Trimming
Street Maintenance crews trim boulevard trees that interfere with the operation of snowplows and street sweepers. This is done on a time available basis. Bloomington ordinance provides that the care and maintenance of boulevard trees is the responsibility of the abutting property owner. No permit is required for this care.
Tree health
In the boulevards, dead and dying trees with Emerald Ash Borer, Dutch elm disease, or oak wilt are removed under the City's Tree Disease Management program. Storm-damaged boulevard trees are trimmed or removed depending on the damage severity. Broken branches are removed to prevent damage to the street or walk when they fall. Stumps of removed trees are ground and the site is restored and seeded. No charge is made to the abutting property owner for these services.
Disease management
Bloomington has had a program to manage Dutch elm disease and oak wilt for over twenty-five years. In 2014, Emerald Ash Borer was added to the program. The City marks trees requiring removal. Property owners can choose to use a contractor hired by the City or handle the removal themselves. Every spring the contract is bid so the removal price can be given at the time of marking.
Signs of Dutch elm disease
Prompt diagnosis and removal of diseased trees are the keys to help control the spread of Dutch elm disease. Dead or dying elm trees can become a breeding ground for thousands of beetles that will move about and spread the disease.
Visible signs of Dutch elm disease include leaves on the upper branches that turn from green to yellow, curl, and become brown and brittle. These symptoms are common signs of a diseased tree and could signal Dutch elm disease. If more than a few branches are affected, then the entire tree must be removed. If only small portions of the tree show symptoms, quick and proper action might prolong the life of the tree.
Chemical fungicides are available that are designed to protect the tree, but there is no guarantee that a treated tree won't become infected with Dutch elm disease. Chemical treatments have a greater success rate with healthy trees.
Japanese Beetles
One of the most recent insect pests to deal with is the Japanese Beetles. Turf grass along with many different kinds of trees and shrubs can be attacked by these beetles with sometimes significant damage being done to both turf and landscape plants. The City recommends that residents visit the University of Minnesota Extension Division web page link below for clear and concise information on control methods and the timing of these controls. It must be remembered that control of this insect pest is possible but "eradication" is not possible and should not be our goal.
Oak and elm tree pruning advisory
Because of disease transmission (Emerald Ash Borer, Dutch Elm Disease, and Oak Wilt) these trees should be pruned when they are inactive. Therefore December, January and February are the best months to prune elms and oaks. This is also a good time to prune other shade trees.
Understand that these dates are not "set in concrete." Temperature and moisture can affect when trees should or shouldn't be pruned. The University of Minnesota has created the image to the right which will be updated to represent the current Oak Wilt risk level. You can also find more information at the University of Minnesota's web page by clicking the image or the link below:
Brush Disposal
Because Bloomington is within the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) quarantine for Hennepin County it is important to know the rules for properly disposing of tree debris and brush. Details of the quarantine and other regulatory information can be found on the MN Department of Agriculture website.
Information regarding to disposal of tree waste, including logs and brush can be found on the MN Department of Agriculture website.
