A river-valley town north of Wichita since 1885

Tree Service in Valley Center, KS

Big, fast-growing valley trees need different care than upland yard trees.

We come out and look before we price, anywhere in Wichita and Sedgwick County
Each item on the estimate priced on its own
We confirm where the wood goes before work begins

Trees in the Valley

Valley Center got its name from its spot in the river valley north of Wichita, and that shapes almost every tree service job we do there. The Little Arkansas River runs past town on its way to meet the Arkansas in Wichita, and the USGS keeps a stream gauge at Valley Center. River-bottom soil holds moisture, and the trees that thrive in it, cottonwood, silver maple, black willow, boxelder and hackberry, grow tall quickly and carry soft, brittle wood.

The trouble with fast growers

A silver maple can put on two to three feet a year in good soil. That's great for shade and hard on structure. These trees tend to form multiple trunks from one base, and the seams between them are where they split. Cottonwoods are known for dropping large limbs, sometimes on calm summer days. On a Valley Center lot, the questions we ask are simple: what's under the tree, how big is the limb, and is the fork sound?

Straight-line winds, not just tornadoes

The storm most longtime residents remember is the June 19, 1990 event the National Weather Service calls the Inland Hurricane. Straight-line winds of 65 to 120 mph raked parts of six counties and caused more than $80 million in damage. The NWS summary includes a photo of tree damage in Valley Center, and about 60,000 KG&E customers lost power across the region. More recently, during the May 19, 2024 derecho, a metal outbuilding in Valley Center lost its roof. Wind events like these do more total tree damage around here than tornadoes do, because they cover a much wider area.

What we recommend for valley trees

Crown reduction on large silver maples and cottonwoods leaning over houses, done with cuts back to a lateral branch rather than topping
Deadwood removal every few years, since dead limbs in big trees get heavy fast
Cabling in some multi-trunk trees that are sound but have a weak union, as an option to discuss before removal
Removal when decay has hollowed the base or the tree is already splitting
Stump grinding afterward, since cottonwood and silver maple stumps sprout aggressively if left

A town with some history

Valley Center was founded in the 1870s and incorporated on September 29, 1885. The 2020 census counted 7,340 people, up from 6,822 in 2010. Older homes near the original town tend to have the biggest trees, while newer neighborhoods near the I-135 corridor, about two miles east, have younger plantings.

Getting started

Call (316) 512-2394 or use the form. If a big limb is hanging or a tree has split, say so and send a photo. We'll look at it, explain the options, and give you a written estimate before any work starts. Get a free estimate

Valley Center Facts

River valley setting. Valley Center is named for its location in the river valley, and the USGS operates a Little Arkansas River gauging station (07144200) there.
1990 Inland Hurricane. The June 19, 1990 straight-line wind event hit parts of six counties with 65 to 120 mph winds and over $80 million in damage; NWS documented tree damage in Valley Center.
2024 derecho. During the May 19, 2024 derecho, NWS received a report of a roof blown off a metal outbuilding in Valley Center.
Incorporation and population. The city was incorporated on September 29, 1885, sits two miles west of I-135, and had 7,340 residents in the 2020 census.

Our Services in Valley Center, KS

Valley Center Questions

Should I top my cottonwood to make it safer?

No. Topping leaves large wounds that rot and triggers fast, weakly attached regrowth that's more dangerous than the original limbs. A proper crown reduction cuts back to side branches that can take over, which keeps the tree's structure sound.

Why does my silver maple keep dropping branches?

Silver maples grow fast with brittle wood and narrow forks. Dead or weakly attached limbs break in wind and under ice. Regular deadwood removal and reduction of the longest limbs cut down on breakage a lot.

Will the stump grow back if I don't grind it?

Cottonwoods, silver maples, elms and boxelders often sprout from the stump and roots. Grinding the stump below grade stops most of that and lets you reseed the spot.

Is cabling an option instead of removal?

Sometimes. A sound tree with a weak fork can be cabled to limit movement, following ANSI A300 support standards. It needs periodic inspection, and it's not a fix for a tree with decay at the union.

Do river-bottom trees need watering in a drought?

Even trees near the river can suffer in long dry spells, especially in the heat Sedgwick County sees in summer. A deep, slow soak every couple of weeks during drought helps mature trees, and drought stress is a common trigger for diseases like hypoxylon canker in oaks.

Free Estimates in Valley Center, KS

Free estimates for Valley Center homes and acreages.

Call (316) 512-2394 Free Estimate