Start / What we help with / Snow damage cleanup
Snow Damage Tree Cleanup in Pollock Pines
Woke up to a yard full of broken branches? Call (530) 466-4059. Someone with a saw and a good eye can come see it. Our patch is Pollock Pines, ZIP 95726, plus the small towns around it.
You don't have to figure out the mess alone. We pick up, line up a tree service and name a day.
Snow damage cleanup in Pollock Pines: that is the subject here. We book the day, and a tree service comes to handle snow damage cleanup in Pollock Pines.
What snow damage looks like in Pollock Pines
A heavy, wet snow builds up on the ends of branches. The weight pulls down. Something gives.
Most often it's the top of a conifer. The US Forest Service lists broken tops among the signs that a tree may be rotten inside. On the ridge, a fir looks fine from the side, then you look up and the top is gone.
Here are the signs to look for.
- A top that snapped and is hanging in the branches below.
- A limb split halfway, still stuck to the trunk.
- A whole tree bent over, with the roots lifting on one side.
- Cracks in the dirt near the base after the snow melts.
- A pile of limbs across the roof, the truck bed or the fence.
A hanging piece is the one that worries us most. It can sit for days. Then a little wind or a warm afternoon shakes it loose. Don't park under it. Don't let the kids play under it.
Ice is a different kind of trouble in Pollock Pines
Pollock Pines gets freezing rain now and then. The weather service describes it as rain that freezes when it hits the ground, coating roads, walkways, trees and power lines with ice.
It says an Ice Storm Warning usually means about a quarter inch of ice or more. At that level, it says to expect snapped power lines and falling tree branches. So after an ice event, look at the wires as well as the trees.
What the work involves in Pollock Pines
Storm cleanup is rarely one job. It's a few small ones, and a tree company will sort them in order.
First comes safety. The tree company looks for hanging pieces, wires and weight on the roof. Anything dangerous gets dealt with before the easy stuff.
Next, broken limbs are cut off cleanly. A ragged tear heals badly. A clean cut near the right spot gives the tree its best shot.
Then comes the pile. Branches get cut up and hauled off, or left as firewood rounds if you ask. The County Fire Safe Council's chipping program may take some of it. Its chipper handles material up to 7 inches across. It won't take piles of pine needles or leaves.
Last is the call on the tree itself. Some trees with a lost top live on fine. Others are too lopsided or too hurt. A tree company looks at the whole tree and tells you which one yours is.
The US Forest Service says to be particularly watchful following a snowstorm, when branches are covered with snow. So stay back, and don't shake a snowy tree. Wait for the ice to thaw.
Fixr warns that wind- and snow-hurt trees are often hard to save. So expect an honest answer, not a promise.
What snow cleanup costs
These ranges come from published cost guides. They aren't quotes. The price comes from the crew you hire, and you hear it before the work begins.
| What you need | You might pay |
|---|---|
| Short (under 30 ft) | $150 to $400 |
| Mid-size (30-60 ft) | $450 to $700 |
| Tall (60-100 ft) | $900 to $1,200 |
| Already on the ground | $75 to $150 |
| Toppled, roots exposed | $300 to $500 |
| Emergency call-out, whole job | $450 to $5,000 |
| Grinding one stump | $100 to $500 per stump |
Where these come from: the Fixr removal guide, read in November 2026.
A tree that's already down is one of the cheaper jobs. Fixr says that's because most of the work was done by nature. A hanging top over a roof is the opposite. It takes more care, so it costs more.
An emergency fee may come on top. Thumbtack's guide lists emergency fees up to $250 an hour. Some local crews charge it and some don't. Ask first.
Tall trees raise the price. Fixr says trees 80+ feet tall may need a crane, and crane jobs could run $1,500 to $2,500. Lots of the pines out here are that tall.
Will insurance help?
It might. Fixr points out that some policies cover removal when a tree lands on a house or outbuilding, with a limit or deductible. An industry group cited by Consumer Reports puts the usual removal cap at $500 or $1,000.
A tree that hit the cabin may mean a repair claim as well. If it fell and hit nothing, you'll usually pay for the cleanup yourself.
Take photos before anything moves. Do it from a safe spot. Then call your insurer, and call us.
Why call us
The days after a storm are the busiest days for every tree company. Phones ring all day. Voicemail fills up.
We make one call do the work of ten. You tell us what happened. We find a tree service who works your area and can reach your road.
We won't push a removal. If the crew you hire says a tree can stay, that's a good day.
And if the road is bad, we'll tell you what the tree company says about timing. No guessing.
How it goes from here
- Stay clear of hanging pieces and wires. Call 911 if lines are involved.
- Take photos from a safe distance.
- Call (530) 466-4059. Tell us the town, the road and what you see.
- We find a tree company and set a time.
- The crew you hire walks the tree, the roof and the wire runs, then names a price.
- You say yes or ask for a second price.
- After the work, walk the yard with the tree company and ask about the next storm.
Power lines come first
PG&E asks everyone to keep tools and people 10 feet clear of its lines. Lines on the ground may be live, the weather service warns. If a tree is tangled in a line, that is not a ladder job. Call 911 first.
Snow damage questions
Do I help my trees by clearing the snow?
Only a little, and only if it's safe. Brush snow gently from low branches. Don't shake the tree. If the snow is frozen on, wait for it to melt.
My tree lost its top. Will it die?
Not always. Some live on. Others stay lopsided and weak. A tree service can tell you after a close look.
When could a tree company get here?
That turns on the storm and the state of the roads. Anything on a house moves to the front of the line. We'll tell you what we hear.
Is there a fee for calling?
None. You pay nothing to us at any point.
Thinking about snow damage cleanup in Pollock Pines? Call (530) 466-4059. We hand snow damage cleanup to a tree service that works in Pollock Pines.