Cottonwood Trees in Kansas City: Problems, Removal Cost, and Alternatives
Short answer: Cottonwoods are among the biggest trees in Kansas City: fast-growing, weak-wooded and prone to dropping large limbs in wind and ice, with wide, thirsty roots and cotton that clogs AC units. Removing one typically costs $1,500 to $3,000 for a 40 to 60 foot tree and $3,000 to $5,500 or more for a large one.
Cottonwoods are some of the biggest trees in Kansas City, and they cause more storm calls than almost any other tree. If you have one, here is what to watch for and how to decide whether to keep it.
On this page (11 sections)
Why There Are So Many Here
Eastern cottonwoods are native to the river bottoms along the Missouri, the Kaw and the Blue. They grow fast, up to several feet a year, and seed into any open ground. Many yard cottonwoods were never planted; they just came up and nobody took them out while they were small.
The Cotton
Female trees release cottony seeds in late spring and early summer. It clogs AC units, gutters, screens and pool filters. Male trees do not make cotton. There is no practical way to stop a female tree from producing it.
Is Your Cottonwood Male or Female?
Watch it in late spring. A female tree hangs strings of small green seed capsules that split open and release the cotton. A male tree has reddish catkins early in spring that drop off, and no cotton. If the cotton is the only thing you dislike about the tree and it is a male, the cotton is coming from somewhere else.
Weak Wood and Storms
Fast growth means soft, weak wood. Cottonwoods drop big limbs in wind and ice, sometimes on calm days in summer. A major limb through a roof is an expensive repair. Old trees often have hollow or decayed centers that do not show from outside.
Roots
Cottonwood roots spread wide and chase water. They get into cracked sewer lines and can dry out clay soil under a foundation in summer. Root barriers ($1,500 to $4,000) slow them down but are often overwhelmed within 5 to 10 years. See tree roots and foundation damage for how that works.
What Removal Costs
- Medium cottonwood (40 to 60 feet): $1,500 to $3,000
- Large (60 to 80 feet): $3,000 to $5,500
- Very large (80 to 100+ feet): $5,500 to $9,000+
Stumps are extra. Big cottonwoods near houses usually come down in sections with rope rigging or the crane; see safe tree removal techniques and tree removal costs in Kansas City.
Why Cottonwoods Cost More Than Other Trees
It is the size. A cottonwood can reach 80 to 100 feet with a trunk several feet across, and the wood is heavy when green. Big limbs over a house come down on ropes one piece at a time, or with the crane. Decay inside the trunk, which is common in old cottonwoods, means the crew rigs it as a hazard tree.
City Rules
Most cities in the metro do not require a permit to remove a cottonwood on private residential property. Trees in the street right-of-way belong to the city.
Keep or Remove?
Keep it if: it is 40 feet or more from the house, the trunk is solid, the crown is balanced, and it is not over the house, the drive or a play area. Have it deadwooded every few years with our trimming service.
Remove it if: it hangs over the house, has a hollow or cracked trunk, drops big limbs, or its roots are in the sewer line. A hazardous tree evaluation or an arborist visit settles it; see tree removal when it is time.
What to Plant Instead
For fast shade without the weak wood: swamp white oak, Kentucky coffeetree, hackberry or a disease-resistant elm. See oak tree diseases before choosing an oak.
Are Cottonwood Trees Worth Anything?
Not much as lumber or firewood. Cottonwood is soft, warps as it dries and burns fast with little heat. Most of the time it is chipped and hauled away. Their value is shade, and that is the thing to weigh against the risk.
How Long Cottonwoods Live
Cottonwoods grow fast and age fast. Many yard trees develop decay within a few decades, and old ones are often hollow inside long before they look it. A cottonwood that is 50 years old or more and over the house deserves an inspection every few years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a cottonwood dangerous?
Not automatically. Big ones over houses, and old ones with decay, are the ones to watch.
Can I stop the cotton?
Not practically. Only removing a female tree stops it.
Do you handle storm damage from cottonwoods?
Yes, all the time. See our storm recovery service.
How much does it cost to remove a large cottonwood?
A 60 to 80 foot cottonwood typically runs $3,000 to $5,500, and very large ones near a house can be $5,500 to $9,000 or more.
Can cottonwood roots damage a foundation?
They can dry out clay soil under one side of a house in summer, which can lead to settling and cracks. They also get into cracked sewer lines.
Is cottonwood good firewood?
Not really. It burns quickly and gives off little heat.
We take down and trim cottonwoods across the metro, including Overland Park, Olathe, Shawnee, Independence, Lee’s Summit and Liberty.
Kansas City Tree Care is a family-owned tree service in Kansas City. Estimates are free: read our reviews on Google Maps, call 913-894-4767, or start at the homepage.
About Kansas City Tree Care
Kansas City Tree Care was founded in 1996 by Zach Johnson, who has worked in the tree trade since 1990. Our crews cover more than 30 cities across the Kansas City metro from our office at 1505 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, KS.