Along US 301 between Belleview and the Villages

Tree Service in Summerfield, FL

Tree work for an old cattle-country community that is filling in with new homes.

We come out and look before we price, anywhere in Ocala and Marion County
Every task on the quote has its own line
Haul-off spelled out on the quote

From Long Hammock to Subdivisions

Tree Service in Summerfield has changed as the area has. This unincorporated community near US 301 and County Road 475A started as cattle land; its namesake, Col. Adam G. Summer, moved here in 1856 and ran a 1,400-acre property called Watula, or Long Hammock. Today the same area holds a mix of older rural homesteads, new subdivisions and the northern fringe of The Villages. Elite Tree Service Ocala works across all of it, with removals, pruning, stump grinding and storm cleanup.

What a hammock means for your trees

In Florida, a hammock is a stand of hardwoods, usually oaks with some hickory, magnolia and other broadleaf trees, growing on slightly richer or moister ground than the surrounding pine land. Properties carved from old hammock tend to have big hardwoods close together. When those trees are thinned for a house, the ones left behind suddenly carry more wind and sun than they grew up with. Expect a few years of adjustment, and keep an eye on any tree that loses leaves early or drops more deadwood than its neighbors.

Mixed property types

Around Summerfield we regularly see:

Older homes on an acre or more with mature live oaks and laurel oaks
New subdivisions with young trees that need their first structural pruning
Wooded parcels where a new owner wants room for a pole barn, garden or pool
Pine-dominated lots where dead or lightning-struck pines need to come down

Structural pruning on young trees

In the newer neighborhoods, most trees are young. That is the best time to shape them. Removing competing leaders so there is one main trunk, spacing out the main limbs and removing branches that grow at tight angles costs little when the tree is small and prevents expensive problems later. UF/IFAS hurricane research found properly pruned broad-leaved trees survived storms far more often than unpruned ones, 73 percent against 47 percent in the storms studied.

A name that moved

The community has moved and changed names more than once. It was called Whitesville from 1873, after storekeeper and postmaster Charles H. White, and sat on the north shore of Summers Lake. A railroad route change in 1880 bypassed it, a new station was built, and in 1888 the name changed to Summerfield. The post office has carried the Summerfield name since 1885.

Storm cleanup

Southern Marion County gets the same summer thunderstorms as the rest of the region, and the 2007 Groundhog Day tornado that hit The Villages and Lady Lake started not far to the south, near Wildwood. When a storm puts a tree on a roof, the priority is safety: get out of the affected rooms, stay clear of any downed lines, and call your insurer and us. We remove the tree in a controlled way so the roof is not damaged further when the weight comes off.

Contact

Call (352) 320-5752 or fill out the form. Tell us what kind of property you have, and we will plan the estimate visit accordingly. Get a free estimate

Summerfield Background

Named for a cattleman. Summerfield is named for Col. Adam G. Summer, who moved to Marion County in 1856 and ran a 1,400-acre property known as Watula or Long Hammock, where he raised Brahman cattle.
A crossroads location. The unincorporated community sits near the intersection of US 301 and County Road 475A, uses ZIP codes 34491 and 34492, and is part of the Ocala metro area.
Pruning improves storm survival. UF/IFAS research on Florida hurricanes found properly pruned broad-leaved trees survived at 73%, compared with 47% for unpruned trees.
Single-family lots are exempt. Unincorporated Summerfield follows Marion County's Land Development Code, which exempts tree removal on single-family parcels and the removal of listed invasive species from the county tree permit.

Our Services in Summerfield, FL

Summerfield Questions

When should a young tree get its first pruning?

Usually within the first few years after planting, once it is established. The goal is one strong central trunk and well-spaced limbs. Small cuts at that stage heal quickly and prevent weak forks later.

Do you work in the Summerfield-area Villages neighborhoods?

Yes. We work in Summerfield addresses inside and outside The Villages. Inside The Villages, check your deed restrictions and review process before removing a tree.

My new lot was cleared but a few big oaks were left. What should I watch for?

Thinning in the top of the crown, early leaf drop, new cracks in the bark and mushrooms at the base. Trees left after clearing often lose roots to grading and get more wind exposure. If you see those signs, an inspection is worth it.

Can you remove a lightning-struck pine near my house?

Yes. Lightning-struck pines often die within weeks or months, and they get brittle quickly. Removing them before they dry out completely is safer and usually easier.

Should I trim oaks back from my roof every year?

Not every year. For most oaks, a clearance pruning every three to five years keeps limbs off the roof without stressing the tree. Fast-growing laurel and water oaks may need it more often than live oaks.

Free Estimates in Summerfield, FL

Free estimates for homes and acreage around Summerfield.

Call (352) 320-5752 Free Estimate