Heartland Tree Alliance FAQ

All you needed to know...

What tree should I plant in my yard?
What is a certified arborist, and how do I find one?
I have a sick tree. What should I do?
What is the Emerald Ash Borer?
How can I tell, and what do I do if my tree is infected with Emerald Ash Borer?
I have a tree on my property that needs to be removed. Who should I call?
There’s a tree that I think needs pruning or removal, but it’s not on my property. Who should I call?
Where can I get trees?
What are the benefits of trees?

What are those tree price tags I'm seeing around KC?

Links to other frequently asked questions
What tree should I plant in my yard?
Click here for lists of trees recommended for our area. Click here for the list of trees not recommended for yards.

What is an arborist, and how do I find one?
An arborist is a specialist in the care of individual trees. Arborists are knowledgeable about the needs of trees, and they are trained and equipped to provide proper care. Hiring an arborist is a decision that should not be taken lightly; tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work in trees in a manner that is safe both for them and for the trees.

Go to Tips for Hiring an Arborist for specifics about hiring one of these professionals. You can also visit the International Society of Arboriculture web site and click on “Find a Certified Arborist.”

I have a sick tree. What should I do?
Call a certified arborist; see the links above.

Master Gardeners are another great resource for technical tree issues.
In Kansas:
  • Leavenworth County Master Gardeners: 913-250-2300
  • Wyandotte County Master Gardeners: 913-299-9300 (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, April through October) or e-mail cpl9538@msn.com
  • Johnson County Master Gardeners: 913-715-7050 (Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, March through October) or e-mail garden.help@jocogov.org
In Missouri:
  • The University of Missouri Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City serve Cass, Clay, and Platte counties as well as surrounding areas. They offer two services:
    • Telephone hotline: 816- 833-TREE
      Speak with a master gardener Mon.-Fri., 9:00 -3:00 PM March 1 - October 31. If no one is answering, please leave a message and your call will be returned.
    • Walk-in Help is offered in four counties for clients with diseased plant samples at the County Extension Office.
      Cass County Question and Answer Desk: Wed. 9: 00 - Noon, May - September
      302 S. Main St., Harrisonville 816-380-8460
      Clay County Hotline: Tues. and Thurs. 9:00 - 3:00 PM, March - October
      1901 NE 48th St., Kansas City 816-407-3490
      Jackson County Hotline: Mon., Wed., Fri. 9:00 - 3:00 PM, March - October
      1501 NW Jefferson, Blue Springs 816-252-5051
      Platte County Question and Answer Desk: Wed. 1:00 - 4:00 PM, April - September
      11724 NW Plaza Circle, Kansas City 816-270-2141
  • Platte County Master Gardeners: 816-270-2141 or plattemg@yahoo.com
  • Clay County Master Gardeners: Available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, March 1 to September 30 at the Clay County Extension Center, 1901 NE 48th Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Also call 816-833-TREE (8733)
  • Ray County: Call 816-833-TREE (8733)
  • Jackson County: Call 816-833-TREE (8733)
  • Cass County Master Gardeners: Available Wednesdays from 8:00 AM to Noon, May through October at the Cass County Extension Center, 302 S. Main, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701
Before you call anyone about your tree, have a few details in hand: species and age of the tree, any recent disturbance to the roots or other part of the tree (such as a new driveway or other construction) and care history (watering, pruning, etc.). If it’s not possible to diagnose the problem over the phone, you might be asked to send or bring in a sample of the tree. Be sure to follow the instructions given about how best to remove and transport the sample.

What is the Emerald Ash Borer?
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Emerald ash borer is also established in Windsor, Ontario, was found in Ohio in 2003, northern Indiana in 2004, northern Illinois and Maryland in 2006, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2007, and Wisconsin, Missouri and Virginia in summer 2008. For more information go to www.emeraldashborer.info or http://www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/health/ashborer.

How can I tell, and what do I do if my tree is infected with Emerald Ash Borer?
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an insect native to China and eastern Asia, probably brought to North America in wood packing materials commonly used to ship consumer goods. Currently there is no known infestation of EAB in either Missouri or Kansas, and state agencies are monitoring for these pests in the individual states.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a very small (1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide) and very destructive invasive insect. There are look-alike insects of about the same size and color, including other borers and a few beetles, making identification of the insect itself challenging.

Additionally, the signs of EAB infestation are difficult to diagnose, because decline of the tree’s health usually happens gradually. Early symptoms could include dead branches near the top of the tree or leafy shoots growing out from the lower trunk, but these symptoms alone are not absolute evidence of an EAB infestation.

Before calling anyone, first:
  • Be sure the tree you’re concerned about is an ash tree. Visit Missouri Urban Trees or Distinguishing Ash from other Common Trees.
  • Look very carefully at the bore holes in the trunk. EAB holes are distinctively D-shaped, due to the body shape of the insect.
  • If there is bark missing from the trunk, look to see if there are curvy, S-shaped tunnels there, which are made by EAB larvae.
If after investigation you are still concerned that the tree might be infested with EAB, call one of the agencies listed below:

In Missouri contact either the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control, 573-751-5505 or the Missouri Department of Conservation, Kansas City Regional Office, 816-655-6250.

In Kansas contact a K-State County Extension Office: Leavenworth: 913-250-2300, Wyandotte: 913-299-9300, Johnson: 913-715-7000.

Additional information:
Go to this page of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s web site for more information.

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for plant protection and quarantine in the United States. The above link has a further link to EAB information. Also visit the USDA Northeastern Area’s EAB site, the Ohio State University site and the multi-state educational effort between Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, www.emeraldashborer.info, for more information.

I have a tree on my property that needs to be removed. Who should I call?
Always call a certified arborist! Being qualified to remove a tree – or prune a tree, for that matter – is not as simple as owning a chainsaw, a truck and a cell phone.

See Tips for Hiring an Arborist for a list of important questions and considerations.

There’s a tree that I think needs pruning or removal, but it’s not on my property. Who should I call?
It is important to try to determine who owns the property that the tree is on before making a call, and to respect rights of ownership. A good first place to start is to the city you live in.

While trees on city property belong to that city, it’s possible the maintenance of those trees might be the responsibility of the homeowner (this is sometimes the case with trees in the parkway, the grassy area between the curb and the sidewalk).

Other than the city’s property, could the tree you are concerned about be on another individual’s property, or that of a school, homeowner’s association or other organization? If you can determine the owner is other than a government entity, then consider contacting the owner and courteously suggesting that the tree might need attention. Direct them to this site for information. They might or might not see the same need for attention that you do, or may not be in an economic situation that allows them to provide the care that the tree needs.

As for the removal of any tree on city or county property, this may only be done by that city or county, or by an approved contractor. Never attempt this under any circumstances, but rather call your local forester or arborist (usually in the Parks and Recreation Department or Public Works Department) if you believe the condition of the tree might warrant removal. In Kansas City, Missouri, the number to call is the Action Center: 816-513-1313.

Never prune a tree on public property without the express permission of the city, county or other owner.

Where can I get trees?
There are many quality nurseries in the greater Kansas City region. Try asking friends and neighbors about who they would recommend and visit a few nurseries to check out the quality of the stock and the helpfulness and expertise of the staff before you decide to buy.

Groups often look for sources of free trees, especially around Arbor Day and other spring activities. Trees are valuable and take time and resources to grow – even seedlings. Because of this, there aren’t many places to get free trees, but try these resources:
Both of these organizations also have a variety of hardy, mostly native and low-cost trees available through their respective nurseries.


Links to other frequently asked questions
For answers to other questions, visit these sites:
www.treesaregood.com/faq/faq.aspx
www.fs.fed.us/faq/
www.arborday.org/generalinfo/faq.cfm
http://www.kansasforests.org/community/faq.shtml

 

 
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