educational blogs
Tree Care & Landscaping Tips
An Oak Tree in Cupertino or Almaden Plays by Different Rules
September 3, 2026
Direct Answer: Oaks in San Jose need pruning in late fall or winter, almost no summer irrigation, and often a city permit before major work. ...
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Fruit Trees in a Silicon Valley Yard Need a Different Pruning Calendar
August 31, 2026
Direct Answer: In the South Bay, prune deciduous fruit trees like peaches, plums, apples, and pears in January through early February, after leaf drop but ...
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San Jose’s Ordinance-Size Tree Rule: What Triggers a Permit on Your Property
August 28, 2026
Direct Answer: In San Jose, a tree measuring 38 inches or more in trunk circumference at 4.5 feet above the ground is ordinance-size, and removing ...
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How the Valley Water Lawn Conversion Rebate Works, and Where People Get Disqualified
August 26, 2026
Direct Answer: Valley Water requires a pre-inspection and a written Notice to Proceed before you touch your lawn. The rebate is not retroactive, so work ...
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Before Storm Season, Here Is What a Tree Risk Inspection Actually Covers
August 24, 2026
Direct Answer: A pre-storm tree risk inspection checks root flare, soil movement, crown balance and end weight, stem unions, upper deadwood, and past pruning damage, ...
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Three Days Out From a Storm: What Helps, and Who Handles What in San Jose
August 20, 2026
Direct Answer: In the 72 hours before a storm, clear gutters and street drains, move cars and bins out from under limbs, secure loose items, ...
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Fechas límite de limpieza de maleza y qué pasa si no cumple
August 18, 2026
Direct Answer: Si no limpia la maleza antes de la fecha del condado, el condado puede mandar a su propio contratista, hacer el trabajo y ...
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Your Tree Is Leaning. Here Is How to Figure Out If That Is a Problem.
August 16, 2026
Direct Answer: Young trees under roughly three to four inches in trunk diameter can often be straightened with staking and guying. Mature trees that have ...
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Cuándo San José exige un permiso antes de quitar un árbol
August 13, 2026
Direct Answer: San José exige permiso cuando el árbol está protegido por ordenanza, pasa cierto tamaño de tronco, o está en la franja entre la ...
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Tree Roots and Your Foundation: When to Worry and When You Don’t Have To
August 11, 2026
Direct Answer: Tree roots rarely crack a foundation directly. In San Jose, damage usually comes from expansive clay soil shrinking as large trees pull moisture ...
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¿Certificado, con licencia, o ninguno? Cómo verificar antes de contratar
August 10, 2026
Direct Answer: La licencia CSLB la emite el estado de California y autoriza a contratar el trabajo. La certificación de arborista la emite la ISA ...
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What Santa Clara County’s Weed Abatement Program Costs When You Miss the Deadline
August 7, 2026
Direct Answer: Missing the deadline means the county hires its own contractor and bills your property tax statement. Published 2026 fees stack on top of ...
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¿Su árbol se está muriendo o solo necesita tratamiento?
August 4, 2026
Direct Answer: Muchos árboles que se ven mal solo tienen estrés de raíz o plaga tratable, y algunos que se ven sanos tienen pudrición interna. ...
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Your Insurer Wants Branches Off the Roof. When Is the Safe Time to Cut?
August 2, 2026
Direct Answer: Targeted safety cuts, like clearing branches off a roof, can usually be done any month. Heavy reductions should wait for the species window: ...
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Neighbor’s Bamboo Is in Your Yard. Here Is What You Are Dealing With.
July 30, 2026
Direct Answer: Cutting bamboo stalks does nothing lasting. Running bamboo spreads by underground rhizomes, so removal means cutting, treating, digging out the root mass, and ...
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¿Acaba de comprar casa? Empiece con estas preguntas sobre los árboles
July 30, 2026
Direct Answer: Camine el terreno, identifique ramas sobre el techo, y averigüe si algún árbol está protegido por ordenanza antes de contratar cualquier trabajo. Empiece ...
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When a Tree Has a Split or Weak Fork, What Are the Real Options?
July 28, 2026
Direct Answer: A split or weak fork can often be managed with cabling or bracing rather than removal, but the right answer depends on the ...
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Your Oak Tree Is Asking for Something. Here Is How to Read It.
July 27, 2026
Direct Answer: A struggling oak is rarely a lost cause. The key is identifying what it’s showing you, sparse canopy, bark changes, or root-zone moisture, ...
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When a Tree Has a Weak Spot, Removal Is Not the Only Answer
July 23, 2026
Direct Answer: Tree cabling installs steel or synthetic cables in the canopy to support a weak union or heavy branch, reducing failure risk without removing ...
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Splitting Your Lot Under SB9? Here’s What Happens to Your Trees
July 22, 2026
Direct Answer: An SB9 lot split often forces difficult decisions about existing trees. Grading, foundations, and setbacks frequently conflict with mature root zones, and San ...
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