Redmond Summit Tree Service works across Education Hill, the large residential hill north of downtown Redmond between the Sammamish Valley and Bear Creek. It’s one of the most wooded parts of the city: established neighbourhoods built from the 1960s onward, with mature Douglas firs, cedars and bigleaf maples towering over homes, schools and quiet cul-de-sacs.
Tree Work We See Most on Education Hill
- Large fir removal near houses. Firs that were saplings when the house was built and now stand 100+ feet tall, 10–20 feet from the foundation. Most need climbing and rigging, and some need a crane.
- Storm damage. The hill’s exposure to southwest winds means broken tops, hanging limbs and uprooted firs after big storms. See emergency tree removal.
- View pruning. Homes on the western and southern slopes look over the Sammamish Valley toward the Cascades and Bellevue. View pruning opens sight lines without topping.
- Roof and gutter clearance. Constant needle drop and moss from overhanging conifers.
- Root rot checks. Clusters of declining Douglas firs can point to laminated root rot spreading between neighbouring trees.
Terrain and Trees
Education Hill rises steeply from the Sammamish Valley floor, so many lots are sloped, with retaining walls, steep driveways and tight backyard access. That changes how trees come down: on a slope, a fir can’t simply be felled downhill toward the neighbour’s house, and equipment access is often limited to a narrow side yard. Most removals here are sectional takedowns with rigging.
Common trees: Douglas fir (dominant), western red cedar, bigleaf maple, western hemlock, plus ornamental maples, birches and laurel hedges along property lines.
Rules to Know
Education Hill is inside Redmond city limits, so:
- A Tree Removal Permit is needed for any significant tree (6” or more in diameter at 4.5 ft), with one native replacement tree each.
- Yearly limits depend on lot size (2 trees up to 10,000 sq ft, 4 up to 20,000, 6 up to 30,000, 8 above).
- Steep slopes and stream corridors can be critical areas, where trees can only be removed if hazardous.
- Some subdivisions have protected trees from the original plat approval. Check your plat before planning a removal.
Full details in the Redmond tree permit guide.
Popular Services Nearby
Questions We Hear
Why do so many big firs fall on Education Hill in windstorms?
The hill is exposed to the south and southwest winds that bring most Puget Sound storms, many lots kept tall Douglas firs when the neighbourhoods were built, and winter rain saturates the soil around their shallow roots. Firs that were sheltered inside a forest and are now standing alone between houses take the full wind.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Education Hill lot?
Yes, for any tree 6 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet. Education Hill is inside Redmond city limits, so the city's Tree Removal Permit, yearly limits by lot size and replacement rules apply. Trees on slopes or near streams may be in a critical area with stricter rules.