We provide tree service in Montclair, CA, including tree removal, trimming, palm frond cleanup and stump grinding for homes and small businesses from North Montclair to the Holt Boulevard corridor. City trees in the parkway are handled by Montclair's Public Works department, which takes tree trimming requests from residents, so we work only on trees on your own property. Call (909) 479-2614 and tell us about the trees you are concerned about.
Montclair's city trees
Montclair is a compact city with a lot of street trees for its size. Trees in the public parkway are City trees, and the City handles their pruning. If a street tree in front of your home needs trimming, use the City's tree trimming request, which can be submitted online, by email or at the Public Works counter at City Hall. Do not hire a private tree service to cut a City tree.
For large trees on private property, check with the City of Montclair before removing them, since rules can depend on your lot and any project conditions.
Trees in Montclair neighborhoods
Most of Montclair was built out in the decades after World War II, and the neighborhoods north of the freeway have the mature trees to show for it: big ash, sycamores, Chinese elms, pines and plenty of fan palms. Lots are smaller than in the foothill cities, so trees often overhang roofs, garages, block walls and the neighbor's yard. That makes careful sectional work and rigging the norm here.
Two well-known spots frame the city. Montclair Place, the regional shopping center near Monte Vista Avenue and the 10 Freeway, is surrounded by landscaped parking areas with rows of trees and palms. Not far away, the Montclair Transcenter serves Metrolink and buses, and the neighborhoods around it have the older shade trees that make walking in summer bearable.
Common tree jobs in Montclair
- Tree trimming to pull limbs back from roofs, garages and walls.
- Tree removal of dead trees or trees too big for small lots, done in sections.
- Palm tree trimming to remove dead fronds and seed pods before they reach pools and patios.
- Stump grinding after removals so the yard can be replanted.
- Clearance work for small businesses along Holt Boulevard and Central Avenue.
Working on small lots
On a small lot, there is rarely room to drop a tree or even a large limb. We bring the right size equipment for the access, use ropes to lower limbs over walls and roofs, and protect lawns and hardscape where the crew walks. Brush is carried out and chipped at the street. If the neighbor's yard is involved, we will ask you to check with them before the work day.
Wind and summer heat
Montclair sits on the valley floor where Santa Ana winds blow hard, and summer heat stresses trees on lots that lost lawn irrigation. Deadwood removal and thinning before the wind season, and a slow deep watering in summer, go a long way. If a tree or limb comes down, see emergency tree service.
Power lines
Many Montclair homes have service lines running from poles in the back alley or along the street. Trees within 10 feet of an overhead line must be made safe by Southern California Edison first. Call SCE at 1-800-611-1911 before anyone works near the wires.
Nearby areas
We also serve neighboring Ontario, Upland and Pomona, as well as Chino and Claremont. See all our service areas.
Watering and drought stress
Many Montclair yards have replaced lawns with gravel and drought-tolerant plants. Trees that relied on lawn water can decline quickly afterward. Signs include small leaves, early leaf drop, thinning canopy and dead branch tips. A slow, deep soak around the edge of the canopy every few weeks in summer helps, along with mulch over the root zone. Our guide to drought-stressed trees goes through it step by step.
Planning a removal and replanting
Many trees we remove in Montclair were simply planted in the wrong place: a big pine against the house, a ficus next to a pool, a tree under the service line. If you plan to replant, choose a species that stays a manageable size, plant it well away from the house, walls and lines, and give it room to grow. A smaller tree that fits the lot will give you shade without the problems of the one it replaces.
Shade for hot Montclair summers
Shade trees cut cooling costs and make yards usable through Montclair's long summers. Before removing a healthy tree for a minor problem, such as leaf litter on a patio, consider pruning it instead. A thinned, raised canopy often solves the problem and keeps the shade.
Small businesses
For small businesses along Central Avenue and Holt Boulevard, we prune trees that block signs and sightlines and remove dead trees from landscape strips, working early or late to avoid customer hours.
Common questions
How do I get the City to trim the street tree in front of my Montclair home?
Submit a tree trimming request to Montclair's Public Works department. The City accepts requests online, by email or in person at the Public Works counter at City Hall. Street trees in the parkway are City trees, so a private tree service should not cut them without the City's approval.
Can you remove a tree that is too big for my backyard?
Yes, in most cases. On small Montclair lots we take trees down in sections, lowering limbs with ropes so nothing lands on the house, the wall or the neighbor's yard. Check with the City before removing any very large tree, and if lines are nearby, SCE must make the tree safe first.
How often should palm trees be trimmed in Montclair?
Most fan palms need trimming about once a year, after the lower fronds brown and before seed pods drop. Date palms may need it every year or every other season. We remove only dead and dying fronds, leaving the green crown, because over-trimming weakens palms and makes them more likely to break.