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Fire-Season Tree Clearing in Folsom

Does your Folsom yard back onto open space? Call us now at (279) 277-3417. Tree clearing in Folsom starts when a local tree company walks the trees and brush near your house, and we set that up before the dry months. Read the steps below first.

Call (279) 277-3417or ask for an estimate online

What the problem looks like for tree removal in Folsom

The city wraps around a lot of open land. Open land sits right behind many Folsom fences. That is great for walks. It also means a grass fire has a short path to your trees.

Wikipedia calls Folsom a hub for outdoor fun around Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma. The same open land that people love in spring turns dry by summer.

The risk is not just grass. A city report explains ladder fuels. Those are things that can burn and carry a ground fire up into the tops of trees. Think of low branches, dead brush and young trees packed in under a big one. Once a fire is in the treetops, it gets much harder to fight.

What the city does on its own land

The City of Folsom looks after about 1,100 acres of open space across 70 sites. A council report says 335 of those acres were found to have ladder fuels. For years the city did weed abatement, which means mowing or grazing seasonal grass. Lately it has started working on the ladder fuels, too.

That's the city's land. Your yard is yours. The city can't clear your trees for you, and a clear strip on its side doesn't make your side safe. So the work next to your fence is on you.

Your zones, near to far

The University of California's defensible space checklist breaks a yard into zones:

• Zone 1 hugs the house. The UC checklist says to clear away every dead or dying plant. It also says to cut back tree limbs near the roof, chimney or stovepipe, starting at 10 feet away.
• Zone 2 is the 30 to 100 foot ring around the house. Thin it so a fire has less to climb.

Trees are fine in these zones. The point is to cut off the ladder. Take the low limbs, the dead wood and the brush underneath.

The city may have its own rules for lots next to open space. Its website blocks our tools, so we can't quote them. Ask Folsom's fire prevention staff what applies to your lot.

Fire weather in Folsom

When the National Weather Service posts a Red Flag Warning, fire weather is here or coming fast. On those days, keep saws, mowers and grinders out of dry grass. One spark from a blade can start a fire.

The "Local conditions" box on our home page is where the daily warning will show up.

What the work involves

Fire clearing is more than chopping:

• Taking off low limbs. For younger trees, the UC checklist says to remove branches only in the lower one-third of the tree.
• Removing dead trees and dead limbs.
• Taking out small trees that grow under big ones.
• Cutting back brush and tall dry grass.
• Chipping or hauling the pile away.

A pro will often chip small branches on site. Ask whether chipping is in the price or an add-on.

Protected trees are the catch. If you want to take limbs off a native oak, the city's tree standards say cuts over 2 inches thick on live limbs, or taking more than 10% of the canopy, need a permit. Dead limbs are different, but check. The permit page has the steps.

What fire-season tree clearing in Folsom costs

Prices depend on how much is on the lot. These are from cost guides and aren't quotes.

• Small tree, up to 30 feet, near the fence line $150 to $450
• Mid-size tree, 30 to 60 feet, near the fence line $450 to $1,200
• Large tree, 60 to 80 feet, near the fence line $800 to $1,500
• Chipper for the limbs $50 to $100 more
• Clearing a lot, national range $774 to $2,462
• Clearing a lot, bottom of the range $330
• Clearing a lot, top of the range $5,635

Sources: This Old House and Thumbtack tree removal guides, Thumbtack land clearing guide, read November 2026.

Thumbtack lists land clearing at $774 to $2,462 nationwide. The low end is $330, and the high end is $5,635. A small yard near a fence line sits near the low end. An acre of brush is a different story.

A tip to save money: ask for all the trees to be done in one visit. This Old House suggests asking for a lower rate when several trees come out in one job.

Why call us before fire season in Folsom

Waiting until August is the usual mistake. Pros get busy when the smoke starts, and lots of folks call at once.

When you call, we:

• Ask how close your fence is to open space.
• Ask how many trees are in the first 30 feet from the house.
• Find a local tree pro who does clearing work.
• Set the visit early, before the dry months.

The work and the price belong to the pro, not to us.

Tree removal in Folsom: the steps from here

1. Walk the fence line. Photograph low limbs, dead trees and brush.
2. Count the trees in the first 30 feet from the house.
3. Dial (279) 277-3417, or send the estimate form from your phone.
4. We find your pro and agree on a date.
5. The pro gives you a written price for the whole job.
6. Ask about permits for any oak.
7. Pick a cool, calm morning for the work.

Clearing questions