About Christopher Hodge— ISA Certified Arborist, El Dorado County
I'm Christopher Hodge, an ISA-Certified Arborist and TRAQ-Qualified tree risk assessor based in Placerville, California. I grew up in El Dorado County — 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 non-profits 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 Certified Arborist
TRAQ — ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
TCIA - Tree Care Specialist
TCIA- Plant Healthcare Technician
Qualified Applicator License- Landscape pest specialist
Continuing Education Units (CEU) Transcript
ISA requires certified arborists to earn continuing education units every three years to maintain certification. Below is a record of my completed CEU coursework, demonstrating my commitment to staying current in arboricultural science, tree risk assessment, and related fields.
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) 391-1309 or visit the Contact page to get started.