The city of Sonoma has some of the oldest residential trees in the county. Around the Plaza and on the streets off Broadway, valley oaks, elms, walnuts and redwoods tower over homes that are a century old or more. Out in the valley toward Glen Ellen and Kenwood, oaks spread across rural lots between Sonoma Mountain and the Mayacamas. Trees this old carry a lot of history and a lot of weight. Many have long horizontal limbs, old pruning wounds and decay pockets that have been quietly growing for decades. Add hot inland summers and the 2017 fires that swept down the east side of the valley, and many trees here need careful attention, not quick cuts.
Most of our work in Sonoma is about keeping old trees safe without ruining what makes them special. That usually means patient tree trimming and pruning over several visits, and sometimes tree cabling and bracing to support a limb or fork that's too valuable to lose. On older properties near the Plaza, we also work around stone walls, old foundations and established gardens, so every limb comes down on a rope and lands where it won't damage what's been there for a hundred years. Call for a free estimate.
Tree Rules in the City and the Valley
Where you live in the valley changes which rules apply. Inside the city of Sonoma, larger trees in front yards and street-side yards on residential lots are treated as significant trees, and removing or significantly altering one needs a written permit from the city. Trees in the planter strip or right-of-way along the street fall under the city's public works rules, so those need city approval too. Outside the city limits, in places like Glen Ellen, Boyes Hot Springs and El Verano, the county's tree rules apply instead, along with defensible space inspections by Sonoma Valley Fire. The city has also been reviewing its tree ordinance in recent years, so we confirm the current requirements before quoting work on a big tree. Over the hill in Petaluma, the rules are written differently again, with protection for oaks at much smaller sizes.
Old Oaks, Elms and Valley Heat
The big trees in town face a few common problems. Valley oaks with long, heavy limbs are prone to summer branch drop on hot, still afternoons, and many hang over streets, driveways and roofs. Old elms and walnuts often have decay hidden behind past pruning cuts, so a limb that looks solid can be hollow inside. In the hills, trees that came through the fires may carry hidden heat damage on the burned face of the trunk that only shows years later. The fix is rarely a heavy cut. Light reduction on the longest limbs, removing deadwood, and sometimes a cable between two stems can add years to an old tree. Timing matters too, since oak work is best done in dry weather. And if a big tree needs to come out, it's worth looking at what's growing nearby that can take its place over the coming years. North of town toward Santa Rosa, the same valley oaks show up in newer neighborhoods.
Common Questions
Some of them, depending on where the tree sits. Inside city limits, larger trees in front and street-side yards on residential lots are protected as significant trees, and removing or heavily altering one needs a written city permit. Trees along the street in the planter strip also need city approval. Outside the city, in the rest of Sonoma Valley, county rules apply. Check before cutting.
Often it can. Many old oaks stand for decades with hollow trunks, since the outer wood carries most of the strength. What matters is how much sound wood is left around the cavity and whether the tree is leaning or cracking. Reducing weight on the longest limbs can take strain off a hollow trunk. A tree with a large cavity at the base and little sound wood left is the one to worry about.