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Tree Trimming in Logtown

Living out Logtown way, with a tree that's due some work? Happy to help. Dial (530) 240-2208, and we'll line up a pro who doesn't mind the trip and pencil you in.

Logtown is a Highway 49 spot, about 3 miles southwest of Placerville. For anyone who prunes around Placerville, that's barely a detour.

A mining town that almost vanished

Logtown turns up in the 1850 census with just 417 residents, most of the men working placer claims. The Placer Times counted 20 stores and 2 taverns in town, alongside a blacksmith, shoemaker, carpenter and baker.

Over a dozen mines dotted the area, among them the Pocahontas, which opened in 1854. Once the 1900s rolled around, ranching and farming gradually pushed mining aside.

Now for a strange twist. At some point the U.S. Geological Survey accidentally left Logtown off its maps, listing it only as a historical site. Residents petitioned in 2018, and the town was restored.

Named for pines, covered in oaks

Where the name came from is anyone's guess. One local theory points to a pine forest that used to stretch into the area. Another blames a stack of mill logs. Either way, the town's Wikipedia entry notes that oaks are now the dominant trees right around Logtown.

That fits what you see driving through. Oaks on the hills, oaks over the driveways, oaks shading the old ranch lots.

A UC Master Gardener talk on our county oaks frames their care mostly as restraint. No summer watering. Leave the leaf litter, because it feeds them as mulch. Never heap dirt or stones around the trunk. And steer the weed whacker clear of the bark.

Oaks on old ranch land

Ground that's been farmed or grazed for generations can be rough on trees. That same talk explains how soil packed down by roads and construction injures roots and cuts off their water. Oaks along old ranch lanes and turnouts often show that strain.

A stressed oak may show dead limbs in the top, thin leaves, or mistletoe that keeps spreading. Those are good reasons to have a pro look. Dead wood can come out any time of year. Bigger shaping cuts wait for the right season for that oak.

The few pines that are left

If the town really was named for pines, a few of their descendants may still be around. Any pine on your lot runs on its own calendar. UC wants pines left uncut from February until the middle of October, while bark beetles fly. Late fall into early winter is the opening.

Pines and oaks don't share beetles, at least. UC says pine bark beetles don't go after oaks, and oak bark beetles leave pines alone.

What dead wood removal costs

On old oaks, taking out dead wood is the most common job. Homeyou's 2026 guide puts it at $184 to $442. It's a national figure. A tall oak far from the driveway can cost more.

Ask the pro if cleanup and hauling are in the price before you agree.

Nearby

Up the road there's tree trimming in El Dorado, then tree trimming in Diamond Springs beyond it. Oak tips live on the oak tree pruning page. Head back to tree trimming in Placerville or open the list of our towns.