Tree Removal in Costa Mesa, CA

A lot of tree removal calls in Costa Mesa are about trees that have simply outgrown their spot. The city went from 11,844 residents in 1950 to 72,660 by 1970, after thousands of people who trained at the Santa Ana Army Air Base came back with their families. Many yards were planted during that boom. Sixty-plus years later, the shade tree beside the driveway may be lifting concrete, crowding the roof or showing decay, and taking it down is on the table.

When removal makes sense

We do not recommend taking out a healthy tree just because it drops leaves. Removal is worth discussing when:

• The trunk or main limbs have decay, cracks or cavities.
• Roots are damaging a foundation, sewer line or slab, and root pruning would make the tree unstable.
• The tree leans toward the house and the lean is getting worse.
• The species is a poor fit for the space and will keep causing trouble.

We will tell you honestly if trimming would solve the problem instead.

How we take a tree down in a neighborhood

Costa Mesa lots are mostly suburban sized, with houses, garages and fences close together. We usually climb or use a lift, cut the canopy into manageable pieces and lower them with ropes. The trunk comes down in short sections. Branches go through the chipper and the wood is hauled away unless you want to keep it.

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Stump grinding afterward

A stump left behind can sprout, rot slowly, attract insects and get in the way of new landscaping. Stump grinding chews the stump down below the soil surface, leaving a pile of wood chips. We can leave the chips as mulch, rake them into the hole, or haul them off. If you plan to plant a new tree in the same spot, tell us, because the hole needs good soil, not just chips.

Who owns the tree?

Trees in the parkway along the street are often city trees. The City decides what happens to those, so contact it before anyone cuts one. We work on trees on your side of the property line.

Renters and landlords

About 61% of Costa Mesa's housing units are rented. If you rent, the property owner needs to approve and pay for tree work. If you own rentals, a regular trimming plan is cheaper and less disruptive than emergency removals after a limb fails. Either way, call (949) 740-0499 and we will set up a visit that works for everyone involved.

Climate notes

The city sits on a plateau about a mile from the ocean, at about 98 feet of elevation. John Wayne Airport records about 11 inches of rain a year, nearly all of it in winter, and summers are almost dry. Trees stressed by drought are more likely to drop limbs, so dry summers are a good time to check older trees for deadwood.