A resort town since the 1880s

Tree Service in White Bear Lake, MN

Mature trees around old lake homes, and ash scattered across the whole city.

Free on-site estimates across Saint Paul and nearby towns
Each tree listed with its own price in writing
You choose what stays: chips, logs or nothing

An Old Resort Town With Old Trees

Tree Service in White Bear Lake often happens around houses with a past. Rail service from Saint Paul arrived in 1868, Mark Twain wrote about the lake by 1874, and by 1881 a travel guide called it one of the most popular resorts in the northland. Hotels, pavilions and summer cottages followed, and some of the city's homes, like the 1879 Fillebrown House on Lake Avenue, date from that era. Old lake towns grow old trees: big oaks, elms and maples planted generations ago, now towering over porches, rooflines and narrow lake lots.

Ash is mostly a private problem here

Emerald ash borer was confirmed in White Bear Lake in late summer 2017. A 2010 DNR survey estimated more than 11,000 ash trees in the city's maintained areas, and perhaps 30% of them were on city property. That means most ash in White Bear Lake are on private land. The city inventoried more than 2,000 ash in boulevards and active parks in 2018, and it is now removing about 375 infected boulevard ash with a Minnesota DNR Shade Tree Bonding Grant in the area east of McKnight Road between County Roads E and F, with replanting of a diverse mix of species.

What owners are expected to do

Removing dead, diseased or dying trees on private property is the owner's responsibility, and the city recommends getting multiple bids. The city does not inspect private trees unless one becomes a public nuisance under section 706.040 of the municipal code. If a tree is declared a nuisance and not removed after notice, the city may remove it and assess the cost to the property. The city's guidance also says large, healthy, well-placed ash over 10 inches in diameter make good treatment candidates, and that over 10 to 20 years treatment can cost substantially less than removal and stump grinding. We are glad to give you a written bid for your comparison.

Lake lots and wind

White Bear Lake is one of the largest lakes in the metro, and wind coming across open water hits shoreline trees harder than trees a few blocks inland. On lake lots we pay close attention to trees leaning toward the house, limbs over docks and boathouses, and trees with decay at the base. Many lake homes sit on narrow parcels, so removals are often done in sections from a lift, with wood lowered and carried out to the street.

City and county

Most of White Bear Lake is in Ramsey County, with a small part in Washington County. Ramsey County's White Bear Township yard waste site accepts trees and branches from residents, though not stumps with roots, and tree care companies cannot use it. Our estimates spell out what we haul.

Ways we help

Removing dead and declining ash, including trees near the lake
Pruning large old oaks and maples over historic homes
Opening lake views with selective thinning
Grinding stumps
Cleaning up storm damage

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White Bear Lake Facts

Ash on private land. EAB was confirmed in late summer 2017; a 2010 DNR survey estimated more than 11,000 ash in maintained areas, with perhaps 30% on city property, so most ash are privately owned.
2026 boulevard removals. A Minnesota DNR Shade Tree Bonding Grant is funding removal of about 375 infected boulevard ash east of McKnight Road between County Roads E and F, with replanting of diverse species.
Private responsibility. Removing dead or diseased private trees is the owner's job; the city inspects private trees only under the public nuisance provisions of Municipal Code section 706.040 and can assess removal costs if notice is ignored.
Resort history. The village incorporated in 1881 and the city in 1921; rail service from Saint Paul began in 1868, and the 1879 Fillebrown House on Lake Avenue survives from the resort era.

Our Services in White Bear Lake, MN

White Bear Lake Questions

Will the city remove the dead ash in my backyard?

No. Private trees are the owner's responsibility. The city only steps in when a tree is declared a public nuisance and the owner does not act after notice, and then the cost is assessed to the property.

Is treatment really cheaper than removal?

Over 10 to 20 years, the city says it can be substantially cheaper for a healthy, well-placed ash. For a tree that is already declining, removal is usually the better choice.

Can you work on a narrow lake lot?

Yes. On narrow lots we usually take trees down in sections and carry the wood out to the street. We plan the route before the crew arrives.

Who do I call about a boulevard tree?

Public Works handles right-of-way and city trees, at 651-747-3650.

Free Estimates in White Bear Lake, MN

Free estimates around the lake and across White Bear Lake.

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