Landscaper Clears Downed Trees on Christmas Eve

Slade Landscaping steps in to help Thousand Oaks residents after city public works is nowhere to be found.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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On Christmas Eve, a Thousand Oaks resident awoke to find two large trees blocking access to their neighborhood. The city's public works department was nowhere to be found, but Slade Landscaping, a local landscaping company, responded promptly and worked to clear the trees, restoring access to the affected homes before the city arrived a week later to remove the debris.

Why it matters

This story highlights the importance of community members and local businesses stepping up to help their neighbors, especially when government services fall short. It also underscores the challenges that can arise from extreme weather events and the need for effective emergency response plans.

The details

One ash tree was completely uprooted and blocking access to Rosebay, while a mountain ash had split in two and was blocking the greenbelt. Despite the city's public works department being absent, Slade Landscaping, a local landscaping company that works with a nearby housing development, responded to the call and first cleared the tree blocking Rosebay before moving on to the greenbelt obstruction.

  • On Christmas Eve, the resident awoke to find the downed trees.
  • Slade Landscaping responded promptly to the call for help.
  • The city's public works department arrived about a week later to remove the debris.

The players

Slade Landscaping

A local landscaping company that stepped in to clear the downed trees on Christmas Eve when the city's public works department was nowhere to be found.

Thousand Oaks Public Works Department

The city department responsible for responding to and clearing downed trees, but was absent on Christmas Eve when the incident occurred.

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What they’re saying

“Their above-and-beyond efforts on Christmas Eve are greatly appreciated.”

— Mike McGillivary, Thousand Oaks resident (toacorn.com)

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of community members and local businesses stepping up to help their neighbors when government services fall short, especially during emergencies or extreme weather events. It underscores the need for effective emergency response plans and the value of having engaged, responsive local organizations.