Tree Removal in Wildwood, MO

Tree Removal in Wildwood comes with more rules than almost anywhere else in St. Louis County, and for good reason. The city incorporated on September 1, 1995, and covers about 66.7 square miles at the far western edge of the county, with only about 531 people per square mile. Much of that land is forest, from the edges of Babler State Park and Rockwoods Reservation to the wooded ridges behind subdivisions. Chapter 410 of the city code, Tree Preservation and Restoration Requirements, was written to protect it.

Grand trees

Wildwood's code defines a grand tree as a large hardwood of 24 inches or more in diameter at breast height, a large softwood of 12 inches or more, or a small tree species of 6 inches or more, in fair or better condition as rated by a professional arborist. A grand tree stand is a group of at least six trees of 12 inches or more covering at least 6,000 square feet of canopy. Under the code, grand trees, grand tree stands and specimen vegetation are not to be disturbed except where necessary for authorized construction or use, and then only with a Planning Department permit. Removed grand trees must be replaced, either one-to-one with a 3 to 6 inch caliper tree or with a group of trees whose combined caliper equals the tree removed, and replanting must happen within six months.

The 30 percent rule

When a project needs a grading permit or zoning authorization, at least 30 percent of the tree canopy outside the building setback areas has to be kept undisturbed. Land disturbance in the code means affecting 5,000 square feet or more within a year, or using equipment over 1,800 pounds. That last threshold matters for tree work: heavy equipment on a wooded lot can count. For a large healthy tree, or any clearing project, call the Wildwood Department of Planning before work is scheduled. A dead or failing tree threatening a house is a different situation, but it is still worth documenting its condition with photos and a written assessment.

Working on Wildwood terrain

Wildwood sits higher than most of the county, with an elevation around 764 feet at its center and steep drops toward creek valleys. Houses are often built on a ridge with the back yard falling away into woods. On those lots, trees lean downhill toward the valley and the house is uphill, which sounds safe until a dead tree's roots let go on the uphill side. We rope and lower pieces instead of felling near structures, and we keep equipment off saturated slopes.

What we usually remove here

• Dead ash and dying trees within reach of the house, driveway or deck
• Storm-damaged trees with snapped tops hung up in neighbors
• Trees undermined by erosion on a slope or creek bank
• Volunteer trees and honeysuckle crowding a home site, where the code allows it

Call (314) 668-1571 or send the form. We will walk the property, flag anything that may be a grand tree, and give you a written estimate. Get a free estimate