We provide tree service in Rialto, CA, including tree removal, trimming and crown thinning, palm frond cleanup, stump grinding and storm-damage cleanup from North Rialto to Downtown and the Renaissance area. Rialto sits right below the Cajon Pass, so Santa Ana winds shape much of the tree work here. Street trees need prior written permission from the City's Public Services Director to remove, and healthy street trees are generally not approved for removal. Call (909) 479-2614 about the trees on your property.
Rialto's street tree rules
Rialto requires prior written permission from the Director of Public Services to plant or remove a street tree, and that permission is valid for a limited time. Removal is generally allowed only for trees that are dead, hazardous, infested beyond treatment or causing damage. Healthy trees are generally not approved for removal. Contact the City of Rialto about a street tree in front of your home before any work.
For large trees on private property, check with the City before removal, since project conditions or other rules may apply.
Wind at the mouth of the pass
Rialto is one of the windiest places in Southern California. Santa Ana winds blow out of the Cajon Pass and across the north end of the city with force, and storm calls spike during every major wind event. Tall eucalyptus, pines, pepper trees and fan palms are the most common trees that fail. The National Weather Service in San Diego issues high-wind warnings for the area when strong events are coming.
Preparing before the season matters more here than almost anywhere else. Deadwood removal, crown thinning on dense trees and a close look at trees with cracks or a lean lower the risk. Our Santa Ana wind prep guide lists warning signs. If a tree has already come down, see emergency tree service.
Rialto neighborhoods and landmarks
Downtown Rialto, along Riverside Avenue, has some of the city's oldest homes and trees, with big shade trees and palms on deep lots. Frisbie Park in north Rialto is one of the city's largest parks, with sports fields and trees that take the full force of the winds coming off the pass. North Rialto has newer homes with younger trees, while the Renaissance area near the 210 Freeway is newer still.
Common tree jobs in Rialto
- Tree trimming and crown thinning before Santa Ana season.
- Palm tree trimming to remove heavy dead fronds that tear off in wind.
- Tree removal of failing trees over homes, done in sections.
- Storm-damage cleanup after wind events.
- Stump grinding after removals.
- Clearance pruning over roofs and driveways.
Palms in the wind
Fan palms are everywhere in Rialto, and in a strong wind a skirt of dead fronds tears off and flies into yards, streets, cars and lines. Removing dead fronds once a year cuts that risk, and it also removes a fire hazard, since dead fronds burn easily. We leave the healthy green crown, because over-trimming weakens palms.
Heat and drought
Rialto's summers are hot and dry, and trees that lost lawn water decline quickly. Slow, deep watering at the edge of the canopy every few weeks in summer and mulch over the roots help. Stressed trees are also more likely to break in wind.
Power lines
Many Rialto streets have overhead lines through mature trees. Any tree within 10 feet of a line must be made safe by Southern California Edison first, and in a windstorm, downed lines are a serious danger. Call SCE at 1-800-611-1911.
Nearby areas
We also serve neighboring Fontana and Jurupa Valley, plus Rancho Cucamonga to the west. See all our service areas.
Windbreaks along the old citrus lands
Rialto was citrus country, and rows of tall eucalyptus and cypress were planted to shelter the groves from the winds coming off the pass. Some of those windbreaks still stand, now surrounded by homes, schools and businesses. Many are very old, and their condition varies a lot from tree to tree. Some are sound and can be kept with deadwood removal. Others are hollow, split or leaning and should come down before the next big wind event. We look at each tree individually, explain what we see and tell you which ones are the priority.
After a big wind event
After a major Santa Ana event, many Rialto trees have broken limbs hung up in the canopy, cracked stems and lifted roots, even if nothing fell. Walk your property once the wind dies down. Look for hanging limbs, fresh cracks, soil heaved around the base and trees that lean more than before. Keep people and cars away from anything that looks unstable and call to have it checked.
Commercial properties
Rialto's warehouse and industrial areas near the 210 and 10 Freeways have landscape strips and parking-lot trees that take a beating from the wind. We prune and remove trees on these sites around truck traffic and operating hours.
Rialto homeowners also call us to remove trees that have grown into block walls or lifted driveways, and to grind the stumps so the walls can be repaired.
Common questions
Can I remove the street tree in front of my Rialto home?
Only with prior written permission from Rialto's Director of Public Services. Removal is generally allowed for trees that are dead, hazardous, infested beyond treatment or causing damage, and healthy street trees are generally not approved for removal. Contact the City of Rialto first.
How can I protect my trees from Santa Ana winds?
Remove deadwood, thin dense canopies so wind passes through, and trim dead palm fronds before the season. Have any tree with a crack, a growing lean or damaged roots checked. Water stressed trees deeply in summer, because drought-weakened trees break more easily.
A palm frond hit a power line. What should I do?
Stay away from the line and anything touching it, and call Southern California Edison at 1-800-611-1911. If there are sparks or fire, call 911. Do not try to remove the frond yourself. Once SCE has made the line safe, we can trim the palm so it does not happen again.