Tree Removal in Mission Viejo, CA

Mission Viejo is known for tree-lined neighborhoods, and a lot of tree removal and trimming here is about keeping those mature trees safe and in bounds. The master plan put roads in the valleys and houses on the hills, and by 1980 much of the city was built. The population went from 11,933 in 1970 to 50,666 in 1980, so many yard and slope trees date from that decade and are now large.

Tree trimming on hillside lots

Hillside homes come with their own challenges:

• Trees on the slope below the house can grow up into the view
• Downhill limbs grow longer and heavier, pulling the tree off balance
• Debris has to come up the slope, not just across the yard

We use crown reduction and thinning to balance trees and open views, and we plan how to carry or haul debris before starting.

Removing trees that have outgrown the yard

Some trees planted in the 1970s were never meant for small yards. Pines and eucalyptus can tower over homes, and roots from large trees can lift patios. When a tree is too big for its space or is in decline, tree removal followed by stump grinding gives you room to plant something sized for the lot.

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Santa Ana winds

Mission Viejo sits in the Saddleback Valley at about 410 feet. Santa Ana winds can bring hot, dry gusts and sudden temperature jumps. Wind finds weak limbs, so autumn is a good time to check large trees for deadwood, cracked unions and heavy limbs over the roof.

Dry summers, June Gloom

Average rainfall is about 14 inches a year, mostly November to March, and summers are very dry. May and June bring morning clouds. Trees on slopes, where water runs off fast, may need deep watering in late summer. We look for signs of water stress during trimming visits.

Pines and other big conifers

Pines were planted widely in Southern California neighborhoods of this era. Older pines can drop heavy cones and needles on roofs and pools, and stressed pines draw bark beetles. Signs of trouble include small pitch tubes on the trunk, fine sawdust in bark crevices and needles turning straw-colored from the top down. If you see these, call soon. A beetle-killed pine dries out quickly and becomes harder and riskier to remove.

HOAs and the lake

Many neighborhoods have associations, and Lake Mission Viejo is run by a private residents' association. Trees on common areas belong to the associations. For trees on your lot, check landscape rules before removal. Call (949) 740-0499 to set up an estimate.