Missoula, Montana
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Missoula
Much of central Missoula was planted with Norway maples between 1900 and 1930, one species on street after street. On July 24, 2024 a windstorm showed how old and how decayed many of them had become.
- County
- Missoula
- Tree rules
- City of Missoula Urban Forestry, Parks and Recreation
- Key local rule
- Boulevard trees are public. Pruning, removal and planting there require city authorization.
- Electric utility
- NorthWestern Energy and Missoula Electric Cooperative
- Main hazards
- Thunderstorm wind, early snow, wildfire at the forest edge
Twenty minutes in July 2024
The storm reached the valley in the evening with gusts above 80 mph at the airport and stronger ones on the hills. It tore through the University District, the Slant Streets, the Northside and Westside, and Rattlesnake, uprooting and snapping thousands of trees.
Streets were impassable, and parts of the city were without power for days. The cleanup of public trees alone ran for months, and the urban forestry program lost a substantial share of its mature boulevard canopy in one evening.
Inspections afterward found what arborists had warned about for years. Many of the big maples had root and trunk decay, girdling roots and old topping wounds. Trees of other species nearby often stood.
Checking a surviving Norway maple
Mushrooms at the base in late summer
Root decay. The most common hidden defect in the trees that fell.
A flat side or no flare where the trunk meets the ground
A girdling root is likely below.
Dead limbs in the top
The root system can no longer support the whole crown.
Large old pruning stubs
Decay columns run down from each one.
Soil cracked or lifted since the storm
The tree moved and should be assessed promptly.
Boulevard trees and private trees
Trees in the boulevard, the strip between curb and sidewalk, are public trees managed by the city's Urban Forestry program. Residents may not prune, remove or plant there without authorization, and the city sets standards for who may do the work.
Trees inside your lot are yours to manage, and no city permit is needed to remove one. Montana has no arborist license, so ask for insurance certificates and ISA certification.
On the edges of the valley, in the upper Rattlesnake, Pattee Canyon, Grant Creek and Miller Creek, houses sit among ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. County and fire district guidance there calls for thinning and limbing trees near structures.
Replacing the maple monoculture
| Tree | Performance in the 2024 storm | Role going forward |
|---|---|---|
| Norway maple | Poor. The majority of failures. | No longer planted on boulevards. It is also invasive in local river bottoms. |
| Green ash | Moderate | Limited use because of emerald ash borer risk |
| Bur oak, honeylocust, linden, hackberry | Good | Core of new plantings |
| Ponderosa pine | Good when open-grown | Suited to larger sites |
| Cottonwood | Mixed. Large limb loss. | River corridors only |
Missoula neighborhoods
- University District and Slant Streets
- The oldest boulevard plantings and the heaviest storm losses.
- Northside and Westside
- Smaller lots, alleys and overhead lines.
- Rattlesnake and the South Hills
- Conifers on slopes. Fire-wise thinning and windthrow.
- Along the Clark Fork and Bitterroot
- Black cottonwood on floodplain soils.
If a boulevard tree in front of your house is failing
Report it to Urban Forestry
Describe what you see: dead limbs, mushrooms, a new lean.
Do not prune or cut it yourself
It is a public tree.
Ask about replacement
The city has been replanting with a mix of species and may have a schedule for your street.
Deal with private trees separately
A tree in your yard is yours. See tree risk assessment if you are unsure about it.
Missoula tree service questions
Who owns the boulevard trees in Missoula?
They are public trees managed by the city's Urban Forestry program. Report problems to the city instead of hiring someone to work on them.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my Missoula yard?
No. Private trees are not regulated by a city permit.
Why did so many maples fall in the 2024 storm?
They were about a century old, planted as a single species, and many had root and trunk decay that was not visible. Extreme gusts did the rest.
Should I remove my Norway maple?
Not automatically. Have it inspected for root and trunk decay. A sound tree can stay. One with clear defects near a house or street is a candidate for removal.
Reach a tree service in Missoula
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Missoula area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day