Forestry

Mounds View's forestry services are provided for public lands only through a tree inspector.  However, residents should contact the City to report suspected diseased trees in your neighborhood, both on public or private property.  In addition, suspected hazardous trees in City right-of-way or park lands should also be reported.  The condition of the reported tree will be evaluated and any remedial action pursued.

The City is responsible to maintain trees on public property (right-of-way, parks, grounds) and abatement orders for diseased trees (dutch elm, oak wilt) on private property.  Residents should contact a certified arborist or forester for their private property tree concerns or issues other than suspected diseased elm, oak or ash trees.

The City of Mounds View contains thousands of diverse trees, including mature stands of red and white oaks, hardwood maples, elms, ash, and flowering crabapple to name a few. The Forestry Ddivision is responsible to manage this tree stock to ensure a healthy, attractive, and safe urban forest now and for future generations. The activities of the Forestry Division are coordinated through the Public Works Department.

EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) DISCOVERED IN MOUNDS VIEW

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) discovered in the City of Mounds View. The City encourages residents to look for signs of EAB. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) confirmed an emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation in the City of Mounds View. A Mounds View resident reported an ash tree with woodpecker damage in the tree canopy, a tell-tale sign of possible EAB infestation, to the MDA for confirmation. This is the perfect time to look for woodpecker damage and other signs of emerald ash borer because the trees are still bare. There are several things residents should look for when checking for EAB. 

Woodpecker holes and outer bark removal are the most common visual symptoms to detect EAB, both of which are evident on the infested ash tree found in Mounds View. When the bark was pulled back, the S-shaped galleries and larvae were found in the tree, confirming the presence of the insect.

1. Be sure you’ve identified an ash tree. This is an important first step since EAB only feeds on ash trees. Ash have opposite branching – meaning branches come off the trunk directly across from each other. On older trees, the bark is in a tight, diamond-shaped pattern. Younger trees have a relatively smooth bark. 

2. Look for woodpecker damage. Woodpeckers like EAB larvae and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of EAB. 

3. Check for bark cracks. EAB larvae tunneling under the bark can cause the bark to split open, revealing the larval (S-shaped) tunnels underneath. 

4. Contact a professional. If you feel your ash tree may be infested with EAB, contact a licensed tree care professional, the City Forestry voicemail hotline, 763-717-4065 or email publicworks@moundsviewmn.org, or the MDA at arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us or 888-545-6684 (voicemail). 

   Emerald ash borer larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Ash trees are often killed in about four years, although it can take as little as two years.  Minnesota is highly susceptible to the destruction caused by this invasive insect. The state has approximately one billion ash trees, the most of any state in the nation.

   The biggest risk of spreading EAB comes from people unknowingly moving firewood or other ash products harboring larvae. There are three easy steps residents can take to keep EAB from spreading:

• Don’t transport firewood. Buy firewood locally from approved vendors, and burn it where you buy it; and

• Be aware of the quarantine restrictions. If you live in a quarantined county, be aware of the restrictions on movement of products such as ash trees, wood chips, and firewood; and,

• Watch your ash trees for infestation. If you think your ash tree is infested, go to www.mda.state.mn.us/eab and use the guide “Does my tree have emerald ash borer?”

Here’s the link for the Department of Agriculture webmap for Emerald Ash Borer in the State of Minnesota.

For more information on emerald ash borer, go to www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.

"Beware of Unlicenced Tree Trimmers"
List of Licensed Mounds View Tree Contractors:
2018 License Tree Contractor's

HOT TOPIC: Is your ash tree losing leaves? 

If so, it could be Anthracnose. The City has received numerous calls from residents lately suspecting their ash trees have Emerald Ash Borer but instead has turned out to be Anthracnose - a fungal disease that results in blotching, distortion, and dropping of leaves. 

A variety of resources are listed below for various topics affecting Mounds View urban forests.

UMN Extension Services - Trees and Woodlands  
UMN Extension Services - Yard & Garden  
MnDNR Division of Forestry  
Mn Dept. of Agriculture - Plants, Pests, and Pest Control  
MN Dept. of Agriculture - Emerald Ash Borer  
USDA Forest Service - NE Area  
Minnesota Trees.org  
Arbor Day Foundation - a good resource for tree care, identification, etc.