Do you have a home or cabin in the Crestline or Birch Hill area? This poster at the PO tells a little of the grant that is planned to cover more neighborhoods in the future to help make Palomar more fire safe.
Only 30+ property owners have signed up so far and there is room for more with this grant. Do you have any dead or dying trees within 150 feet of your cabin or home? There could even be some on the neighbor’s land. Look around…
You might not realize you have the need for this service. This past year we have had quite a few fir trees that have been failing. Fir trees die from the top down. It can take a while or I’ve seen them go pretty quick lately. Take a look at the tops of your firs. One time I was invited to see new kitchen cabinets at a cabin. I parked out in front and noticed a fir tree with maybe 20 feet of dry branches and needles coming down from the top. I complimented them on the cabinets and asked “but what are you going to do about that fir tree? Those dry tops are pretty good at snapping off.” A couple weeks later it landed right down the center of the kitchen. So sad.
Cedars die from the bottom, up. We have had so little rain so you see thirsty trees all over the mountain. The lower branches die off from lack of water and/or lack of sun when they are so close together. Do you see black on the bark? I’ve been told that has something to do with a mite that moves in during time of drought. Eventually the branches just aren’t able to thrive.
Some oaks are suffering from the Gold Spotted Oak Boarer. So, you’re are invited to take a walk around your property and if you see anything that might need attention, click on this QR code and sign up. You’ll be contacted for an appointment to check out your property and make suggestions on the work.
There is no charge, no obligation and the grant provides several options for the clean up work.
See also: 30 EGGS for $4.00?
Palomar Mountain News 
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