Larkspur has two sides. Down by Corte Madera Creek and Magnolia Avenue, older homes sit close together under big street trees and backyard oaks. Up the hill, Baltimore Canyon and Madrone Canyon are deep, shaded redwood country, with homes set back among the trees along narrow roads. Winter storms hit both in different ways. In the canyons, saturated slopes and tall redwoods are the worry. Near the creek and the flats, it's the wind coming off the bay and the heavy limbs of old oaks and elms over roofs and cars. Leaves and needles in Larkspur's gutters are a year-round chore under all that canopy, and branches resting on a roof keep it damp long after the rain stops.
We handle careful tree removal on canyon lots, crown cleaning on old oaks and emergency storm tree service when a limb comes down. Ask about a free estimate and we'll book a visit.
Canyon Redwoods and Hillside Oaks
Redwoods in Baltimore and Madrone Canyons grow in tight groups, and many have been there far longer than the houses around them. They're generally strong trees, but they can drop large dead limbs from high up, and on wet slopes a tree with a damaged root system can fail. Hillside oaks above the canyons face the opposite problem: thin soil, dry summers and limbs that grow long and heavy over driveways. Both need a climber and careful rigging, since lifts rarely fit on Larkspur's hillside lots. Canyon roads add another wrinkle: parking a truck and chipper on a one-lane road takes planning, and sometimes a neighbor's driveway or a short window when traffic is light. We sort that out before the day of the job, not on the morning of it. Kentfield, just across the creek, has the same mix of old oaks and tight lots. Before a big storm, it's worth a quick walk around the yard to look for anything new: a crack in a trunk, a hanging broken limb or fresh soil heaving at the base.
Larkspur's Heritage Trees
Larkspur's tree rules aim to protect mature trees, with redwood, oak and madrone named as especially important. The city treats a live tree as heritage once its trunk is 50 inches around, measured two feet up from the ground, and the City Council can add trees with historic value. The city regulates both removing heritage trees and pruning them too hard. Before taking down or heavily trimming a big tree, check with the city's planning staff about what's needed. We'll tape the trunk together and tell you whether your tree is likely to count. If a big tree has you worried about safety rather than permits, our hazard tree assessment covers that.
Common Questions
Any live tree whose trunk measures 50 inches around or more, taken 24 inches above natural grade, or a tree or grove the City Council has named as historically significant. On a slope, the measurement is taken on the high side if that gives a bigger number. Larkspur regulates removing these trees and pruning them excessively, so check with the city before major work.
Not often. Healthy redwoods mostly need dead branches removed and limbs cleared away from roofs and chimneys. They don't need regular thinning the way oaks do, and they don't respond well to topping. On a canyon lot, the main job is usually a check every few years for dead limbs high up and any change in how the tree is leaning.