Fort Wayne, Indiana
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne lost about 14,000 ash trees to emerald ash borer beginning in 2011, and the beetle has nearly eliminated ash in the city. To speed removal of dead street ash, the city ran a citizen-match program in which residents hired a bonded, insured contractor and the city paid a share based on trunk size.
- County
- Allen
- Tree rules
- Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Forestry manages right-of-way trees
- Key local rule
- Street trees in the right-of-way are city trees; private trees are the owner's responsibility
- Electric utility
- Indiana Michigan Power
- Main hazards
- Dead ash, summer storms, ice, silver maples near rivers
How Fort Wayne lost its ash
Ash had been a favored street tree in Fort Wayne for decades. When emerald ash borer took hold around 2011, the city's forestry staff faced dying trees on nearly every residential block at once. By 2013, more than 8,500 dead ash had been removed from residential rights-of-way, with about 5,000 still to go.
Removal contracts ran into the millions over several years. The parks board approved one contract alone for nearly 2,500 infested trees.
The city's later reports describe the beetle as having nearly wiped out ash in Fort Wayne. Replanting has focused on a wider mix of species so a single pest cannot do that again.
For homeowners, the lasting lesson is diversity. A yard or block planted with several different species is far less likely to lose all its shade to one insect or disease than one planted with a single favorite tree.
What was the citizen-match program?
A 2013 program that let residents hire a bonded, insured contractor to remove a dead ash in the right-of-way next to their property, with the city paying part of the bill on a sliding scale by trunk diameter. It sped up removals the city could not reach quickly. The city did not remove trees on private property under the program.
- Right-of-way ash
- City trees, removed by the city or through the match program.
- Private ash
- Owner's responsibility.
- Contractors
- Bonded and insured.
Who owns which Fort Wayne trees
Trees in the street right-of-way belong to the city and are managed by Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation's forestry division. Residents should contact the city before pruning or removing them. Trees on private property are the owner's responsibility.
The city has since run programs encouraging residents to plant trees, including on private land, to rebuild canopy lost to the borer.
Dealing with a dead ash now
Do not climb it
Dead ash breaks unpredictably.
Hire a crew with a lift
Bucket trucks or cranes are safer.
Grind the stump
And plant a new tree nearby.
Check for more
Neighbors' dead ash may also threaten your property.
Fort Wayne replacement trees
| Instead of | Commonly planted |
|---|---|
| Green ash | Swamp white oak, hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree |
| White ash | Tulip tree, black gum, elm cultivars |
| Silver maple | Red maple cultivars, lindens |
| Callery pear | Serviceberry, redbud |
Northeast Indiana warning signs
Standing dead ash in backyards
Killed years ago and now brittle.
Silver maples along the rivers
Weak wood near the St. Joseph, St. Marys and Maumee.
Bradford pears splitting
Common in subdivisions.
Ice damage on young street trees
From winter storms.
Fort Wayne tree questions
Is it too late to save an ash in Fort Wayne?
For most untreated ash, yes. A few treated survivors remain, and they need continued treatment.
Who removes the dead ash by the street?
Right-of-way ash are city trees. Contact Parks and Recreation forestry.
Why are dead ash so dangerous to remove?
Ash killed by the borer dries and becomes brittle quickly, so limbs can snap during rigging.
Can I get help planting a tree?
Fort Wayne has run community tree planting programs. Check with the city for current offerings.
What about ash wood for firewood?
Burn it locally. Moving firewood spreads pests to new areas.
Reach a tree service in Fort Wayne
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Fort Wayne area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
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