The trees behind the stumps in St. Charles

Many stumps in St. Charles trace back to a short list of trees: ash killed by emerald ash borer, Callery (Bradford) pears that split in storms, and a few species that homeowners and cities tend to take out. Here is what sources say, and what it means when you ask a pro to deal with the stump.

Updated October 25, 2026

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Ash and emerald ash borer

The Missouri Department of Conservation says emerald ash borer kills more than 99 percent of the ash trees it attacks (MDC). The beetle was first found in St. Charles County in 2014 (University of Illinois; St. Louis Public Radio). Dead ash can be brittle, which is a safety concern for the crew felling it. Whatever height the stump was left at, tell the stump pro the height and width; a tall stump is usually quicker to deal with after it is cut lower, so ask.

Callery (Bradford) pear

A Glendale, Missouri tree board list of trees not to plant in the right-of-way, written for a St. Louis County suburb, says Bradford pear breaks in storms after about ten years (Glendale list). Missouri has also moved to end sales: SB 105 (2025) bars nurseries and dealers from selling Callery pear from January 1, 2029 (St. Louis Public Radio). It does not force removal of existing trees. Pears sucker from roots, so ask the pro whether to treat or watch for sprouts after the stump is gone.

Pin oak and sweetgum

The same Glendale list notes pin oak's down-sweeping branches and sweetgum's soft wood and tripping-hazard fruit. That is one suburb's opinion, not a St. Charles rule, but it explains why both are often removed from yards and parkways.

Silver maple

Urban forestry lists from other states, such as a Michigan Tech compilation, flag silver maple for weak wood and sidewalk-lifting roots. We found no St. Charles-specific source, so treat this as general information. Large surface roots from a big maple add to the grinding work.

What to tell the pro

Species, if you know it.
Stump width and height.
Whether there are surface roots you want ground too.
What you plan to put there next. If you replant, a mix of species spreads the risk the ash losses showed.

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Common questions

Is emerald ash borer in St. Charles County?

Yes. It was first found in St. Charles County in 2014, at an industrial park on Highway N south of I-64, according to a University of Illinois extension article. St. Louis Public Radio's 2018 report also lists the county among those with the beetle.

Is it illegal to keep a Callery pear?

No. Missouri's 2025 SB 105 bars nurseries and dealers from selling Callery pear, among six listed invasive plants, starting January 1, 2029. It does not require owners to remove trees already planted.

Does the species change the stump job?

Sometimes. Dead ash can be brittle; some species sprout from the stump or roots. Tell the pro what the tree was if you know.

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