Tree removal in St. Louis

Can this St. Louis tree reasonably stay? That is the first question in a Help My Tree removal request. Start with a preservation evaluation, then separate private-tree work from city permission and decide what happens to the stump.

By Help My Tree team

Updated 2026-10-25

A removal recommendation should explain why keeping the tree is not the better choice.

What alternatives deserve consideration?

Tell us what led to the request: decline, damaged branches or a conflict with the space you need. ISA identifies pruning objectives such as reducing risk and providing clearance.[9] Our services include arborist checks, cabling assessment and root care. These are options to consider, not evidence that a damaged tree can remain. A recommendation should explain both the goal and its limits. Stay away from suspended branches while arranging an assessment.

Is the tree on city land?

St. Louis Forestry maintains street trees on public rights of way.[6] Examples include sidewalk cutouts and the strip between curb and sidewalk.[6] City-tree removal requires a Permit to Maintain, and Forestry inspects before deciding whether to approve it.[1] The permit page says removal may be approved for high risk or other reasons determined by the Commissioner of Forestry.[1] This is not a blanket removal permission for a tree outside your house. Confirm the boundary and the authority first.

What about a private ash tree?

The city’s ash guidance says removal of an ash on private property does not require its ash permit.[6] The same guidance says dead or hazardous private ash trees can receive a nuisance notice requiring removal.[6] This is a specific City of St. Louis statement about ash, not a substitute for checking another municipality’s rules. Ask for identification and assessment before assuming an unfamiliar tree is an ash. This page does not offer pesticide treatment.

What needs to be included in the scope?

Distinguish removal of the standing tree from stump grinding and the final condition of the ground. Discuss access, where wood will go and anything that must remain undisturbed. The city excludes stumps and logs from ordinary yard-waste materials.[14] Do not assume the regular yard-waste container solves disposal. Ask how the proposed cleanup matches the actual material and who handles each part. No city collection promise is included in a Help My Tree request.

What experience is behind the work?

The tree-care operation behind Help My Tree has a 25-year record that includes 170,000 trees removed. That history belongs alongside a clear explanation of your tree’s condition, not in place of one.

How can the space support another tree?

Iowa State recommends a new planting position instead of the exact removed-tree site because roots and grinding residue complicate establishment.[5] Our operation offers planting and establishment care. Our rule is to test before adding anything. Many trees need no fertilizer.[8] Mulch does more for less is our starting position, not a promise for every site. A five-year soil study found woodchip mulch the most cost-effective individual treatment.[12]

Questions about this work

Can I use the same rule in a St. Louis suburb?

Do not assume that. The municipal sources on this page describe the City of St. Louis. Confirm the jurisdiction and its requirements for the property.

Can I ask only for a second opinion on removal?

Yes. Explain that you want to understand whether keeping the tree is reasonable. We do not promise preservation or a particular assessment outcome.