• Plant only small trees (no more than 20 feet tall at maturity) under power lines.
• Apply wood chip mulch three to four inches deep underneath the canopy of your tree.
• Deep water young trees once a week and mature trees once a month during dry months.
• Do not cut the top off of your tree—this is known as topping. Instead, make reduction cuts.
• Do not prune more than one-quarter of the branches in one season, and while pruning limbs, make your final cut just outside the branch collar. Prune young trees so they have only one stem. Do not prune roots under your tree’s canopy.
• Protect your tree’s roots from construction damage by fencing off the area underneath the branches.
• Remove invasive plants from climbing or crowding your tree.

Calculate the Benefits of Trees

You can calculate the benefits of trees on your property or the right-of-way by using the National Tree Benefit Calculator.

How to Care for Young Trees

Trees younger than five years old are most at risk during the hot summer months. To thrive, they need water delivered slowly and deeply, ideally using drip irrigation.

When drip irrigation is not possible, trees need extra help. Learn the "bucket method" for efficiently watering young trees in the brief video below produced by the Sacramento Tree Foundation in partnership with Be Water Smart.

Find more tree watering tips at BeWaterSmart.info and SacTree.com/Water.

Questions about Caring for Your Tree

If you have questions about caring for your tree, contact the City Arborist at lmurphy@cityofranchocordova.org. An ISA Certified Arborist is trained to understand the needs of trees and provide the care and maintenance necessary to enhance a tree's health, beauty and structural soundness.

The City of Rancho Cordova’s goal is to continue to enhance our urban forest, protecting its health and diversity and ensuring it provides benefits for future generations.

Additional Resources

• Sacramento Tree Foundation - A community benefit organization working to build healthy, livable communities in the Sacramento region by growing the best urban forest in the nation.
• International Society of Arboriculture - Promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees through research, technology, and education. Resources include information on tree selection, proper tree care and pruning, and tree problems and treatments.
• California Urban Forests Council - A nonprofit coalition that hosts events and workshops to expand sustainable urban and community forests to improve the quality of life for all Californians.
• California ReLeaf – A nonprofit organization that works statewide to promote alliances among community-based groups, individuals, industry, and government agencies, encouraging each to contribute to the livability of our cities and the protection of our environment by planting and caring for trees. California ReLeaf also serves as the State’s volunteer coordinator for urban forestry in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
• National Arbor Day Foundation - Inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees through their conservation and education programs such as the Tree City USA program.
• University of California Integrated Pest Management - UC IPM is a part of the statewide UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR). Provides science based information on pests and diseases.