Tree & Shrub Planting and Care in Sacramento, CA

Quick answer

Healthy trees and shrubs in Sacramento start with the right plant for the spot, a wide planting hole with the root flare at grade, mulch kept off the trunk, and deep watering through the first few summers. Fall is generally the best planting time. Many cities in the region, including Sacramento, require permits for work on certain protected trees.

Last updated October 22, 2026

Trees do a lot of work in Sacramento. Shade cools homes and yards through long, hot summers, and the region's mature canopy, especially in older city neighborhoods, is part of its character. Trees and shrubs here face dry summers, compacted or hardpan soils, and sometimes reduced watering when a lawn is removed. Good planting and care help them through all of it.

Planting basics

Pick the right tree for the spot. Consider mature height and spread, overhead lines, the house, and sidewalks. Regional plant lists linked from Be Water Smart sort trees by water use.
Dig wide, not deep. Set the root flare at or slightly above grade. In clay or hardpan, test drainage first and break through a hard layer, or choose another spot.
Loosen circling roots on container plants.
Mulch a few inches deep in a wide ring, kept off the trunk.
Water through establishment. New trees need regular deep watering for their first few summers.

Fall is generally the best time to plant in Sacramento, so roots can grow during the cool, rainy months before summer heat.

Don't let a lawn conversion kill your trees

Many established trees were watered by lawn sprinklers for decades. When the lawn goes, the tree loses its water. Before converting a lawn, plan drip or a soaker ring for each tree. The Sacramento Tree Foundation and the regional Be Water Smart program have published tips for deep watering trees in dry weather.

Pruning

Prune most deciduous trees while dormant in winter, and remove dead or crossing branches any time.
Avoid topping. It weakens trees and creates more work later.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs soon after they bloom.
Keep work near power lines to qualified line-clearance crews; contact your electric utility.

Tree permits

Several cities in the region regulate tree work on private property. In the City of Sacramento, a permit is required for regulated work on city trees, including street trees in the park strip, and on private protected trees. Private protected trees include native trees such as valley, interior, blue and coast live oaks, California sycamore and buckeye at 12 inches in diameter, and any tree at 32 inches in diameter on a single-family or duplex lot. Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove, Davis and other cities have their own tree and oak rules, so check with your city before removing or heavily pruning a large tree.

Licensing

CSLB lists tree removal, pruning above 15 feet and stump removal among projects that need a licensed contractor when the job is $1,000 or more. A C-27 Landscaping contractor or a tree service licensee can do it. Ask for a certificate of insurance before anyone climbs.

Invasive plants to avoid

The California Invasive Plant Council rates tree-of-heaven as a moderate invader and Himalayan blackberry and English ivy as high-impact invaders. Removing them and replacing them with better-behaved plants is a common shrub project.

Questions to ask

Does this tree need a city permit to prune or remove?
How will you water new trees through their first summers?
Is there an ISA-certified arborist on staff?

Planning a lawn conversion around trees? Read our lawn replacement guide, or request a tree and shrub company.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Sacramento?

In the City of Sacramento, a permit is required for regulated work on city trees, including park-strip street trees, and on private protected trees, which include native oaks, sycamores and buckeyes at 12 inches in diameter and any tree at 32 inches on a single-family or duplex lot. Other cities have their own rules.

How do I keep trees alive after removing my lawn?

Give each established tree its own water source, such as drip emitters or a soaker ring spread out toward the drip line, and water deeply and less often during dry months. Don't rely on drip emitters right at the trunk.

When should I prune trees in Sacramento?

Most deciduous trees are pruned while dormant in winter. Dead or broken branches can be removed any time. Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned soon after bloom.

Sources and further reading

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