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TRUSTED BY SANTA BARBARA, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon295
    Verified arboricultural services reviews

Find Arborists in Santa Barbara

Avatar for Roper Tree Surgeon and Landscaping
Roper Tree Surgeon and Landscaping
4.8(
21
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2000

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"Best Tree Service I've ever had. Prompt, extremely responsive, emailed photos right after job completed, fair pricing, and the clean up after the work was finished was exemplary. Strongly sugest you give Willliam a try for your next landscaping tree or shrub trimming job or general landscaping. He's great!, and friendly and professional!"
Recommended by61%of homeowners
Aldo's Tree Service, LLC
4.7(
60
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1995

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"Manuel is so focused on what the client wants and has an expert eye for aesthetic tree trimming. I had four unruly, giant Juniper trees that had never been trimmed, and now they are beautiful. The crew came right on time and cleaned up the yard well before they left. Fairly priced, responsible and professional!"
Response time1 day
13 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by96%of homeowners
Avatar for Grays Landscaping LLC
Grays Landscaping LLC
4.7(
80
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I am beyond happy with the service. On time and went straight to work. Polite and listened to my requests. Cleaned up and removed debris. My backyard looks amazing compared to what they started with as I had a large amount of trees and shrubs. Would highly recommend this company. Plan to use for other services."
Snow removal
Ivy removal
Landscaping Project
Ivy removal
Yard cleanup

+52

Response time3 days
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by57%of homeowners
MD Trees Corporation
5.0(
13
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2006

Free estimates

Customers say: True professional

"MD Trees did an excellent job at a fair price. I definitely would use them again. They were quick and did a good job on cleanup and haul away. Note to Angies list: I had a hard time finding this page to leave a review. Other than that everything was great."
Tree Service Project
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+8

Response time1 day
3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by76%of homeowners
Avatar for Shofar Landscape Contracting
Shofar Landscape Contracting
5.0(
13
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Shofar was wonderful to work with; they repaired our patio slab. Removed /tore up damaged concrete, tore out the tree roots which had caused the problem. and then laid a new slab. They were so professional, timely, efficient, and communicative! I highly recommend this company!!!!"
Response time1 day
Response rate87%
11 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Arborists questions, answered by experts

A general rule is that trees need 10 gallons of water for each inch of the tree’s diameter. For large trees, that can amount to approximately 160 gallons of water or more. Watering big trees to this extent can take quite a bit of time using a hose. For this reason, you may consider installing a soaker hose or sprinkler system to make the job easier.  

Peach trees grow to be about 25 feet, so keep this in mind for pruning as well. If you plan to DIY, you’ll need to be comfortable working on a ladder. Without pruning, peach tree branches can sprawl nearly as wide as the tree grows tall, so make sure to plan pruning sessions at least once per year in the spring for controlled growth. And if you’re working on a ladder, be sure to follow all safety precautions, especially if you’ll be dealing with falling branches.

The best way to protect tree roots is to avoid the roots entirely by excavating outside the root radius of the tree. For nearby projects, it’s a good idea to construct a temporary retaining wall. But that’s not always possible, depending on the project and the root system. In these cases, consider using alternative equipment like an auger to tunnel under the ground.

Remember, tree roots can damage nearby cement foundations as they grow. If a tree is close enough to interfere with large excavations, it may be better to remove the tree than risk future problems.

Unless there’s some sort of rule in your community’s homeowners’ association that requires you to remove a stump, there’s no law that says you have to take it out. If you’re not wedded to the idea of removing it, there are plenty of ways to get creative with this tree remnant. Using the stump as the medium for a wood carving or turning it into a planter are just two examples of ways to repurpose a tree stump.

The fastest ways to remove a tree stump are by grinding it or burning it.

Stump grinding is often the quickest method, with professionals able to chip away a stump and its roots within a single session. You have the option to hire a professional stump removal service or rent a stump grinder to do it yourself. However, it's important to note that these machines can be large, difficult to transport, and dangerous to operate without prior experience. For safety reasons, hiring a local arborist or landscape specialist is often recommended.

Burning is another fast option. Before you begin, check your local burn laws. The process involves drilling holes into the stump, filling them with vegetable oil, and waiting 24 to 48 hours. Afterward, you can add charcoal bricks to the surface and light the fire, which must be attended at all times.

For a more affordable but much slower alternative, you can use potassium nitrate pellets to accelerate the natural decomposition process. This method typically takes four to six months.

The Santa Barbara, CA homeowners’ guide to arboricultural services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.