Home › Services › Fallen tree on a slope
Fallen Tree on a Slope in El Dorado Hills
Call (530) 670-0330 if a tree is down on a hillside lot in El Dorado Hills. Our area takes in the places around Folsom Lake too. We'll find a local tree company that is used to steep ground, and set up the visit.
Don't try to move it yourself. A tree on a slope can roll or slide when you least expect it.
Why El Dorado Hills slopes are different for tree service
El Dorado Hills sits in rolling foothills. The town is at about 768 feet, and a lot of lots have a back slope, a terrace or a drop to a creek or open space. Folsom Lake and the American River bound the north side of town.
On flat ground, a fallen tree lies where it fell. On a slope, the pieces can shift. Cutting the wrong spot can free a trunk that was held in place by a rock or a stump.
The pro also has to think about footing, about where the cut wood will go, and about the roots. A wall of roots and dirt that has tipped up can be heavy and unsteady.
Wet weather makes all of it harder. El Dorado Hills gets about 26 inches of rain a year, and winter months bring close to 5 inches each. Soaked ground is slick, and it lets go of roots. Fixr says a tree can come out of the ground in a wet period or a storm.
What a tree service in El Dorado Hills looks at
Before any cutting, the pro walks the area. They check these things.
- Is the trunk resting on something that could shift?
- Is the root plate tipped up, and is the hole filling with water?
- Are other trees nearby leaning, or showing cracks in the soil?
- What's below the tree on the slope: a fence, a house, a path, a neighbor?
- Where can the cut wood go without rolling away?
Then the tree is cut up in sections, working from the safe side. Large pieces are often secured with ropes. On a steep lot the wood may be hand-carried up to a truck, or lowered with gear.
Then there's the hole. UC advises against placing fill around trunks, and says that when the grade is lowered near a trunk, trees are likely to become diseased and hazardous. This applies to the trees that are still standing, too. Cuts or fills near their roots can put them at risk.
Check the trees next to it
When one tree falls, ask why. Was it the wind, the wet ground, a dead top or old roots? The cause often tells you about the neighbors.
An International Society of Arboriculture guide notes that cracked ground can point to roots on the move, which is worse when a trunk leans. Spot that beside other slope trees? Ask the pro to examine them during the same trip.
What a fallen tree on a slope in El Dorado Hills costs
Slope jobs cost more than flat-yard jobs. The work is slower and riskier. The figures below come from cost guides and are not quotes. Your pro will tell you how the slope changes the price.
| Job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Tree already on the ground | $75 | $150 |
| Uprooted tree | $300 | $500 |
| Height 30 to 60 feet | $450 | $700 |
| Height 60 to 100 feet | $900 | $1,200 |
| Height over 100 feet | $1,300 | $2,000 |
| Crane job, hard to reach | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Emergency tree removal | $450 | $5,000 |
| Grinding one stump | $100 | $500 |
Sources: Fixr tree removal guide.
Cheapest of all is a trunk that is already flat, at $75 to $150 in the guides. A tree pulled up by its roots costs more because the root plate is heavy work.
A crane can help when a tree is huge or the ground is too steep for a truck. A crane job can run $1,500 to $2,500.
Stumps on a slope are tricky. A grinder can be hard to place. Ask your pro if the stump is better left to rot, or if it holds the soil. Sometimes a stump keeps the hillside steady.
Did the tree strike your house or fence? Tell your insurer. Consumer Reports reports that removal payouts commonly top out at $500 or $1,000. A tree that struck nothing rarely produces a claim.
Why El Dorado Hills slope jobs start with a call to us
Not every tree company wants a steep lot. Some don't have the gear.
Mention the slope during your call. How steep is it? Can a truck park close? That lets us search for a tree service that takes hillside jobs.
Our call is free. Any price comes from the pro, and a second quote is easy to request.
Step by step
- Stay off the slope and keep people and pets away.
- Call 911 for wires or injuries.
- Take photos from a safe spot. Show the trunk, the root plate and what's below.
- Call (530) 670-0330 or use the estimate form.
- We find a tree company that works on hillsides and book the visit.
- The pro checks the slope and the nearby trees, then gives you a price.
- You choose. The work gets scheduled.
Slope questions
Will the hillside wash out where the tree stood?
It can, in heavy rain. Ask the pro what to do about the hole and the bare dirt before the wet season.
Can I leave the trunk where it fell?
Sometimes. A trunk lying along the slope may be steady. But it can also roll or rot. Have a pro say whether it is safe to stay.
The tree fell into open space behind my lot. Whose job is it?
That depends on who owns the land. Take photos and call us. A pro can help you sort out where your lot ends. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District manages land the public uses, so it can be worth a call.
Does the HOA need to know?
For an emergency, make things safe first. Later, check your rules. Your village may have its own, and the district office can point you to them.
See also emergency tree removal and hazard tree inspection. See the home page for more.