Removing Dead, Leaning and Problem Trees in Pomona, CA

Tree removal in Pomona, CA usually means dismantling a tree from the top down, lowering heavy pieces on ropes where there is a roof, wall or pool below, chipping the brush and hauling the wood. Most single-tree removals take a few hours to a day. Before we schedule, we check three things: whether the tree belongs to you or the City, whether it sits within 10 feet of an SCE line, and whether your street or historic district adds a permit step. Call (909) 479-2666 to describe the tree.

Signs a tree should come down

We would rather save a tree than cut it, and many trees that worry people need pruning instead. Removal is usually the right answer when we see:

• A dead tree, or a canopy that is mostly bare in the growing season.
• A deep crack through the trunk or a split between two main stems.
• A lean that is new or getting worse, especially with soil heaving on the far side.
• Mushrooms, conks, oozing or hollow, soft wood near the base.
• Roots cut badly by trenching, a new wall or a driveway replacement.
• A tree in the wrong place, such as a large species planted against the foundation or under a line.

When the call is close, a tree health assessment gives you a clear picture before you spend money on either path.

How we take trees down on tight Pomona lots

Few Pomona yards leave room to drop a tree in one piece. Older lots in Lincoln Park and around downtown have detached garages, alleys, block walls and neighbors close on every side. Phillips Ranch slopes add grade and limited access. So we plan the takedown around what is below:

• Look and plan. We pick the drop zone, the rigging points and the path for brush and wood to the street.
• Protect. Plywood or mats go over lawns, pavers and anything the crew will walk across repeatedly.
• Work from the top. A climber or lift removes the crown in small pieces.
• Lower, not drop. Limbs over roofs, fences and pools are tied off and lowered on a rope system.
• Cut the trunk in rounds. Pieces are sized so the crew can move them safely.
• Clean up. Brush is chipped, wood hauled or left cut if you want firewood, and the site is raked and blown.

Trees we remove most often in Pomona

Every species fails differently, and that shapes the plan. A few that come up again and again:

• Eucalyptus. Tall, heavy and prone to dropping large limbs in summer heat. Removals near homes need careful rigging.
• Pines. Aleppo and Canary Island pines decline after drought and beetle attack. Dead pines get brittle fast.
• Camphor and ficus. Big root systems that lift slabs and crowd sewer lines.
• Chinese elm and Brazilian pepper. Fast growers with weak branch unions that split in wind.
• Palms. Tall fan palms near wires or roofs, or palms with a rotting crown.
• Overgrown fruit trees. Old citrus and avocado trees that no longer produce and shade out the yard.

City trees, historic districts and permits

If the tree grows between the sidewalk and the curb, or in a planting strip, it is likely a City street tree. Pomona Municipal Code Sec. 46-467 requires a written permit from the City before anyone removes, trims or cuts a street tree. Public Works maintains City trees, and you can reach the City line for trees and broken limbs at (909) 620-3759. Our street tree guide explains the steps.

Homes in Pomona's historic districts have another layer. Removing street trees and certain mature or specimen trees on historic sites is treated as a major project under the historic preservation program, which means a Certificate of Appropriateness. Emergencies that threaten life or property are handled differently. For any tree fully on your lot, we ask you to check with Pomona Planning and your HOA first, and we can provide photos and notes to support a request.

Nearby cities have their own rules. Walnut protects oaks and walnuts even at small sizes, and San Dimas requires a permit for mature significant trees on private property.

Power lines and service drops

Any tree within 10 feet of an overhead line is a job for Southern California Edison first. Call SCE at 1-800-611-1911 and keep everyone, including us, away from the line until SCE clears it. After that we can take down the rest of the tree. If the tree is near the service drop that feeds your house, SCE can explain whether it will make it safe or temporarily disconnect power while the tree comes down.

What happens to the wood, brush and stump

The estimate spells out each of these so there are no surprises:

• Brush. Chipped on site. You can keep the chips for mulch or have them hauled.
• Wood. Hauled off, or cut to firewood length and stacked if you ask. Eucalyptus and pine do not make good indoor firewood, so most people have it hauled.
• Stump. Left flush, or ground below grade as a separate line. See stump grinding.
• Surface roots. Ground out where they would get in the way of new planting or paving.

Removing a tree for a project

Sometimes a healthy tree has to go for an ADU, a new driveway, a pool or solar panels. In that case, timing matters. We take the tree down before the other trades arrive, grind the stump so footings and trenches are clear, and leave notes for your contractor about roots near the work area. If the project involves a permit, ask your project contractor whether the tree needs to be shown on the plans. For lot and brush clearing at the same time, we quote both together.

Getting your removal quoted

Send a photo of the whole tree, a photo of what is underneath and a rough height if you know it. We will visit, measure what matters and give you a written estimate. Removal of a tree that costs $1,000 or more must be done by a contractor holding a CSLB license in California, and you can check any contractor's license on the CSLB site. Read our guide to what tree removal costs in Pomona, then call (909) 479-2666.