Ohio
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Ohio
Ohio lost nearly all of its ash to a beetle first found near Toledo in 2003, and beech may be next. Add two of the largest wind outages in the Midwest, and tree removal here is as much about dead and damaged trees as planned work.
Ike's wind, the derecho and recent tornadoes
On September 14, 2008 the remnants of Hurricane Ike swept across Ohio with gusts of 60 to 75 mph and almost no rain. About two million customers lost power, and cities from Cincinnati to Columbus spent weeks chipping fallen limbs.
The derecho of June 29, 2012 hit harder in a narrower band, with gusts above 80 mph from Lima through Columbus to the southeast hills, and another million outages during a heat wave.
Tornadoes have become a regular part of the picture. The Memorial Day 2019 outbreak tore through Dayton's northern suburbs, and on August 6, 2024 storms with several tornadoes crossed Greater Cleveland and left hundreds of thousands without electricity.
The pests reshaping Ohio's trees
- Emerald ash borer
- Statewide for years. Any ash still standing untreated is dead or dying, and dead ash is dangerous to climb.
- Beech leaf disease
- First noticed in Lake County in 2012 and now across the northeast and beyond. Dark bands between leaf veins, then thin crowns and death.
- Asian longhorned beetle
- Found in Clermont County in 2011. A quarantine around the infested area restricts moving hardwood.
- Spotted lanternfly
- Established in a growing list of counties, with a state quarantine on regulated articles.
- Oak wilt
- Scattered statewide. Avoid pruning oaks from April through mid-July.
Tree lawns, quarantines and local rules
Ohio does not license arborists or require a state permit to remove a tree on private property. The usual legal question is whether the tree is in the tree lawn, the strip between sidewalk and street. In Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and most other cities, that tree is public and work on it needs the city forester's approval.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture enforces plant pest quarantines. Inside the Asian longhorned beetle quarantine in Clermont County, firewood, logs and brush from host trees may not be moved out. The spotted lanternfly quarantine requires businesses moving regulated items from affected counties to inspect them.
A few suburbs regulate removal of large private trees, mostly in connection with construction. Check with the city or township zoning office if you plan to clear more than a tree or two.
Ohio trees that should not wait for the next storm
Ash with bark blonded by woodpeckers
The pale patches show heavy larval feeding. Structural strength is already dropping.
Beech with bare upper branches
Advanced beech leaf disease. Large beech fail by snapping.
Silver maple with a cavity at a main fork
A common failure point in summer wind.
Any tree whose base moved in the last storm
Look for a gap between soil and trunk, or lifted turf.
Ohio tree work by region
| Region | Common trees | Typical job |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Erie shore and snowbelt | Maple, beech, oak, tulip tree | Wind and wet snow damage. Dead beech. |
| Central Ohio | Silver maple, pin oak, honeylocust | Storm cleanup on flat clay lots. Tree lawn questions. |
| Southwest | Hackberry, ash, bush honeysuckle understory | Hillside removals and beetle quarantine wood handling |
| Southeast hills | Oak, hickory, tulip poplar | Trees above houses on slopes, long rural driveways |
Why two Ohio quotes for the same tree differ
- How the tree will be reached
- A bucket truck from the street is quicker than climbing. A crane is quicker still for big dead trees, at a higher day rate.
- What happens to the wood
- Hauling logs costs more than leaving them cut to length.
- Whether the stump is included
- Grinding is usually a separate line. See stump grinding cost.
- Insurance
- A company carrying workers' compensation and liability cover has higher overhead than one that does not. The cheaper bid may be the uninsured one.
Ohio tree service questions
Who is responsible for the tree lawn tree in Ohio?
In most cities the municipality owns or controls it, though rules on who pays for care differ. Contact the city's urban forestry or service department before pruning or removing it.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Ohio?
Not from the state. Private yard trees are unregulated in most communities. Street trees need city approval, and a few suburbs regulate large private trees.
Can beech leaf disease be treated?
Research on treatments is ongoing, and some show promise on individual landscape trees. There is no reliable cure for forest trees. Remove beech that have lost most of their crown where they could hit a target.
Are there still ash trees worth saving in Ohio?
Yes, those that have been treated regularly, and some young trees. An ash that still has a full crown can be protected with injections every two to three years.
Tree service in Ohio, by phone
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