Tree trimming and pruning in Wadsworth, NV

Wadsworth is a small, old settlement where the Truckee River turns north toward Pyramid Lake, about 3 miles from Fernley and just off Interstate 80. It is about 48 miles and about 65 minutes without traffic from our Carson City yard.

At a glance

• About 43% of homes built before 1980; median year 1983
• About 700 residents on less than 4 square miles
• 7.61 inches of precipitation a year at the Fernley gauge, 3 miles away
• About 65 minutes from our yard without traffic

Why are river-corridor trees a pruning job of their own?

Size and speed. Trees with their roots near a river grow faster and larger than irrigated yard trees a few miles away in the desert. Fast-grown wood tends to be weaker, and the big cottonwoods and willows that favor river corridors are known for shedding limbs.

On a tree like that, pruning concentrates on three things: dead wood, which large old trees produce constantly; long, heavy limbs over a house, a road or a yard where people spend time; and old breaks that left a torn stub. Reduction cuts shorten a limb back to a side branch big enough to take over, which lowers the load without leaving a stub. Our guide to keeping, pruning or removing cottonwoods goes through the choices.

How old are the lots?

About 43% of Wadsworth homes were built before 1980, against about 14% in Fernley next door, and the median home dates from 1983 (ACS 2020-2024). With only about 700 residents the sample is small, so read those as approximate. About 29% of homes are manufactured homes.

Older lots mean trees that have been pruned by several owners with several ideas. The arborist may find old topping cuts, stubs and flush cuts, each of which can let decay in. Part of a good prune is cleaning up what can be cleaned up and noting what should be watched. If decay is advanced, the arborist consultation is the right first step.

Heat, dry air and timing

Away from the river bank the climate is desert. The Fernley 2.6 WNW gauge about 3 miles away averages 7.61 inches of precipitation a year, and the Wadsworth 4 N station records a mean annual temperature of 52.5 degrees (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). At about 4,070 feet, Wadsworth is one of the lowest towns we serve. The hardiness zone is 7a.

Dead and hazardous limbs are pruned in any month. For live wood, late winter is best for most deciduous trees. Cutting large live limbs in the heat of summer adds stress to a tree that is already working hard, so we avoid it unless there is a hazard.

What equipment comes to Wadsworth?

For tall crowns, our 75-foot Altec boom truck, with the chipper and chip truck behind it. Where a bucket cannot reach, climbers do the work. The arborist decides at the free estimate, after seeing the tree, the ground and any wires. Brush is chipped and hauled, and large wood can be left for you if you want it.

Planning around the distance

Wadsworth is more than an hour from the yard, so the estimate visit should take in everything: each tree you are worried about, plus any stumps or removals. Call 775.232.8243. The phone is answered seven days a week and messages are returned within 8 hours.