Tree service in the heart of the valley
Sumner sits in the river valley in northern Pierce County, with Puyallup to the west, Auburn to the north and Bonney Lake up the hill to the east. The town grew up where the White River (once called the Stuck River) meets the Puyallup River, and it started out as a farming community — hops before 1900, and today it still calls itself the "Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World." Sumner is close to our home base in Orting, and with about 10,600 residents in the 2020 census, it still has a small-town feel.
That history shows in the trees. Around the historic downtown and the older neighborhoods within walking distance of the Sounder station, many homes have large, mature shade and ornamental trees that were planted generations ago. Toward the edges of town and on the hillsides rising toward Bonney Lake, you'll find tall Douglas firs and cedars close to homes, fences and driveways.
Recent job in Sumner
A large tree came down through a home's roof. Our crew rigged and cut it from inside the house while a crane lifted the sections out. These are real photos from that job.
Trees we see most often in Sumner
- Black cottonwood — common along the White and Puyallup rivers. Cottonwoods grow fast and big, but their wood is brittle and they are known for dropping large limbs.
- Red alder — a fast-growing hardwood that often declines and decays within a few decades, especially on wet ground.
- Bigleaf maple — heavy, moss-covered limbs that can fail over roofs and driveways in winter.
- Douglas fir and western red cedar — the big evergreens on the hillsides and valley edges. Many cedars are showing thin crowns or dead tops after recent dry summers.
- Older yard and street-side trees — mature ornamental and shade trees in the older neighborhoods that have outgrown their space.
Wet valley soil and winter storms
Valley-floor soil near the rivers can stay soaked through much of the rainy season, and saturated ground makes it easier for a tree to lean or tip when a windstorm comes through. If you notice a new lean, roots lifting on one side, cracks in the soil or a large dead limb hanging over the house, call us for a look before the next storm. If a tree is already down on your roof, car, fence or driveway, our 24/7 emergency tree service can help. Stay away from anything touching a power line and call the utility first.
Dry summers on the hillsides
Wildfire is a west-side concern now, too. In September 2020, the Sumner Grade Fire burned along the wooded ridge beside SR 410 between Sumner and Bonney Lake, driven by strong, dry winds. If your home backs up to brush or woods, thinning brush, removing ladder fuels and limbing up trees near the house can help. See our Firewise and defensible-space tree work and forestry mulching for overgrown brush and blackberries.
Tree services in Sumner
- Tree removal — whole-tree felling when there is room, and sectional removal with ropes and rigging on tight lots.
- Low impact removals that protect lawns, gardens and hardscape.
- Tree trimming and pruning for clearance from roofs, driveways and power drops.
- Wind sailing for tall evergreens you want to keep.
- Stump grinding so the ground is ready for lawn or landscaping.
- 24/7 emergency tree service and storm clean up.
What to expect
Every job starts with a consultation. We look at the tree, what is around it and how we can get equipment in, and we talk through options — sometimes pruning or wind sailing is a better answer than removal, and we will tell you so. You get a free, no-obligation quote. On the day of the job, our crew does the climbing, rigging, cutting and clean up. Let us know ahead of time if you would like to keep some of the wood for firewood.
Why Sumner homeowners call us
We are a family-owned, licensed and insured tree service based nearby in Orting. We give free quotes, answer the phone 24/7 for emergencies and clean up thoroughly. We also work in the neighboring communities — see our pages for Puyallup, Bonney Lake and Lake Tapps.
More of our tree work
More tree services
Tree removal · Tree trimming & pruning · Stump grinding · 24/7 emergency service