Land Clearing in Kansas City, MO

KC Parks and Recreation's Forestry section oversees trees in the right-of-way along streets and boulevards; pruning, removal or planting of these trees requires its authorization. Foresters can issue permits to residents for pruning, removal and planting at no cost. Removing a right-of-way tree without authorization can mean fines and required replacement.

Silver maple: large, brittle; ice breakage Pin oak: chlorosis in alkaline soil Ash: emerald ash borer

Freezing rain splits silver maples, pears and elms and brings limbs onto lines.

Severe thunderstorms snap and uproot leafed-out trees on rain-softened clay.

KC Parks Forestry manages street and boulevard trees; work on them needs authorization.

Many older lots have rear alleys or narrow side yards and overhead lines; newer suburban lots have more room but fences and sloped back yards.