Certified arborist in Northwest Reno and Somersett, NV

ZIP 89523 is among the newest parts of Reno that we serve, with the median home built in 1999 and nearly half built in 2000 or later. It also sits near 5,400 feet, higher and windier than the valley below.

At a glance

• ZIP 89523: about 47% of homes built in 2000 or later
• Only about 5% built before 1980
• Elevation about 5,400 feet
• Two ISA Certified Arborists, credential WE-11728A

New streets, growing trees

About 5% of homes in ZIP 89523 were built before 1980 and about 47% in 2000 or later (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024; ZIP-wide figures). Trees here are mostly under 30 years old and still putting on size.

An arborist visit at this stage is about direction: which leader to keep, which branches to remove while small, and whether the planting depth and staking were right.

Hilltop wind

At about 5,400 feet the area gets more wind than central Reno. A young tree with a poor branch union or a thin, tall form is more likely to lose a limb. The arborist looks at crown balance and at whether the tree has had a chance to build taper in the trunk.

The Reno 3.9 W station, 0.3 miles from the neighborhood point at 5,151 feet, averages about 10.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Hardiness zone is 7a.

Fire and open space

ZIP 89523 has no USFS record of its own, so the county figure applies: Washoe County rates higher than 97.2% of US communities for wildfire risk to homes. The 2026 Hawk Fire, mapped at 15,083 acres, has its center about 3.6 miles from the neighborhood point, and the 1984 Mitchell Canyon fire, mapped at 9,469 acres, about 6.9 miles (NIFC).

With open land close to many Somersett lots, defensible space is a standing topic. The UNR Extension guide defines Zone 1 as 5 to 30 feet from the house.

What you receive after the visit

A plain explanation of each tree's condition, a free estimate for any work, and a plan you can follow over several seasons. Pruning of young trees is best done in stages, not all at once.

Pruning in stages

Young trees do best when structural pruning is spread over several seasons. Taking off too much at once stresses a tree. The arborist sets the order of cuts and the right season for each, so you know what to expect next year and the year after.

Do I need a permit to prune or remove a tree in Northwest Reno?

Reno has no permit for pruning or removal on private property, but the City right-of-way needs a Tree Work Permit and a Certified Arborist. Somersett and other planned communities often have association landscape rules.