Montana
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Montana
Montana's towns are shaded by trees planted a century ago, often one species to a street. When a windstorm or a September snow arrives, those even-aged maples, ash and cottonwoods fail together. Outside town, the questions turn to beetles and wildfire.
Missoula, July 2024
On the evening of July 24, 2024 a thunderstorm complex hit the Missoula valley with gusts measured above 80 mph at the airport and over 100 mph on nearby ridges. In about twenty minutes it uprooted or snapped thousands of trees. Entire blocks of the university district lost the Norway maples that had lined them since the early 1900s.
The storm showed what happens to an aging single-species canopy. Many of the fallen maples had decayed roots and trunks that were invisible from the sidewalk.
Snow does similar work east of the Divide. On September 28 and 29, 2019 a record early storm dropped one to four feet along the Rocky Mountain Front and around Great Falls while trees were green, and limbs broke across the region.
Montana town trees and what to expect from them
- Norway maple
- The classic boulevard tree in western Montana. Many are past 100 years and hollow or root-decayed.
- Green ash
- A third or more of public trees in some eastern cities. Healthy for now, but the main reason the state is preparing for emerald ash borer.
- Cottonwood
- Native along every river. Old trees shed heavy limbs and are costly to remove.
- Siberian elm and boxelder
- Volunteer trees along alleys and fences. Brittle.
- Colorado blue spruce
- Shallow roots. Commonly tipped whole by wind.
- Ponderosa pine
- Wind-firm when open-grown. Watch for beetle attack after drought.
Insects that matter in Montana
| Insect | Status | What owners should do |
|---|---|---|
| Emerald ash borer | Not detected in the state as of the 2025 state readiness plan | Do not bring in firewood from other states. Know which of your trees are ash. |
| Mountain pine beetle | Epidemic in the 2000s, now at lower levels | Remove standing dead pine near buildings and roads |
| Douglas-fir beetle | Rises after fires and blowdown | Clear windthrown fir promptly |
| Western spruce budworm | Chronic in Douglas-fir forest | Thin dense stands. Yard trees can be sprayed. |
Boulevard trees and city permits
Montana has no state arborist license or removal permit. The rules that affect homeowners are city ordinances on boulevard trees, the ones in the strip between sidewalk and street.
In Missoula, Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls and Helena the boulevard is public right-of-way. Pruning, removing or planting there requires permission from the city forester, and several cities require that the work be done by an arborist the city has licensed or approved. Who pays varies: some cities maintain boulevard trees, others leave the cost with the adjoining owner.
Trees inside your lot are yours to manage. In the wildland-urban interface, county subdivision rules and fire district recommendations may call for thinning around structures.
Is that old boulevard maple sound?
Mushrooms or conks at the base or on roots
Root and butt decay, the cause of many failures in 2024.
A sidewalk that was cut and replaced beside the trunk
Major roots were probably severed.
Dead limbs concentrated on one side
Often the side where roots were lost.
A hollow sound when the trunk is tapped
Not proof on its own, but a reason for a proper inspection.
When is the best time for tree work in Montana?
Late fall through early spring for planned pruning and removals. The season is long, the ground is frozen, and deciduous trees are bare, which makes large maples and cottonwoods quicker to take apart.
- Summer
- Storm response and fire-wise thinning. Fire restrictions can limit chainsaw hours in the driest weeks.
- Early fall
- Remove cracked and dead limbs before the first wet snow.
- Chinook thaws
- Rapid midwinter warm-ups followed by hard freezes injure bark. Damage shows up in spring.
Guides for the northern Rockies and Plains
Montana tree service questions
Can I remove the boulevard tree in front of my Montana house?
Not without the city's permission. Contact the city forester or urban forestry office. They will inspect the tree and tell you who may do the work.
Is emerald ash borer in Montana?
It had not been detected as of the state's 2025 readiness plan. It is in North Dakota and other nearby states, so officials ask residents not to move firewood and to report suspect ash.
Do Montana tree services need a license?
There is no state license. Some cities license or approve arborists for work on public trees. For private work, verify insurance and ask about ISA certification.
Why did healthy-looking trees fall in the Missoula storm?
Many had root or trunk decay that was not visible, and the wind exceeded what even sound trees of that size normally withstand. Age and a single-species canopy made the losses widespread.
Tree service in Montana, by phone
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