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Tree Removal at Apple Hill
Ranch trees at Apple Hill need work? Call (530) 454-8845. We'll match you with a pro who works on ranches and rural lots.
Apple Hill isn't a town. It's the name of the Apple Hill Growers Association, and it covers the ranches in and around Camino.
Call (530) 454-8845or use the short estimate form
What Apple Hill is
Apple Hill refers to 55 ranches in the Sierra foothills in El Dorado County, in and around Camino. It grew from 16 original ranches in the 1960s. The mix now takes in Christmas tree farms, wineries, vineyards, a small brewery and even a spa.
How did it start? In the early 1960s, a pear blight pushed growers around Camino to switch to apples. They teamed up and the name stuck.
A tree with a story
An old Rhode Island Greening apple at Larsen Ranch may be the county's oldest apple tree. That's a good reminder. Not every old tree should come out.
Some old trees are worth saving. A pro or an arborist can tell the difference. A tree that's alive and strong with a few dead limbs may only need work. A tree that's hollow and leaning near a building is a different story.
Ask yourself three things:
- Is it alive?
- Could it hurt someone or damage a building?
- Does it matter to the ranch or the family?
Then ask the pro.
Ranch problems we hear about
Ranches have their own list:
- Old fruit trees that no longer bear.
- Big pines or oaks along the ranch road.
- Dead trees near the packing shed or the tasting room.
- Wind-damaged trees after a storm.
- Stumps in rows where new trees will go.
Visitors walk these grounds, especially in fall. A dead limb over a picnic table is a risk you can fix.
Fire safety on a working ranch
The county Fire Safe Council describes defensible space as the 100-foot area around a home, in 3 zones. Cut grass to 4 inches or less, and limb trees up at least 6 feet. A ranch has more ground to handle than a house lot.
The council's Defensible Space Program won't remove trees larger than 7 inches across. For big trees, you'll need a pro.
Burning brush and prunings
Orchard prunings pile up fast. Residential burning of landscape debris is allowed only outside declared fire season, with a free permit online. The fire district caps pile size at four feet by four feet. For big piles, the fire district says other permits exist. Free chipping from the Fire Safe Council helps, but it won't take material wider than 7 inches.
What it costs
Costs follow size. Small fruit trees are cheap to remove. Tall pines are not.
| What | Usual price | Where from |
|---|---|---|
| Short tree, to 30 ft | $150 to $400 | Fixr |
| Mid-size, 30 to 60 ft | $450 to $700 | Fixr |
| Any oak | $900 to $2,000 | Fixr |
| Light timber, per acre | $500 to $2,500 | Fixr |
Price source: Fixr, January 2025 update. National numbers, not quotes.
For many trees, a price per acre may fit better. For just a few, Fixr says paying per tree may cost less.
Plan around the fall crowds
Fall is busy at Apple Hill. Visitors walk the rows and pull into the lots. Heavy tree work, with chippers and trucks, is easier when the ranch is quiet.
So try to book for late winter or early spring. Dead trees that stand in view of visitors, though, shouldn't wait. Fence them off and call.
Tell the pro about your tasting room, parking and picnic spots. They'll plan around them.
Apple Hill questions
Is Apple Hill a town?
No. It's a group of 55 ranches around Camino.
Do you cover all the ranches?
We cover the area around Pollock Pines, and Apple Hill is within it. Call and tell us which ranch road.
Can you save an old apple tree?
A pro or arborist can tell you. We'll find one who can look.
Nearby
See Camino, Pleasant Valley and Pollock Pines. For clearing many trees, read defensible space.