Certified arborist in Old Southwest Reno, NV

ZIP 89509 is the oldest housing stock in Reno that we serve. More than six in ten homes predate 1980, which means mature street trees, long-established gardens and roots that have had decades to find sewer lines and sidewalks.

At a glance

• ZIP 89509: about 62% of homes built before 1980
• Median home built in 1975
• About 41 minutes from our yard without traffic
• Two ISA Certified Arborists, credential WE-11728A

The oldest trees in our Reno service area

About 62.5% of homes in ZIP 89509 were built before 1980, and the median year is 1975 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024; ZIP-wide figures). The yard trees and the street trees have had fifty years or more to reach full size.

For these trees the question is rarely how to start them well. It is whether a big, old tree is still sound, and what it would take to keep it that way.

Roots, sidewalks and sewer lines

Large trees near sidewalks and older sewer lines raise a frequent question: is the root the cause, and what are the options? The arborist can tell you what the roots are doing above ground and what pruning or removal would mean. For underground pipes you need a plumber's camera inspection, and our guide on roots explains the limits.

Siberian elms and cottonwoods are widespread on older Northern Nevada lots, and both have well-known habits worth discussing at the visit.

Support and pruning before removal

Not every old tree needs to come down. Dead wooding, selective thinning and cabling or bracing of weak unions can extend a tree's life. The arborist explains which of those fit, and which tree is past the point where support is worthwhile. Where removal is the answer, a crane can lift pieces over a house on tight old lots.

Local conditions

ZIP 89509 sits at about 4,600 feet in hardiness zone 7b. The Reno 2.4 SSW station, 1.1 miles from the neighborhood point, averages about 9.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

Washoe County rates higher than 97.2% of US communities for wildfire risk to homes (USFS; ZIP 89509 has no record of its own). The 2026 Hawk Fire, mapped at 15,083 acres, has its center about 7.9 miles away.

Do I need a permit for a tree in Old Southwest Reno?

Trees in the City right-of-way need a Tree Work Permit and a Certified Arborist in Reno. On private property no City permit applies. If a tree sits right at the sidewalk, ask the City before any work.