Toledo, Ohio
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Toledo
Emerald ash borer was first found in Ohio on February 28, 2003, at Whitehouse just outside Toledo, a year after it was identified in Detroit. Twenty years later, Ohio became the first state to ban the sale and planting of Callery pear. Both shape the tree work in Toledo yards today.
- County
- Lucas
- Tree rules
- City of Toledo Forestry for street trees; Ohio Department of Natural Resources invasive plant rules
- Key local rule
- Callery pear may not be sold or planted in Ohio since January 2023; existing trees need not be removed
- Electric utility
- Toledo Edison
- Main hazards
- Emerald ash borer aftermath, Lake Erie winds, ice, aging silver maples
Where Ohio's ash losses began
The early Ohio infestations were traced mostly to ash logs and nursery stock brought from Michigan. In 2004 the Ohio Department of Agriculture tried to eradicate the beetle by removing every ash within half a mile of known sites. Funding ran out, and eradication was abandoned in 2006.
The borer then spread across the whole state. Toledo neighborhoods and Metroparks lost most of their ash within a decade, leaving many stumps and replacement trees along streets that had been shaded by ash planted after Dutch elm disease.
Some ash in Toledo yards were saved by treatment, and survivors are still treated today. Untreated ash that died years ago are now brittle and should be removed if they are still standing.
The Oak Openings region west of the city, an unusual landscape of sandy ridges and oak savanna, kept much of its native oak cover, and Metroparks Toledo has worked to restore it. Oaks there and in older Toledo neighborhoods face oak wilt and drought on the sandy soils.
Removing a Callery pear for good
Cut the tree
In sections if it is near the house.
Treat the stump
Callery pear resprouts from stumps.
Grind if wanted
After treatment, for a clean lawn.
Watch for seedlings
Pull them for a few years.
State rules behind the ban
Ohio gave nurseries and landscapers five years' notice, starting in 2018, before the Callery pear ban took effect. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources lists it as an invasive plant that causes economic and environmental harm. South Carolina and Pennsylvania followed with bans of their own.
Trees in the street right-of-way in Toledo are city trees managed by the Division of Forestry. Contact the city before pruning or removing one.
Northwest Ohio warning signs
Standing dead ash
Killed years ago and now brittle.
Bradford pears with tight forks
Likely to split in the next storm.
Silver maples over houses
Weak wood near the Maumee and lakefront.
Callery pear seedlings in fence lines
Spreading from planted trees nearby.
What to plant instead
| Instead of | Consider |
|---|---|
| Callery pear | Serviceberry, redbud, American hornbeam |
| Ash | Swamp white oak, hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree |
| Silver maple | Red maple cultivars, tulip tree, black gum |
| Norway maple | Native maples or oaks |
Do I have to remove my Bradford pear?
No. Ohio's rule, effective January 2023, bans selling, growing and planting Callery pear, including Bradford and other cultivars, because it spreads into fields and woods. Existing trees in yards do not have to be removed. Many owners take them out anyway because they split easily in wind and ice.
- Selling and planting
- Prohibited since 2023.
- Existing trees
- May stay.
- Removal
- Common for safety; treat stumps to stop sprouting.
Toledo tree questions
Was emerald ash borer really first found near Toledo?
Ohio's first detection was February 28, 2003 at Whitehouse in Lucas County.
Can I still buy a Bradford pear across the state line?
Michigan has not banned it, but planting one in Ohio is prohibited.
Who handles street trees in Toledo?
The City of Toledo Division of Forestry.
Should I treat my remaining ash?
If it is healthy and valued, yes. The borer is still present.
What happens if I plant a Callery pear anyway?
Planting and selling Callery pear are prohibited in Ohio. Choose a native flowering tree instead.
Are there storm risks specific to Toledo?
Strong winds off Lake Erie, summer derechos and thunderstorms, and ice storms all bring down weak trees, especially silver maples and Bradford pears.
Reach a tree service in Toledo
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Toledo 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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Call now
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