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Tree Service in Kelsey

Up in Kelsey? We cover it. Call (530) 764-5890 and we'll hunt around for a local tree pro who doesn't mind the drive up the hill.

Tree on the house, tree on the road, tree that's thinking about it. All fair game for a call.

Up the grade from Placerville

Kelsey sits at 1,923 feet, about 2 miles north of Chili Bar. Highway 193 is the road most folks use. It comes down from Georgetown, runs through Kelsey, and ends at the north edge of Placerville.

That road is twisty and lined with trees. One pine across it and you're taking the long way home, if there is one. When a storm rolls through, it's smart to check the road report before you head out.

If a tree blocks the highway, call 911. If it's across your own drive, that one's on you, and that's when you call us.

Steep ground changes the job

A lot of lots around here aren't flat. Homes sit on slopes, with tall trees above and below them. That's pretty to look at and harder to work on.

On a slope, felling a tree whole is often off the table. Instead it comes apart in sections, each piece let down on a rope. That takes more time and more hands. Fixr's cost guide says trees on a hill, in a pit or on rocky ground cost more than ones on flat ground. No surprise to anyone who's tried to roll a log uphill.

For a ballpark, the same guide lists a medium tree, 30 to 60 feet tall, at $450 to $700 on flat ground. Your pro will look at the slope and give you a real number.

Warning signs on a hillside tree

• The uphill dirt is cracked or bulging after rain.
• The trunk bends near the base, then grows straight up. Old slide, maybe.
• Rocks or roots showing where the bank has washed.
• Dead top on a pine that stands over the house or the drive.

Wind finishes what the slope starts. A gusty night on a tree that already leans is how you end up making a phone call at 2 in the morning.

Gold rush roots

Kelsey used to be called Kelsey's Diggings. Benjamin Kelsey reached California in 1841. Seven years on, in 1848, he struck gold on this spot. By 1849 people were building houses.

In its heyday Kelsey counted 24 saloons against 12 stores. Toss in six hotels and two barbers. Folks had their priorities. A schoolhouse built in 1858 was rebuilt in 1903 and stayed in use until 1984.

James Marshall, who found the gold at Coloma, died in Kelsey on August 10, 1885. So there's history behind a lot of these old trees and old lots.

One tip from the hills

Keep a clear way in. If your drive is long and lined with trees, trim back the low stuff before winter. A pro can't help you fast if their truck can't reach the tree.

How fast and how much

Being a bit off the main road, Kelsey can take longer to book than Placerville. Some pros will make the trip right away. Others need a day or two. We'll tell you which.

The price always comes from your pro, before the work starts. If it seems high, ask us to find a second one.

Close by

• Tree service in Garden Valley, farther up the road
• Tree service in Coloma, down in the valley
• Hillside tree removal
• Every town on our list
• Back home: tree service in Placerville