Midwest region
Tree removal and tree care in Missouri
Missouri trees are hit from both directions: ice storms in winter and severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds and tornadoes in spring and summer. Emerald ash borer is now established across the state, and pin oaks in alkaline urban soils often decline. Removing a tree on a private lot generally doesn't need a permit, but St. Louis and Kansas City both require one for any work on a city street tree.
City guides in Missouri
Missouri's two big metros sit at opposite ends of the state but share a canopy history: lots of pin oak, silver maple, sweetgum, ash and Callery pear planted in the twentieth century. Many of those trees are now large, aging, and in tight spots between houses, alleys and overhead lines.
Ice is the storm homeowners remember. Freezing rain can add a heavy load to every twig, and brittle species like silver maple, Callery pear and Siberian elm come apart under it. Spring brings the opposite problem: high wind on leafed-out trees, often after heavy rain has softened the soil.
Reviewed and updated
Ice, wind, ash borer and pin oaks in Missouri
Ice storms
Freezing rain breaks brittle trees and brings limbs onto lines across whole metro areas.
Tornadoes and straight-line winds
Spring and early-summer storms snap and uproot trees, often on saturated ground.
Emerald ash borer
Established across Missouri; untreated ash die within a few years.
Pin oak chlorosis and decline
Pin oaks in alkaline soil turn yellow, decline and drop limbs.
Summer drought
Heat and drought stress trees, especially in clay soils.
Kansas City, St. Louis and the Ozarks
Missouri's two metros share ice storms, spring wind, emerald ash borer and declining pin oaks, but their rules differ: St. Louis requires a Permit to Maintain for city trees, while Kansas City's Forestry section authorizes right-of-way work.
In the Ozarks, the trees are mostly native oaks and hickories on thin, rocky soil. Oak decline, where stressed older oaks die back over several years, is a recurring problem there, and access on steep, rocky lots shapes most jobs.
Missouri's pin oaks, maples and ash
- Pin oak
- Very common; iron chlorosis and decline in alkaline soils
- Silver maple
- Brittle; ice and wind breakage
- Ash
- Emerald ash borer
- Sweetgum
- Large street and yard tree; surface roots
- Callery pear and Siberian elm
- Weak-wooded; frequent ice failures
Missouri city guides
St. Louis and Kansas City sit at opposite ends of the state but share ice storms, derechos and emerald ash borer. The Ozarks to the south add rocky, steep lots and oak decline in drought years.
The Permit to Maintain, pin oak decline and alley access.
Boulevard trees, ice storms and tough native oaks.
Street tree permits in St. Louis and Kansas City
- Missouri's tree rules are municipal: St. Louis and Kansas City control city and right-of-way trees, and private-yard trees are generally the owner's.
- St. Louis: anyone who prunes, sprays or removes a city tree needs a Permit to Maintain from the Division of Forestry, issued only to tree services with an ISA Certified Arborist on staff.
- Kansas City: the Parks and Recreation Forestry section oversees trees in street rights-of-way, and work on them requires its authorization.
Sources (checked 2026-10-01)
Rules change and details depend on your exact property. Confirm with the city or county before work starts. This isn't legal advice.
Missouri's ice and storm seasons
Missouri swings between ice in winter and severe thunderstorms and derechos in late spring and summer. Late winter is the best time to prune weak limbs before either season.
- Winter
- Ice storm risk; good time for dormant pruning and removals
- Spring
- Tornado and severe-thunderstorm season
- Summer
- Heat and drought stress; straight-line winds
Missouri services by risk
Ice storm and spring wind cleanup.
Pin oak and storm-damaged tree decisions.
Ash killed by emerald ash borer.
Declining pin oaks and split pears.
Missouri tree questions
Why is my pin oak turning yellow in Missouri?
Most likely iron chlorosis. Pin oaks need acidic soil, and many Missouri urban soils are alkaline, so the tree can't take up iron. Treatment can help mildly affected trees; badly declined pin oaks often drop dead limbs and are better replaced.
Should I remove trees before ice storm season?
Not healthy trees. But dead limbs, cracked forks and badly split Callery pears or silver maples are exactly what ice brings down. Fixing or removing those in fall reduces winter damage.
Do I need a permit for a street tree in St. Louis or Kansas City?
Yes. Both cities manage trees in the public right-of-way. St. Louis requires a Permit to Maintain for any pruning or removal, and Kansas City requires Forestry authorization.
Need tree help in Missouri?
Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.