Tree Removal · Northwoods, MO
Tree Removal in Northwoods, MO
Northwoods property owners call about tall yard trees that have outgrown older homes, limbs dropping from neighboring vacant lots and cleanup after storms. We connect you with an independent tree service that covers this corner of north St. Louis County.
We operate this website and send your request to an independent tree service that works in Northwoods. The contractor calls you back, asks about the tree and access, and gives you a price. You choose whether to hire them, and there is no charge to ask.
Call (314) 816-2884St Louis City Tree Removal operates this website and connects local customers with independent local tree services. We don't do the work ourselves and we don't check any tree service's qualifications, so confirming that is up to you before you hire.
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Northwoods calls
What Tree Calls Look Like in Northwoods
Northwoods has a lot of mature yards. The city grew most between 1940 and 1980, and trees planted in those years can now be big enough to reach over roofs, garages and the street. Many of the calls we get start with a homeowner noticing a dead top, a split trunk or a limb that has died back over the house.
Vacancy is part of the picture too. In the 2020 census, Northwoods had 1,771 housing units and about 15 percent of them were vacant. When nobody looks after a tree on an empty lot for years, the owner next door is often the first to notice when it starts to fail. Those calls usually come with questions about who owns the tree and who pays for it.
And then there are storms. Wind and heavy rain bring down weak limbs every year across north county. If a tree is already down on a structure, our storm tree removal page explains how those jobs usually go.
Local history
How Northwoods Grew
Northwoods has been counted as a community since at least 1940, when the federal census recorded 733 residents. Over the next four decades the city grew quickly. By 1980 the population reached 5,831, the highest in the city's history.
Since then the numbers have fallen every decade: 4,643 in 2000, 4,227 in 2010 and 3,687 in 2020. The median age in 2020 was 45.9, a sign of an older population, and many calls come from owners who have lived with the same big trees for years.
Northwoods covers about 0.70 square miles and is one of the many small municipalities that took shape in north St. Louis County during the 20th century. County histories describe a rapid increase in incorporations after 1935, and Northwoods sits among neighbors such as Pine Lawn and Normandy that grew in the same era.
Schools have changed with the population. The former Garfield School had a Northwoods mailing address even though it stood in Pine Lawn, and it was consolidated into Obama Elementary in Pine Lawn starting in 2011. Today Northwoods is part of the Normandy Schools Collaborative.
Northwoods on the Map
Northwoods sits in north St. Louis County around the intersection of Lucas and Hunt Road and Natural Bridge Road. Use the map to see where your block falls.
Local conditions
What Shapes Tree Work in Northwoods
These local facts tend to drive the plan and the price on a Northwoods job.
Trees as old as the houses
The population grew from 733 in 1940 to 5,831 in 1980, so much of the housing dates from those decades. A shade tree planted with a house from that era can have a crown that spreads well past the roof line.
Vacant neighbors
With about one in seven housing units vacant in 2020, an unmaintained tree next door is a common problem. Document what you see with photos before you contact the owner or the city.
Rental homes
The 2020 census showed a rental vacancy rate of 21 percent, so many properties change hands or tenants. Landlords often call to clear a hazard between tenants, when the yard is empty and easy to work in.
Older overhead service lines
On older blocks, electric and cable lines often run to the house through the canopy. Any limb in contact with those lines is a job for the utility first, not a general tree crew.
Ask the contractor which of these apply to your yard, because each one can change how long the job takes.
Who handles what
Who Deals With a Dead Tree on a Vacant Lot?
A tree belongs to whoever owns the land it grows on, and so does the duty to deal with it. If a dead tree on a vacant lot threatens your home, start by finding the owner through St. Louis County property records, then contact them in writing with photos.
If you cannot reach the owner, call Northwoods city hall and ask whether the city handles nuisance or hazard complaints for private trees. The city can also tell you whether a tree near the curb is the city's responsibility, or whether the street is maintained by St. Louis County.
Do not cut a tree that is not on your property without written permission. Trimming branches that cross the property line is a separate question, and the rules can depend on how much of the tree you remove. When in doubt, ask city hall and get your neighbor's agreement before any work starts.
When you report a hazard to the city or write to a lot owner, be specific. Note the street address, which way the tree leans, how big the dead limbs are and what they could hit. Dated photos taken from your own yard make the case clearer and help a contractor give a rough idea of the work over the phone.
Job explained
Removing a Dead Tree That Leans Over the House
A dead tree is more dangerous to climb than a living one because the wood is dry and brittle. On a dead tree that leans toward a house, a contractor may use a bucket truck or crane instead of a climber, if the truck can reach. Pieces come off from the top and get lowered with ropes so nothing falls on the roof.
Ask how the contractor plans to protect your roof and gutters, and whether the quote includes hauling the wood, raking the yard and grinding the stump. If you want the stump gone, ask for stump grinding in the same quote, since the crew will already be there.
Dead trees sometimes have rot at the base that you cannot see. Ask the contractor to look at the trunk near the ground before you sign anything, because the condition of the base changes how they approach the job.
Watch
See Tree Removal in Action
This short video shows how a crew lowers a tree in pieces when it stands close to a house.
Before you hire
A Few Warnings Before You Sign
After a storm in north county, some people show up offering fast, cash-only tree work. Before you hire anyone, get a written estimate with the business name, phone number and a clear list of what is included. Never pay the full price up front.
We do not check, verify or confirm any contractor's license, insurance or credentials. That is up to you before you hire. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent from the insurance company to you, and if you want a trained arborist, ask whether someone on the crew holds the ISA Certified Arborist credential. You can confirm it yourself with the International Society of Arboriculture.
If you rent, talk to your landlord before arranging any tree work. The property owner usually has to approve and pay for it.
Watch for quotes that are vague about cleanup. A low price that leaves the trunk in your yard, or the brush at the curb with no plan for pickup, can cost more in the end. Ask what the yard will look like when the crew leaves, and get that description in the written estimate.
Around the city
Roads and Landmarks in Northwoods
Natural Bridge Road, also known as Missouri Route 115, runs through Northwoods on its way from Berkeley, Bel-Ridge and Normandy into the City of St. Louis. Lucas and Hunt Road, signed as Route U, crosses Natural Bridge inside Northwoods, and that intersection is the easiest way for most people to place the city on a map.
Northwoods uses the 63121 ZIP code, which it shares with neighboring municipalities, so the mailing address alone does not always tell you which city you are in. Check your tax bill if you are unsure.
The city's students are in the Normandy Schools Collaborative, and Normandy High School is the district high school. Nearby Normandy is home to part of the University of Missouri St. Louis campus.
Because several small cities meet around this part of north county, a short trip down Natural Bridge or Lucas and Hunt can cross more than one city limit. When you call city hall about a tree, have your exact address ready so staff can confirm the property is inside Northwoods.
Keep exploring
Services and Nearby Areas
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Big oaks and maples shade most city blocks, and we connect owners with independent tree services that prune deadwood, lift limbs off brick roofs and clear branches from the alley side without topping the tree.
Stump Grinding
Stumps left from city ash removals and old backyard maples are common here, and we connect owners with independent tree services that grind below grade after 811 marks the lines and limestone is accounted for.
Emergency & Storm Tree Removal
When storms like the May 2025 tornado drop limbs on roofs and across alleys, we connect city owners with independent tree services that remove fallen trees once Ameren has made any downed lines safe.
University City
Planning tree removal in University City often starts on its older south side, where the city founded by E.G. Lewis in 1906 keeps 16 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hanley Hills
Hanley Hills is a village of about 2,000 people on 0.36 square miles, and its city hall offers request forms for removing dead trees from residents' yards through a grant-funded program.
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury grew around a Frisco Railroad station dedicated in 1890 and incorporated in 1913, and its garden club has cared for the city's trees and flowers since 1947.
Northwoods Tree Removal Questions
Who is responsible for a dead tree on the vacant lot next to me?
The owner of the lot. Find the owner through St. Louis County property records and contact them in writing. If that fails, ask Northwoods city hall how it handles hazard complaints.
Can I cut branches from my neighbor's tree?
Before you do, talk to your neighbor and check with city hall. Never cut into a tree that is not on your property without written permission, and never trim anything near a power line.
What ZIP code is Northwoods in?
Northwoods uses 63121, which it shares with other municipalities. Your tax bill shows which city you actually live in.
How old are the trees in Northwoods?
Many homes were built between 1940 and 1980, so many yard trees are several decades old. Age alone does not make a tree dangerous, but it is a reason to have big trees looked at.
Do I need to call 811 before stump grinding?
Grinding can go several inches below ground, so call 811 before work starts to have underground lines marked. Ask the contractor who will make the request.
How do I get a quote in Northwoods?
Call (314) 816-2884 or fill out the form. We pass your request to an independent tree service covering Northwoods, and they call you with questions and a price.
Talk to a Tree Service Serving Northwoods
Call (314) 816-2884 and we'll pass your request to an independent local tree service who can call you back with a price.
Call (314) 816-2884We operate this website and connect local customers with local tree services. St Louis City Tree Removal doesn't perform tree work, doesn't supervise tree services, and doesn't check any tree service's insurance, licensing, or credentials, so confirm those yourself before hiring.
Disclaimer
How This Website Works
Disclaimer: St Louis City Tree Removal operates this website to connect local customers and businesses in Northwoods, MO and nearby communities with independent local tree services. We are not a tree service, we do not perform, supervise, or warrant any tree work ourselves, and we do not check, verify, or confirm any tree service's license, insurance, bonding, credentials, or qualifications. Confirming those things is the customer's responsibility before hiring. Any price you're quoted comes from the tree service, not from us, and any agreement and the work itself are strictly between you and the tree service you choose. Calls placed through this site may be routed to an available local tree service. See the full disclaimer. Same-day and 24/7 emergency services are subject to provider participation, location, technician availability, and demand. Availability is not guaranteed and may vary by market and appointment capacity.