Tree Trimming in Lotus
Lotus, ZIP 95651? Count us in. Call (530) 380-5512, and a river-country tree pro gets booked for your oaks.
Head a mile or so west from Coloma and you're in Lotus, about 722 feet up. It's one of the lowest spots we cover, right in the river country.
Three names in thirty-some years
Founded in 1849, the place first honored James Marshall, the gold finder from up the road, by taking his name. A year later, in 1850, Californians were celebrating statehood, so it switched to Uniontown. The name Lotus showed up with the post office in 1881.
It was a much bigger place back then. At its peak, the town had an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people. Back then you'd find a store, a dance hall and a big Chinese community, which left behind a Chinese cemetery.
Those green clumps in the oaks
Look up at the bare oaks in winter and you may spot round green balls in the branches. That's mistletoe. UC's pest note says the leafy kind forms rounded, shrubby clumps that can get 2 feet across or more. They're easy to see on leaf-dropping trees in winter.
Is it hurting the tree?
A little mistletoe usually isn't a disaster. UC says healthy oaks in natural areas can put up with some of it, though the branches it grows on are more likely to break. Heavy infestations are another story. Badly infested trees can lose vigor, grow less and drop dead branches. Some die completely, and drought or disease makes it worse.
In the UC Master Gardener oak talk, mistletoe gets the same verdict: a healthy tree should survive it. It can be pruned out, but it usually grows back. The talk adds a kinder note too. Mistletoe gives habitat and food to a lot of animals and insects. So a few clumps high in a big, healthy oak aren't worth a big bill.
The trees to worry about are the ones loaded with clumps, the ones already stressed by drought, and the ones with mistletoe on limbs over the house or driveway. Those limbs are more likely to break, so they're worth a look first.
Why one tree isn't enough
Here's the part folks don't expect. Mistletoe spreads easily from tree to tree, right across property lines. UC says removing it from all the trees on a street does the most good. It also says just cutting off the clumps can slow the spread, but won't control it.
So if your neighbor's oak is full of it, yours will likely keep getting it back. It might be worth a chat over the fence. UC notes that some communities pool their money to hire one tree service.
When to cut it
Winter is handy for spotting mistletoe, and it's also when leaf-dropping oaks should be pruned, per the Master Gardener rule. One visit, two jobs.
What trimming costs in Lotus
Some pros bill jobs like this by the hour. Thumbtack says tree trimmers average $60 to $80 an hour. Homeyou's guide puts hourly rates at $86 to $148.
A whole oak with mistletoe in the top will take longer than a quick cleanup on one low branch. Ask for a set price if you'd rather not watch the clock.
Lotus questions
Do you cover Lotus?
We do. Call (530) 380-5512, tell us which road you're on, and we'll book a pro who works the river area.
Will cutting out mistletoe get rid of it for good?
Usually not. UC says cutting off the clumps slows the spread but doesn't control it, and it often grows back.
What season suits mistletoe cleanup?
Winter. The clumps stand out on bare branches, and that's when leaf-dropping oaks get pruned.
Close by
Related reading: oaks and their seasons.