A city that publishes its own oak wilt calendar

Tree Service in Mendota Heights, MN

Careful timing for oaks, clear choices for ash and help planning what to plant next.

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Each tree listed with its own price in writing
You choose what stays: chips, logs or nothing

Wooded Lots Where Timing Is Everything

When people ask for Tree Service in Mendota Heights, the first thing we check is the calendar. Mendota Heights is a first-ring southern suburb of about 11,700 people on roughly ten square miles, and many of its larger, wooded lots are full of oaks. The city's diseased tree guidance splits the year into zones for oak work: a high-risk period from April 1 through July 15 when live oaks should not be cut, a lower-risk period from July 16 through November 1 for hazardous oaks only, and a safer winter window. If an oak has to be cut outside winter, the guidance says to paint the wound or the stump's outer sapwood right away.

Why oak wilt matters so much here

Oak wilt kills red oaks fast, often in a single summer, and it spreads underground through grafted roots between neighboring oaks. On a lot with a stand of oaks, one infected tree can take several more with it. The city notes that diagnosis usually takes a lab test, that a root barrier trenched five feet or deeper can stop underground spread, and that fungicide injections from an arborist are an option for high-value trees. It also asks residents not to move oak logs or firewood from oak wilt areas, and to cover cut wood with 4 to 6 mil clear plastic sealed at the ground during the riskier months.

Ash on boulevards and in backyards

Emerald ash borer was first found in Mendota Heights in 2015. The city's 2017 ash policy counted more than 600 ash in street right-of-way and about 70 in parks. Under that policy the city removes declining boulevard ash and does not replace them, though adjacent owners can plant on their side of the line. On private property the city does not inspect, treat or remove trees, so the decision is yours. The city also advises avoiding ash removal and pruning between May 1 and September 30 when possible, and Dakota County is an EAB quarantine area, so ash wood has to stay inside it or be chipped to less than an inch.

Replanting with help

The Mendota Heights Tree Canopy Program offers subsidized, fully planted 10-gallon trees to property owners, with a city site consultation and utility locates included. The species list includes bur oak, black tupelo, eastern white pine, ironwood, northern redbud, serviceberry and skyline honeylocust. Registration for fall 2026 has closed, so watch for the spring sign-up. If we remove a tree for you, we will grind the stump deep enough that a replacement can go in nearby.

What we offer

Dormant-season oak pruning, and emergency oak cuts sealed on the spot
Removal of oaks confirmed with oak wilt, handled so the wood does not spread it
Ash removal, or a frank opinion on whether a tree is worth treating
Stump grinding before replanting
Storm cleanup on wooded lots

Call (651) 374-8562 to book a walk-through.

Mendota Heights Tree Rules and Programs

Oak wilt calendar. The city's guidance says to avoid cutting live oaks April 1 through July 15, to cut hazardous oaks only July 16 through November 1, and to paint wounds immediately if cutting outside the November-to-April safe zone.
Ash on public land. EAB was first found in the city in 2015; the 2017 ash policy counted more than 600 right-of-way ash and about 70 in parks, and declining boulevard ash are removed without city replacement.
Private trees. Under the ash policy the city does not inspect, treat or remove trees on private property, but shares EAB information and contacts on request.
Tree Canopy Program. A subsidized program offers a planted 10-gallon tree for $185 at a 50% subsidy, with species such as bur oak, black tupelo, eastern white pine and northern redbud; fall 2026 registration is closed.

Our Services in Mendota Heights, MN

Mendota Heights Questions

A big limb broke off my oak in June. Can it wait until winter?

Not if it is hanging or the wound is large. Hazard cuts can be made any time, and fresh wounds should be painted right away to keep beetles off. The rest of the pruning can wait for the dormant season.

How do I know if my oak has oak wilt?

Red oaks with oak wilt often drop leaves suddenly in midsummer, with leaves browning from the tip and edges. The city notes that a lab test usually confirms it. If you suspect it, have it checked before any cutting.

Will the city replace the boulevard ash it removes in front of my house?

Under its ash policy, no. Adjacent owners can plant on their private side of the right-of-way line, and the Tree Canopy Program can help with the cost when it is open.

Can ash wood leave the city?

It can move within the Dakota County quarantine area to an approved disposal site, or leave if chipped to less than an inch in every dimension.

Free Estimates in Mendota Heights, MN

Free estimates on Mendota Heights oaks, ash and more.

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