Iowa
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Iowa
On August 10, 2020 a derecho crossed Iowa with winds estimated as high as 140 mph and destroyed or damaged millions of trees in a few hours. The state's towns are still replanting, and the trees that survived carry injuries that show up as failures years later.
What the 2020 derecho did
The storm traveled about 770 miles in 14 hours and was at its strongest over central and eastern Iowa. Cedar Rapids lost well over half of its tree canopy, including most of the mature street and park trees. Marshalltown, Ames and the Des Moines suburbs were also hit hard.
The damage was not random. Trees with multiple trunks, included bark, old topping cuts or root loss from construction failed at far higher rates. Open-grown bur oaks often stood while silver maples around them came apart.
A second derecho on December 15, 2021, the first on record in the United States in December, added to the toll and set a state record for tornadoes in a single day.
Is a derecho-damaged tree still safe years later?
Not necessarily. A tree that kept most of its crown may have cracks in the main limbs, a twisted trunk or a loosened root plate that only shows under the next heavy load.
- Look up
- Long cracks along limbs, bark ridges that have opened, and limbs resting on other limbs.
- Look down
- A lean that was not there before, or soil mounded on one side.
- Look at the regrowth
- Dense upright shoots from break points are weakly attached and need thinning by a professional.
Iowa tree diseases and insects
| Problem | Trees | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emerald ash borer | Ash | First found in 2010 and since confirmed in virtually every county. Cities have removed public ash on a schedule. |
| Oak wilt | Red, black and pin oak most severely | Spread by beetles to fresh wounds in spring and by root grafts between neighboring oaks |
| Bur oak blight | Bur oak | Identified by Iowa State University researchers. Leaves brown in late summer and hang on through winter. |
| Dutch elm disease | American elm | Still active. Dead elms should be removed and debarked or chipped. |
Street trees, oak pruning and local rules
Iowa has no arborist license and no state permit for removing trees on private property. In most cities the tree between the sidewalk and the street is in the public right-of-way, and the city forester decides whether it is pruned or removed, though some cities assign maintenance costs to the adjoining owner.
The Department of Natural Resources advises finishing oak pruning before spring, because the beetles that carry oak wilt are active from early spring into summer. Wounds made by storms in that period should be painted immediately.
Several cities license or register tree trimmers who work within city limits. If you live in a larger city, ask the company whether a city license applies and whether it holds one.
How common Iowa trees held up
- Silver maple
- The most common large yard tree and the most damaged. Weak forks split to the ground.
- Bur and white oak
- Lost limbs but generally stayed standing.
- Hackberry and honeylocust
- Moderate damage, good recovery.
- Spruce and pine windbreaks
- Uprooted in rows, particularly older plantings on farmsteads.
- Ash
- Already weakened by borer, they snapped readily.
Deciding what to do with a damaged Iowa tree
- This week
More than half the crown is gone
Removal is usually the practical choice.
- Act now
The trunk is split or the tree has a new lean
Treat as a hazard and have it assessed now.
- This week
Major limbs broke but the central structure is intact
Corrective pruning over two or three visits. See tree trimming and pruning.
- Plan it
You are choosing what to replant
Favor species that stood up in 2020 and avoid planting one kind throughout the yard.
Iowa tree service questions
Who is responsible for the street tree in front of my Iowa house?
It varies by city. The tree is usually in the public right-of-way and under the city forester's control, but some cities require the adjoining owner to pay for care. Call the city before doing anything to it.
When should oaks be pruned in Iowa?
In winter. State foresters advise completing oak pruning before spring and avoiding it through early summer because of oak wilt.
Does Iowa require a permit to remove a tree?
Not for trees on private property under state law. City rules apply to trees in the right-of-way.
Should I replace my ash before it dies?
If the tree is healthy, you can treat it or remove it on your own schedule. Once the crown thins noticeably, removal becomes more urgent and more expensive each year.
Tree service in Iowa, by phone
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