Eddy's Tree Service
Top-Rated Tree Care in Redding, CA
PSALMS 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
PSALMS 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
In Redding and the surrounding northern Sacramento Valley, winter isn’t just colder weather — it’s the highest-risk season for tree failures. Saturated soil, heavy rain, and rapid wind gusts put enormous stress on even healthy trees. Once the ground loosens and limbs take on water weight, a single storm can push a tree past its breaking point.
Most homeowners don’t realize how many trees look “fine” right up until the moment they fail. Windstorms roll through quickly, the soil gets oversaturated, and large limbs become heavy, brittle, or imbalanced. It only takes one weak point — a cracked limb, a trunk cavity, a bad branch angle — for a tree to drop onto a roof, fence, garage, or vehicle.
Your trees are part of your home’s ecosystem. Taking care of them now prevents:
At Eddy’s Tree Service, our goal is simple: keep your property safe, storm-ready, and cared for without breaking the bank.
Don’t wait for visible damage. The most dangerous trees are usually the ones that don’t look dangerous yet.
Liquid Ambers are beautiful in fall but become high-risk in winter. Their fast growth and heavy branching make them vulnerable during rain and wind.
Winter Risk:
Best Practice:
Strategic end-weight reduction to lighten outer limbs without harming the tree’s structure.
Mulberries are everywhere in Redding — and they’re notorious for winter limb failures.
Winter Risk:
Best Practice:
Pollarding during dormancy is ideal. It resets growth and strengthens the tree for future seasons.
Sugar pines are majestic but dangerous when neglected. Their branches absorb water like sponges.
Winter Risk:
Best Practice:
Mid-winter reductions to relieve pressure and prevent limb collapse.
Sycamores grow quickly and develop dense, layered canopies that become hazardous in winter when winds pick up.
Winter Risk:
High wind breakage
Heavy limb drops from extended branches
Dense upper canopy catching wind and increasing sway
Best Practice:
Thinning and selective reduction to open the canopy, reduce wind resistance, and prevent top-heavy stress.
Ash trees are common in Redding neighborhoods and commercial areas. Their rapid vertical growth and brittle branches make them vulnerable in storms.
Winter Risk:
Branch clusters breaking together
Limb failures from brittle wood
Structural weakness when trees haven’t been maintained
Best Practice:
Seasonal thinning to reduce canopy density and prevent multiple-branch failures during storms.
Even if your trees look healthy, Redding’s wet winters expose hidden issues that increase failure risk. Here are the problems we see most during winter inspections:
(Especially in oaks, liquid ambers, and mulberries)
Saturated soil + weakened roots = instability.
Warning signs:
Mushrooms at base
Soft or spongy trunk
Thinning canopy
(Common in sycamore, ash, pine, sugar pine)
Wet winter weather triggers fungal cankers and hidden limb weakness.
Warning signs:
Random brown sections
Dead twigs mid-canopy
Sap oozing from pines
(All tree species)
Rot can hollow out a tree from the inside without visible symptoms.
Warning signs:
Conks or mushroom-like growth
Cavities or soft wood
Bark peeling
(Sugar pines, liquid ambers, sycamores)
Water-heavy limbs can break anytime during a storm.
Warning signs:
Cracks at major branch unions
Sagging or drooping limbs
New leaning after rain
During winter, Redding gets cycles of soaking rain followed by sudden wind gusts. This creates a condition called root plate instability — when the soil becomes so saturated that it can’t hold the tree upright.
Warning signs:
Soil lifting or cracking around the base
New lean (even a small one)
Exposed roots after storms
Soggy, spongy ground
Tree sways more than usual
Redding’s winter weather brings real challenges, and each storm level affects your trees differently.
Steady rain + low wind. Heavy canopies like mulberry, sycamore, and liquid amber may start to sag. Monitor older or previously stressed trees.
Heavy rain + 15–25 mph wind gusts. Soil begins loosening, pine limbs absorb water, and minor limbs may start failing.
Saturated soil + 30–40+ mph gusts.This is when we see the MOST uprooting, major limb drops, and emergency calls across Redding.
Redding’s winter weather creates the perfect storm for tree failures, especially between November and February. Our area is known for sudden wind bursts that hit fast and hard, often before trees have time to stabilize themselves. When those gusts follow long stretches of heavy rain from atmospheric river events, the soil becomes saturated and loses its ability to anchor roots. Freeze-to-rain cycles make things even worse: cold snaps stiffen and weaken wood fibers, then the added weight of rain pushes already stressed limbs past their limit. In neighborhoods with clay-heavy soil, moisture hangs around tree bases much longer than it should, creating pockets of instability. Add summer drought stress — a major issue in the North State — and many trees enter winter already compromised. This combination is why we see so many “perfectly healthy” trees fail unexpectedly once the storms roll in.
Many homeowners assume tree work should wait until spring, but winter is actually one of the healthiest and safest seasons to prune. During the colder months, trees are dormant, which means less sap flow, fewer pests, and far lower stress when branches are removed. Winter also gives arborists a clearer view of the tree’s structure since there’s no heavy foliage hiding problem areas. All of this leads to better long-term healing and stronger, more stable growth once spring arrives.
Removes dead or dangerous branches on pines, oaks, sycamores, and mulberries.
Great for sycamores and ash. Reduces wind resistance and storm strain.
Used for larger species (Sweetgum, Sugar Pine). Lightens load, rebalances the canopy, and prevents failures.
Especially beneficial for mulberries. Done during dormancy to reset and strengthen the tree.
Here’s a simple guide to know which trees can be safely trimmed in winter — and which should wait.
| Tree Species | Safe to Trim in Winter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Oak |
Yes |
Best season for structural pruning and long-term health. |
Liquid Amber (Sweetgum) |
Yes |
Ideal time to reduce end-weight before storms. |
Mulberry |
Yes |
Dormancy is perfect for pollarding and canopy resets. |
Sycamore |
Yes |
Winter thinning reduces wind strain and overcrowded clusters. |
Ash |
Yes |
Removing heavy clusters now prevents limb failures in storms. |
Pine / Sugar Pine |
Yes |
Light structural trimming only; avoid aggressive cuts. |
Maple |
No |
Winter pruning causes heavy sap bleeding. |
Cherry |
No |
Too stressful during cold/wet months; prune in spring. |
Here’s a simple way to spot issues at home. If anything feels “off,” trust your gut. We’ll confirm it for free.
Do you see hanging, cracked, or dead limbs?
Are there splits or seams where branches meet the trunk?
Any soil lifting or exposed roots?
Is the tree tilting more than it did last season?
Rot pockets, cavities, fungus, peeling bark — all warning signs.
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Myth
Fact
Because most homeowners think pruning is only for spring.
One of the most dangerous misconceptions in Redding.
Homeowners underestimate root instability signs.
Many people think winter tree care is optional — but insurance companies see it very differently. In fact, routine maintenance can be the difference between a covered storm-damage claim and a denied one.
Many people think winter tree care is optional — but insurance companies see it very differently. In fact, routine maintenance can be the difference between a covered storm-damage claim and a denied one.
If one of your trees damages a neighbor’s home, vehicle, or fence — and the tree was known to be risky — you can be held financially responsible for the repairs.
When we inspect your trees, we also provide documentation that can support future insurance claims. This simple step often makes the difference after a big storm.
Most winter “emergency removals” we handle were avoidable with off-season trimming or reduction. Preventive care protects your home and keeps winter costs low.
Not usually. Winter sap flow from maples, sycamores, or fruitless mulberries is normal. If sap is excessive or smells sour, call us.
Not for most species. Dormant pruning (winter) is healthier and prevents disease.
Most Redding shade trees can be trimmed safely during winter. The best candidates include:
Fruitless mulberry
Liquid amber (sweetgum)
Sycamore
Ash
Oak (structural pruning only — no heavy cuts)
Pine species, including sugar pine
Dormant pruning reduces stress, prevents disease spread, and makes structural issues more visible.
Some species bleed excessively or respond poorly to winter cuts. Eddy’s does not trim these until spring:
Maple
Cherry
Birch
Walnut (depending on health and sap activity)
If you’re unsure, Eddy’s can identify species and recommend timing during a free inspection.
For oaks in Northern California, winter is safest because:
Oak wilt isn’t active here, but insects are still less active in winter.
Dormant cuts reduce stress and allow cleaner healing.
However, oak trees should only receive light structural pruning or hazard removal — no aggressive reductions.
Yes — and in fact, winter is one of the best times.
Sugar pines, ponderosa pines, and other conifers benefit from:
End-weight reduction
Removal of storm-prone limbs
Clearing dead branches
Because pine sap flow is lower in winter, cuts attract fewer insects and heal cleanly.
Warning signs include:
Fresh cracks in limbs
Soil lifting at the base
Sudden lean or shifting weight
Branches rubbing together
Hollow or soft spots on the trunk
Mushrooms or fungus at the roots
If you see any of these, schedule an inspection immediately. These conditions can worsen quickly in wet winter soil.
Topping chops the top off — dangerous and outdated.
Reduction is strategic, safe, and preserves structure.
In Redding, Eddy recommends:
Thinning dense canopies (sycamore, ash)
End-weight reduction (sweetgum, mulberry)
Removing dead or cracked limbs
Clearing branches over roofs, fences, and vehicles
Having the base of large conifers inspected
This prevents blowouts, root failure, and weight-related limb drops.
It’s more affordable than most people think — especially compared to storm damage repairs.
Eddy’s offers free inspections and fair, honest quotes.
Winter storms hit fast — but a quick inspection today can prevent costly damage tomorrow. Whether you need trimming, reductions, or a full safety check, Eddy’s is here to help.
📞 Call Eddy’s Tree Service: (530) 717-8989
📅 Request Your Free Winter Inspection Online
