Corte Madera runs from the edge of the bay marsh to the steep slopes below Mount Tam, and its trees change with the ground. On the flats near the marsh and the creek, soil stays wet for much of the winter, and big trees put in during the postwar building boom have grown large over low ranch homes. On the hillsides, including Christmas Tree Hill, homes sit on steep lots with oaks, pines and eucalyptus above and below them. Wind off the bay hits the flats and the lower slopes first, and winter storms tend to find the weak limbs. Monterey pines on the hills have also been hit by bark beetles and pitch canker, and a dying pine above a house is a common call here.
We do steady tree trimming and pruning on the flats, where most trees just need to be kept off roofs, and careful removals on the hillside lots. Estimates are free, and we're happy to come by and see the trees.
Wet Ground on the Bayside Flats
A lot of Corte Madera's flatland sits on low, wet ground close to the bay. Trees growing there tend to keep their roots near the surface, since the soil below stays soggy. Shallow roots hold fine in summer, but after weeks of rain and a strong wind, a top-heavy tree on soft ground can tip over, roots and all. Signs to watch for include soil cracking or lifting on one side of the trunk and a lean that wasn't there before. Thinning the crown lowers the wind load, which helps a lot on these lots. Watering, trenching and new hardscape near the trunk can all make the problem worse, since they disturb the roots the tree depends on. If you're planning a patio, a new driveway or drainage work near a big tree, talk to us first so the roots get protected during construction. Over in Larkspur, the homes along the creek deal with the same wet-ground issue.
Hillside Lots and Town Rules
Up on the hills, the challenge is access and what sits below the tree. Steep lots often have a house, a deck or a neighbor's roof directly downhill, so wood has to come down in small pieces on ropes. Eucalyptus and pines on these slopes can be very large and need a crew that's used to rigging over structures. Many of those trees were planted as screens between houses, and they've grown so tall that they now shade three or four lots. Neighbors sometimes split the cost of trimming or removing a shared tree, and we're glad to quote it that way. Corte Madera has its own rules on tree removal, and the details can depend on the tree and the property. Before we schedule a big removal, we'll check with the town about what's required. For trees that are dead or failing, our emergency storm tree service can move faster.
Common Questions
When soil stays soaked for weeks, it loses much of its grip on the roots, and trees on low, wet ground often have shallow roots to begin with. Add a strong gust against a full crown and the whole tree can tip, root plate and all. On Corte Madera's bayside flats, thinning the crown and keeping construction away from the roots are the two best ways to lower that risk.