple of seasons until they root in.

Compare Claremont with the other cities on our service areas page.