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Tree Trimming in Grizzly Flats
Rebuilding or replanting in Grizzly Flats, ZIP 95636? Call (530) 248-6524. A nearby tree pro can look at what's left, what's growing back, and what you plan to plant.
A town that has burned before
The town started as an 1850s gold camp. Two earlier fires, in 1866 and 1869, took most of the settlement, says Wikipedia. Then came August 17, 2021, when the Caldor Fire took about 500 buildings in and around town, the post office and the elementary school among them.
Wikipedia's Caldor Fire article says two-thirds of Grizzly Flats was destroyed. The fire started about two miles east of Omo Ranch and four miles south of Grizzly Flats. It burned 221,835 acres in all.
That history sits behind every tree question here. People ask different things than they do in town. They ask "what do I plant?" and "how far apart?" and "is that burned pine safe?"
The burned trees
A tree that was scorched may look dead and still be alive, or look fine and be failing. We can't tell you from a web page. A pro has to look at the trunk, the roots and the crown.
Dead trees near a house, a drive or a power line are the first worry. Dead limbs fall without warning. If one is within reach of where you walk, park or sleep, ask a pro to check it soon. For wires, read trimming near lines.
And remember bark beetles. UC says they go after stressed trees. Fire-stressed pines are stressed trees, so watch for pitch tubes and reddish dust. See bark beetles and drought.
Planting back, with room
At 3,868 feet, Grizzly Flats is one of the highest places on our list. Pines, firs and cedars do well here, and so do black oaks.
The new spacing advice is simple. The UC fire checklist says to keep tree crowns at least 10 feet apart in the outer zone, and to limb the tall ones up to 10 feet. Plant with that picture in mind. A seedling looks small today, but it'll be a big tree, and the gap you leave now is the gap you'll want later.
Near the house, keep the first five feet clear. Cal OES says to remove live or dead branches and ladder fuels in that band.
Living on a ridge road
The 2020 census counted 1,093 people in Grizzly Flats. Wikipedia says the town is the closest one to Baltic Peak. Roads are long, narrow and winding. Tree pros need to know that before they come, so tell us about the road and the drive when you call.
A rule of thumb from the cost guides: the harder a place is to reach, the more the job costs. Hourly rates run $86 to $148 on Homeyou, and time on the road may count.
Prices
| What | Source | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Typical trimming job | Fixr | $175 to $750 |
| Pine trimming | Fixr | $200 to $1,800 |
| Dead wood cleanup | Homeyou | $176 to $428 |
| Tree 50 to 100 ft | Fixr | $300 to $1,800 |
Taking down a big dead tree isn't in these guides, and costs more. Your pro quotes it.
When to call first
After a fire, it helps to bring a pro in before you rebuild or replant. The pro can mark which trees stay, which go, and where new ones should be placed. That way the plan is clear before the first shovel goes in.
Grizzly Flats questions
Do you serve Grizzly Flats?
Yes. Describe your road and a pro for that area will be lined up.
Can a scorched pine be saved?
Sometimes. A pro has to look at it. Don't guess from the needles alone.
How far apart should new trees go?
The UC checklist says to keep crowns at least 10 feet apart in the outer zone.
Nearby
Close by: Omo Ranch, Somerset, Sly Park. For a yearly plan in Grizzly Flats, open the care-by-season table. Back to the Pollock Pines home page, or see the other towns near Grizzly Flats.