We provide tree service in Pomona, CA, including tree removal, trimming and crown thinning, palm frond cleanup and stump grinding, from Lincoln Park and the historic districts to Phillips Ranch. Pomona requires a written permit from the Director of Community Services before anyone removes, trims, prunes or cuts a street or parkway tree, and in historic districts, removing a street tree is a major project with its own review. We work on private trees and send you to the City for the rest. Call (909) 479-2614.
Pomona's street tree rules
Pomona's municipal code covers street trees in detail. Removing, trimming, pruning or cutting a tree in the street or parkway requires a written permit from the Director of Community Services, and the applicant has to show the need for the work and follow City standards. In the City's historic districts, removing a City street tree is treated as a major project under the historic preservation ordinance. You can read the rules in Pomona's Street Trees article and contact the City of Pomona about a specific tree.
For large trees on private property, especially in historic districts, check with the City's planning staff before removal.
Pomona's historic trees
Pomona is one of the oldest cities in the Pomona Valley, and its older neighborhoods have some of the biggest trees in the region. Lincoln Park and the other historic districts are lined with mature sycamores, camphors, magnolias, deodar cedars, pepper trees and palms planted around Victorian and Craftsman homes. Many of these trees are older than anyone living in the houses.
Old trees need careful care. They respond poorly to heavy cuts, they often have old wounds and decay, and their roots run under walks and driveways. We take a light approach on them: deadwood removal, selective thinning and reduction only where it is needed for clearance or to take weight off a weak limb. If a tree has a serious defect, a closer tree health assessment comes first.
Landmarks and neighborhoods
Pomona, one of the oldest cities in the valley, is home to Fairplex, where the LA County Fair is held each year, and the trees and parking areas around it are a familiar sight on the north side of the city. To the west, Cal Poly Pomona covers a large campus with orchards, gardens and hillsides. Phillips Ranch, in the hills on the southwest side, has newer homes on slopes with landscape trees and pines, and some streets back onto brush-covered open space.
Common tree jobs in Pomona
- Tree trimming and crown thinning on mature trees in historic neighborhoods.
- Tree removal of dead or failing private trees, done in sections around older homes.
- Palm tree trimming on tall fan palms and date palms.
- Stump grinding after removals.
- Clearance pruning over roofs, porches and garages.
- Brush and dead-limb clearing on Phillips Ranch slopes.
Working around older homes
Victorian and Craftsman homes often have wood siding, ornate porches and detached garages close to big trees. We protect them by lowering limbs on ropes, using mats where equipment travels and keeping the drop zone well clear of the structure. If roots have lifted a walk or driveway, we tell you so a separate contractor can look at it, and we avoid cutting major roots that hold the tree up.
Wind, heat and drought
Santa Ana winds reach Pomona through the gaps in the hills, and summer heat stresses older trees, especially after lawns are removed. Thinning and deadwood removal before wind season and slow, deep watering in summer keep older trees in better shape. If a tree or limb has come down, see emergency tree service.
Power lines
Many of Pomona's older streets have overhead lines through big trees. Trees within 10 feet of a line must be made safe by Southern California Edison first. Call SCE at 1-800-611-1911 before work near the wires.
Planting and replacing trees
After a removal in a historic neighborhood, replanting keeps the character of the street. Choose a species that suits the spot, the heat and the soil, and plant it well away from foundations, walls and lines. For a parkway, ask the City which species are approved before planting.
Nearby areas
We also serve neighboring Claremont, La Verne and Montclair, plus Chino Hills to the south. See all our service areas.
Phillips Ranch slopes
Homes in Phillips Ranch often back onto slopes with pines, eucalyptus and brush. Trees at the top of a slope lean toward the light and the open side over time, and roots on banks hold the soil in place. We remove what is dangerous, leave roots in slopes where possible to limit erosion and clear dead brush along back fences.
Commercial and campus areas
We also prune and remove trees for commercial properties along Holt Avenue, Garey Avenue and the streets around Fairplex, working around parking, tenants and events.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to trim a street tree in Pomona?
Yes. Pomona requires a written permit from the Director of Community Services before anyone removes, trims, prunes or cuts a street or parkway tree, and the applicant must show the need for the work. In historic districts, removing a City street tree is a major project with its own review. Contact the City of Pomona.
Can you prune the very old trees in Lincoln Park?
Yes, for trees on private property. Older trees in Lincoln Park and other historic districts need light, careful pruning: deadwood removal, selective thinning and reduction only where needed. Heavy cuts harm old trees. For a street tree, the City's permit is required first, and for large private trees in historic districts, check with planning staff.
What should I plant after removing a tree in Pomona?
Pick a species that suits the spot, handles heat and wind, and stays a size that fits the yard. Plant well away from the house, walls and lines. For the parkway, ask the City of Pomona which species are approved. Replanting helps keep the shade and character of older neighborhoods.