AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL IN San Mateo, CA

Local Tree Services In San Mateo

At Tree Triage, our #1 goal is to help keep your trees as healthy and safe as possible. 

Our certified arborists provide expert tree trimming, tree pruning, and (when necessary) tree removal services for commercial and residential properties in San Mateo.

We support communities with local tree care and maintenance services in San Mateo and the surrounding area.

Tree Removal

Tree Triage’s certified arborists provide residents in San Mateo with safe, efficient, low cost tree removal services. Trees in San Mateo are prone to Sudden Oak Death and White Pine Blister Rust, which is a main reason customers reach out to us for a removal. Our team is also ready for emergency tree removal in the event of a downed tree.

Tree Trimming And Pruning

Tree Triage’s certified arborists offer San Mateo residents their expert tree trimming and pruning services to ensure your trees stay healthy year round. 

The most common tree in California is the Bur Oak tree and, at maturity, can reach a canopy width of 70-80 feet. This means that most San Mateoans will need to have their tree trimmed occasionally to prevent it from growing near roofs, power lines, or other structures on their property. 

The typical cost for our experts to trim tree branches is usually in the ballpark of $300 to $822, but can cost up to $$1,370 depending on the size and the location of the tree.

Stump Removal and Grinding

Here at Tree Triage, our tree experts know that half the battle of tree removal is removing the stump and root system after the tree is gone. 

That’s why we offer stump grinding packages with our tree removal services, but we also love to help San Mateo residents who want to remove existing stumps and root systems from their property as well. 

The average stump diameter for trees in San Mateo, CA is 84 inches and their root system is typically 3 to 5 feet deep.

As a result, the average cost to grind a stump in San Mateo, CA is $$336 with the lowest cost being $$288 and the highest being $$863.

How Much Does Tree Removal Cost In San Mateo?

The average cost to remove a tree in San Mateo is around $959. Most removals in San Mateo fall between $257 and $3,082. The total for your job will depend on a few different factors, and it’s nearly impossible to provide an accurate quote without first inspecting your tree.

What Are The Expenses Associated With Tree Removal?

There are several cost factors that we’ll consider when pricing out your tree removal. The most significant factor is the size of your tree. This is because it takes more time and often specialized equipment to remove larger trees safely, which translates to higher costs.

The most common tree in the San Mateo area is the Bur Oak tree, which at maturity reaches a height of 100 feet. The canopy reaches widths of about 70-80 feet. When fully-grown, Bur Oak trees could cost up to approximately $3,082 to have a professional like us remove it.

Many homeowners in San Mateo also have Maple trees on their property, as they are the second most common species in California. 

These trees generally reach heights of up to 40 feet and can span out up to 35-50 feet.

In addition to the tree’s size, we’ll need to consider the species and how dense the wood is. Trees with softwood, like Pines, take less time and put less wear and tear on our equipment. 

The ease of removing them will be reflected in the cost. Hardwood trees in San Mateo, like Oaks, will be more challenging and demand a higher removal price.

We’ll also need to consider the condition of the tree. Unfortunately, invasive insects like the Douglas-Fir Beetle and Mountain Pine Beetle plague trees throughout San Mateo, California. They weaken the trees they infect and can leave them prone to falling over or dropping limbs unexpectedly.

Trees in San Mateo are also prone to several tree diseases, including Sudden Oak Death and White Pine Blister Rust. 

Signs of Sudden Oak Death can include leaf spots and shoot dieback, red-brown to black discoloration, or sudden browning of the leaves. 

Signs of White Pine Blister Rust can include small yellow or red spots on the needles, cankers on the branches, or branch swelling.

As you can imagine, taking down a tree that is weakened by these pests and tree diseases can be dangerous. We might need special equipment and more time to remove affected trees. If you notice symptoms of an infestation, a tree disease, or a fungal infection, you should prepare to pay more for tree removal services.

Finally, we need to consider how close the tree is to personal property, including your house, shed, deck, landscaping features, and anything else that could get damaged during the removal process. With an average property size of 0.19 acres and an average house square footage around 1389 sq. ft., chances are higher that the tree you need removed will pose an issue.

If the tree in question is close to personal property, we’ll have to take special care to remove limbs in smaller pieces so as not to cause any damage during the process. This takes a longer time and often involves heavy machinery to guide pieces down, increasing the cost of removal.

Should You Remove A Tree Yourself?

Completing a DIY tree removal is possible, but only in certain circumstances.

Most importantly, you should only consider taking down a tree in your yard if it’s under about 10 feet tall. That means fully-grown trees that are native to California — including Bur Oak and Maple— should be entirely out of the question if they have grown into maturity. 

Additionally, you should only take down a tree that is far enough away from all personal property. Controlling where a tree falls isn’t always possible, so only take down a tree that wouldn’t damage anything no matter which way it topples.

Finally, you should never attempt DIY tree removal if the tree is infested with pests like the Douglas-Fir Beetle or Mountain Pine Beetle, or one that might have been affected by tree diseases local to San Mateo. 

These trees need to be removed by a professional who will prevent the issue from spreading to nearby trees.

What Is The Most Common Tree Problem In San Mateo?

One of the most dangerous tree issues in San Mateo and throughout much of California is the Douglas-Fir Beetle. This invasive insect was first discovered in 1905.

The Douglas-Fir Beetle is about 1/4 inch long and typically has a dark brown/black body. It feeds on trees weakened by fire, which can kill off an otherwise healthy tree in about 2 years.

The easiest way to identify an infestation on your property is to look for discoloration or reddish brown boring dust. If you see any of these symptoms of a Douglas-Fir Beetle infestation, contact our arborists right away for proper removal and disposal.

When Should A Tree Be Removed In San Mateo?

Most San Mateoans enjoy the natural beauty of the native trees in San Mateo, but there are numerous reasons a tree in the area should be removed. Knowing when to take down a tree can help prevent property damage, personal injury, and the death of nearby trees.

Firstly, if a tree is threatening your home or a neighbor’s home, you should have it removed. The average property value in San Mateo is $1,082,693, so even a relatively small amount of damage can be catastrophic.

Another hazard to consider is proximity to power lines. Many of California’s larger tree species — like the Bur Oak that can grow to 100 feet— can easily interfere with electrical wiring. Not only can these problems cause power outages but they are also a major fire hazard.

Finally, trees that have been affected by invasive species in the area — like Douglas-Fir Beetle or Mountain Pine Beetle — or potentially deadly infections — like Sudden Oak Death and White Pine Blister Rust — should always be removed properly. 

Taking down infested or infected trees that are visibly dying or struggling can help save nearby trees from the same fate. The best way to do this is to identify symptoms early, for example if you notice or those are indications that a tree is struggling.

Or, if you’re noticing pests like Douglas-Fir Beetle which have a dark brown/black body about 1/4 inch long you should notify a professional immediately. These pests feed on trees weakened by fire and can kill a tree in 2 years. 

The first symptoms to look out for with these pests are discoloration or reddish brown boring dust. This type of infestation can weaken your tree substantially over time and create even more of a hazard for your family and your property.

Who Is Responsible For Tree Removal In San Mateo?

Generally speaking, the property owner where the tree is growing in San Mateo is responsible for its removal. For example, if a tree is growing on your property, you will need to coordinate and pay for removal services. If the tree is growing on public property or on a right of way, San Mateo will cover the removal.

However, like many areas throughout the United States, negligence plays a big part in tree removal responsibility in California. For example, if your neighbor fails to maintain their Bur Oak trees and it falls into your yard, you may be able to hold them liable for removal if you can prove that they were negligent.

When Should You Hire A Professional To Remove A Tree?

Hiring an expert tree removal service like us is almost always worth it, but there are certain cases where you should always leave it to the professionals.

Most importantly, if your tree is over 20 feet tall or you can’t reach the highest branches without getting on a ladder, don’t attempt a DIY tree removal. Tall trees native to California like the Bur Oak and Maple are extremely dangerous to fell if you’re inexperienced or lack the required equipment.

Secondly, San Mateoans should contact a removal service if their tree is located near any personal property. 

In San Mateo, where the population density is 6,303.1/sq. mi., chances are high that your tree could damage a house, deck, or other nearby property.

Finally, you should rely on a tree removal service in San Mateo to tackle any trees that are plagued by the Douglas-Fir Beetle or Mountain Pine Beetle or problems like Sudden Oak Death and White Pine Blister Rust that are prevalent in San Mateo.

Why Tree Triage?

Our team of arborists and removal experts at Tree Triage know from firsthand experience that tree removal can be stressful as a homeowner. Not only can service in San Mateo run up to about $3,082, but it can also put your home and other property at risk of severe damage.

That’s why everything we do is in an effort to make the process simple and stress-free for you. We only work with genuine experts who can remove your tree safely and quickly without compromising the safety of you, your family, your home, fence, deck, shed, or other property. 

We promise not to damage your lawn or flower beds! All of our work is backed by our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, so you can always count on us for white-glove service.

With our team of experts, you get best-in-class service for an affordable price; that’s the Tree Triage promise!

Quick Tree Facts For San Mateo, CA

Most Common Tree	Bur Oak
Bur Oak Avg. Canopy Width	70-80 feet
Bur Oak Avg. Height At Maturity	100
Bur Oak Growth Rate	moderate, slow
Bur Oak Foliage	deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
California State Tree	Coast Redwood
Common California Softwood Tree	Pines
Common California Hardwood Tree	Oaks