Tree removal in Northwest Reno and Somersett (89523)

This ZIP sits high for Reno, at about 5,432 feet on the benches below Peavine, and it is open to the weather. The housing is recent and so are the trees, which makes the work lighter than in the old neighborhoods but not always simpler.

At a glance

• About 5% of homes in ZIP 89523 built before 1980; median 1999
• About 5,432 feet in elevation
• 2006 Verdi Fire mapped within about 10 miles
• Small and large trees, homes and associations

What goes wrong with a 20-year-old tree?

Mostly its start in life. Trees in newer subdivisions are often planted in tight spaces between a driveway and a wall, in ground that was graded and compacted for building. Some never establish. Others grow fast, then split at a weak fork in the first hard wind. A third group does well and ends up too close to the house.

Removal takes care of all three, but for the middle group an arborist may be able to fix the structure early. See tree trimming in Northwest Reno.

How exposed is this side of town?

The nearest NOAA normals station, Reno 3.9 W, averages about 10.9 inches of precipitation a year, a little more than the valley floor. That is still a dry climate, and planted trees depend on irrigation. Downslope wind is the other stress. Our guide to the Washoe Zephyr explains what wind does to a crown and what to check after a blow.

Is wildfire a reason to remove trees here?

It can be. The 2006 Verdi Fire, mapped at 5,662 acres, and the 1994 Crystal Fire, mapped at 7,392 acres, are both in the federal record within about 10 miles of the ZIP. Washoe County's wildfire risk to homes ranks higher than 97.2% of US counties (USDA Forest Service); ZIP codes are not rated separately.

On lots that back onto open sagebrush, a dead tree or a conifer touching the eaves is worth acting on. Our defensible space page for this ZIP covers the zones.

Association and city rules

Somersett and neighboring communities have associations, and street trees and common-area trees may not be yours to remove. Ask before you book. Inside Reno city limits a tree on private property needs no city permit, while a tree in the City right-of-way needs a Tree Work Permit and a Certified Arborist.

What does the job look like?

For a small tree, a short visit: cut, chip, rake, done, with the stump ground if you asked for it. For a larger tree near the house, the arborist plans the lowering and the crew brings the boom truck. Either way the estimate is free and written for your tree.