Tree Trimming & Removal in Los Gatos
Pruning, thinning and deadwood removal for Los Gatos oaks, madrones, redwoods and eucalyptus, planned around the Town's 25 percent rule.
Free Estimate
Request a Service
Describe your project and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Tree trimming in Los Gatos is mostly thinning, deadwood and clearance work, and on bigger trees it is also a permit question. We thin crowded canopies, take deadwood out over roofs and driveways, lift limbs off the house, and shorten heavy limbs that are pulling on the trunk. When a tree is past saving, we take it down.
The 25 percent rule
Los Gatos treats heavy pruning like a partial removal. Cutting more than 25 percent of a Protected Tree within any 3-year period needs a Town permit. On a Large Protected or Heritage Tree, so does cutting any single branch or root over 4 inches in diameter. A Large Protected Tree is 48 inches or more in diameter, or any oak, California buckeye or Pacific madrone at 24 inches or more.
So we plan the job by percentage and by cut size before anyone climbs. If what you want crosses either line, you hear it at the estimate, and you decide whether to scale the work back or apply for a permit first.
What we watch for in local trees
- Oak root fungus thrives where irrigated lawn is planted over native oak roots. Clusters of mushrooms at the base are a warning sign.
- Santa Clara County reports sudden oak death in the hills toward the Santa Cruz County line. It kills tanoak, coast live oak and black oak.
- Madrone and buckeye are protected at 8 inches on any developed residential lot, so we measure the trunk before the saw comes out.
- Blue gum and red gum eucalyptus under 24 inches need no permit. Bigger ones do.
- On redwoods near the house we lift the lower limbs and clear deadwood over the roof and gutters.
Trimming also does fire work. Southern Los Gatos is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and limbs that reach the roof or connect brush to the canopy are the ones we cut first. Estimates are free: call (650) 454-0373.
Pruning that stays inside the Town's limits
Los Gatos counts every cut on a protected tree toward a 25 percent limit over 3 years. Our ISA-certified arborists plan the job against that number before anyone climbs, so a routine trim does not turn into a permit problem.
- Oaks checked for root fungus and decline while we are up there
- Limbs over the roof and ladder fuels cut first in the fire zone
- Insured, firefighter-owned, 500+ residential properties served
- Free estimates
- "White Gloves, Minimal Impact" cleanup
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
Only for heavy work on a protected tree. The Town requires a permit to prune more than 25 percent of a Protected Tree within a 3-year period, or to cut any branch or root over 4 inches in diameter on a Large Protected or Heritage Tree. Routine thinning, deadwood removal and clearance pruning usually stay well under that. Next door in Saratoga the rule is similar for canopy (more than 25 percent needs a permit), and work in the root zone needs one too.
Measure the trunk 4.5 feet above natural grade. On a developed residential lot, 12 inches in diameter or more is protected. On a Hillside lot it is 8 inches. Blue oak, black oak, California buckeye and Pacific madrone are protected at 8 inches anywhere residential. If the tree has several trunks, add them together. We measure during the estimate if you would rather not.
UC IPM lists white mycelial plaques under the bark that smell like mushrooms, and clusters of mushrooms at the base of the tree. The fungus thrives in moist conditions, and the classic setup is irrigated lawn planted over the roots of a native oak. If you see either sign, have an arborist look before you prune, because a tree with decayed roots needs a different plan than one with a crowded canopy.
Trim when the problem is in the canopy: deadwood, limbs on the roof, a crowded crown, a heavy limb over the driveway. Remove when the problem is the whole tree: it is dead, the trunk or root plate is failing, or bark beetles have heavily infested it. UC IPM is direct about beetles: heavily infested trees should come out promptly, and insecticides will not save them.
Yes, in the right places. The Town of Los Gatos uses three defensible space zones: 0 to 5 feet from the house, 5 to 30 feet, and 30 to 100 feet. Limbs over the roof and low branches that connect brush to the canopy are the first cuts. The state Zone 0 rule for the first 5 feet is not yet in effect. For brush and bigger clearing, see our lot clearing and defensible space page.
Our Process
How It Works
Three straightforward steps from first call to finished project.
Free Consultation
A certified arborist visits your property, assesses the trees, and discusses your goals. We identify any risks, health issues, or city permit requirements.
Detailed Estimate
You receive a clear, itemized quote with no hidden fees. We explain the scope of work, timeline, and handle any permit paperwork for you.
Expert Service & Cleanup
Our crew arrives on time, completes the work safely, and leaves your property spotless. We haul everything away. You won't know we were there.
Coverage
Service Areas
Los Gatos, the West Valley and the Highway 17 hills. On the Peninsula? Our Redwood City crew covers it.
Los Gatos
Monte Sereno
Saratoga
Campbell
Cupertino
Willow Glen
Cambrian Park
Almaden Valley
Santa Cruz Mountains
Get Started Today
Ready to Get Started?
Whether it's an emergency removal or routine tree care, Firefighter Tree Service is ready. Call us now or request a free consultation from our certified arborists.
Firefighter-owned · ISA Certified Arborists · Insured