Homeowners

Tree Diseases and Infestations

Trees with diseases such as Dutch elm and oak wilt (whether on boulevards or private property) must be removed so they don't spread the disease to nearby healthy trees. Trees with infestations of insects such as Emerald ash borer must also be removed (which is not yet found in St. Louis Park). Downed trees with the following symptoms must also be removed:

Emerald Ash Borer Symptoms:

• This is an invasive insect that could potentially kill all ash trees (with the exception of mountain ash).
• Currently, this has not been found in St. Louis Park; only been found in the Midway area of St. Paul/Minneapolis, Shoreview and Houston County in southern Minnesota.

For current information and status, click here.

Dutch Elm Disease Symptoms:

• Wilting of one or more of the upper branches. The leaves on these branches turn dull green, then yellow/brown, wilt and eventually fall off.
• Brown staining of the wood immediately under the bark. (In healthy trees, the sapwood is milky white.)

For more information, click here.

Oak Wilt Symptoms:

• Leaf discoloration begins at the outer edge of the leaf and progresses inward. Leaves turn a dull green, bronze or tan and finally turn brown and shrivel.
• Oak wilt may be transmitted from tree to tree through root grafts (root transmission) so 2 or more oaks growing closely together may infect each other.

For more information, click here.

City forestry staff identifies and marks trees to be removed with orange paint. If the marked tree is on the boulevard or public right-of-way, the City of St. Louis Park pays half the cost and the adjacent property owner pays the other half of the tree removal and disposal charges. The City will arrange for a contractor to remove the tree. 

If the marked tree is on private property, the homeowner is responsible for 100 percent of the removal and disposal cost. The City will arrange for a contractor to remove the tree. (Contractors selected by the City have met licensing requirements and have submitted competitive bids for tree removal and disposal.) Property owners are free to reject the City contractor's bid and hire their own contractor to remove a tree from private property.

To schedule a free inspection of trees on your property, please call (952) 924-2565 or contact jzimmerman@stlouispark.org.

Oak and Elm Tree Injections:

If you have a healthy elm tree or an infected oak tree, you may wish to have your tree injected with a fungicide that prevents Dutch elm disease or halts oak wilt disease. The City of St. Louis Park will reimburse you for 15 % of the cost of a 3 year warranty injection.  For questions or concerns about tree removal or injections, please contact Jim Vaughan at (952) 924-2699 or jvaughan@stlouispark.org.