I'm Christopher Hodge, an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and TRAQ Qualified tree risk assessor based in Placerville, California. I grew up in El Dorado County, California, hiking its oak woodlands, exploring its mixed conifer forests, and learning to identify the fungi that live in and around its trees. That childhood curiosity turned into a career, and I've spent years deepening my knowledge of tree biology, wood decay, and arboricultural science.
Tree Nerd. Mushroom Obsessive.
Trees and fungi are inseparable, and I've spent a lot of time studying that relationship. I have a deep interest in wood decay fungi, mycorrhizal networks, and the role that fungal communities play in forest and oak woodland health. I identify mushrooms in the field, study specimens under a microscope, and stay current on mycological and arboricultural research. I have volunteered leading mushroom forays for nonprofits for over a decade, helping document the great biodiversity of fungi in our forests.
I'm particularly fascinated by the Sierra Nevada foothills that define El Dorado County: the Blue Oaks, Valley Oaks, Interior and Canyon Live Oaks, and Black Oaks that shape the landscape I grew up in. Understanding how these trees grow, age, fail, and support entire ecosystems is what drives my work every day.
Credentials & Training
- ISA Board Certified Master Arborist WE-14385B
- TRAQ, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
- TCIA Tree Care Specialist
- TCIA Plant Health Care Technician
- Qualified Applicator License, Landscape pest specialist
- OSHA 30 Safety Training
Work With Me
Whether you need a formal tree risk assessment, a consulting arborist report, or an oak resource management plan, I bring deep local knowledge and scientific rigor to every project. Call or text (530) 391-6100 or visit the Contact page to get started.
