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Tree Service in Smith Flat
Between Placerville and Camino, in Smith Flat? We serve you. Call (530) 466-4059 and a tree pro from close by can come and see it.
A visit gets booked, and the pro gives the quote.
A wagon stop on the way up
You'll find Smith Flat 2.5 miles past Placerville, with Camino 4.5 miles farther on. It sits at about 2,224 feet. That's roughly 1,750 feet lower than Pollock Pines.
Jeb Smith, a rancher, came early and lent the place his name. Mail service began in 1876, and the office was called Smith's Flat. It was renamed Smithflat in 1895.
Only one of those wagon stations survives today: the Smith Flat House, put up in the 1850s. Wagon trains using Johnson Pass over the Sierra had 93 stops, and this was one.
Where rain turns to snow
Smith Flat sits on the climb. Down in Placerville, snow is rare. Up past Camino, it comes several times a year. Smith Flat is in between, and the weather can go either way.
That's tricky for trees. A rain down low can be heavy snow a thousand feet higher. A tree here may have been fine for years and then take a sudden hit when the snow line drops.
The Placerville weather record shows an average of 2.7 inches of snow a year in town. Pollock Pines averages about 63.4 inches. Smith Flat is between those two numbers, so you can't plan on either.
Wet snow is heavy, and it sticks to branches. The wetter it is, the more it weighs. A tree that stood through ten dry winters can still give way in one soggy one.
Old trees near old buildings
Places this old tend to have big old trees right next to the house. Some were planted a century ago. Some came up on their own and got big close to the wall.
The ISA tree guide says dead branches in the canopy are probably the most obvious potential hazards. It says the risk depends on the size of the branch and the distance to anything that could be hit. A big dead limb over an old roof is the worst mix.
It also says a split trunk can often be a failure point. Old trees that grew with two main stems are common. Ask a pro to look at the join.
UC's oak guide says a big sideways limb over a house, path or drive is one to take off. It adds that oaks can let go of limbs on hot, still days.
Roads out of Smith Flat
Smith Flat sits on the route between Placerville and Camino. Side roads climb away from the main road into the trees. After a storm, a fallen limb on a side road can trap a whole street.
Check on your neighbors when it is safe. Older folks who live alone may not be able to move a branch. A quick knock on the door helps, and so does a call to us on their behalf.
Give us the road name, the nearest cross street and any gate code the pro may need. It saves a long phone call on the day.
What jobs cost
Fixr lists small trees up to 30 feet at $150 to $400 and medium trees at $450 to $700. A tree already on the ground averages $75 to $150.
Bigger trees cost more. The guide lists $1,300 to $2,000 for the tallest ones, and $1,500 to $2,500 when a crane is brought in.
Tight spots near old buildings add time, too. A pro may need to lower pieces by rope instead of dropping them.
Smith Flat questions
Why do I see it spelled two ways?
The post office merged the two words in 1895. Locals use either one.
Does it snow here?
Sometimes. It sits between snowy Camino and snow-rare Placerville.
There's a big oak limb over my roof. Should I wait?
The UC guide says big horizontal limbs over a house should be removed. Call and we'll set up a look.