A tree can look healthy and still be one season away from failure. As a new homeowner in El Dorado County, California, you may have just inherited mature trees you've never managed, trees with hidden structural defects, active decay, or fire risk that no home inspector was trained to find. Sierra Tree and Fungi offers independent arborist assessments to give you an honest, complete picture of every tree on your property.
What New Homeowners Don't Know
Trees don't always announce problems. Here are four things new homeowners often miss:
- Internal Decay, Fungal infection hollows trees from the inside. No visible symptoms until failure.
- Root Damage, Prior construction or soil compaction silently kills root systems over years.
- Species Specific Risk, Each species has its own strengths and weaknesses. Understanding your trees is the basis of good management.
- Pathogen Awareness, El Dorado County has unique tree pathogens, from insects to fungi. Understanding them is the foundation of preventative care.
Why Independent Matters
Some tree companies offer free on site assessments, but they're better trained on removal than on understanding what a tree's condition is actually telling them. Christopher Hodge at Sierra Tree and Fungi has no crews, no conflict of interest, and no financial incentive to recommend removal. His only job is to tell you the truth about your trees.
- ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (WE-14385B), not a salesperson
- Written report usable for insurance, HOA, or disclosure purposes
- Honest second opinion before any removal decision
- Trained in fungal pathology and structural defects
- Defensible space evaluation referencing PRC 4291 and CAL FIRE guidance
What Your Written Report Includes
- Full species inventory with care profiles
- Hazard tree assessment around structures
- Defensible space zone evaluation
- Defensible space guidance
- Explanation of how utilities may impact your property
- Prioritized action plan, urgent vs. long term
Schedule Your Property Assessment
New owners tend to inherit several questionable trees at once, not one. At $1,500 to $4,000 for a medium sized removal near the house, taking out three trees on a contractor's say so is a five figure decision made without a written opinion. A prioritized assessment usually separates the one tree that genuinely needs to go from the two that need pruning and a change in irrigation.
Site assessment and written report from $450. Site visit alone $250. Serving El Dorado County, California.
Call or text to schedule: (530) 391-6100
Christopher@SierraTreeandFungi.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a new homeowner tree assessment?
A new homeowner tree assessment is a property walk through with a written report: a species inventory with care notes, a hazard assessment of trees near structures, a defensible space evaluation referencing PRC 4291 and CAL FIRE guidance, and a prioritized action plan that separates urgent issues from long term care. The assessment with its written report starts at $450, and the site visit on its own is $250 for up to one hour. Larger or more complex properties take longer, and I quote that before scheduling. It gives you an honest baseline for the trees you just took on.
Do I need defensible space around my new home?
If your property is in a fire prone area, yes. California Public Resources Code section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around homes in state responsibility areas, achieved through spacing, pruning, and removing dead fuel rather than clearing every tree. I include a defensible space review so you know which trees are sound and which are genuine hazards.
