Tree Service in Ankeny, IA

Tree Service in Ankeny is mostly about trees that are still growing into their space. The city had 2,964 residents in 1960 and 67,887 by the 2020 Census, with later estimates passing 77,000. Nearly every subdivision built along the way came with a few nursery trees per lot. Many of those are now 20 to 40 feet tall, and the shape they take over the next decade depends a lot on pruning.

Ankeny was founded in 1875 by John Fletcher Ankeny on 80 acres he bought for $1,600, and it worked as a coal company town in the early 1900s. The land is low-relief, part of the Des Moines Lobe glacial landscape, so trees here don't get shelter from hills. Wind crosses open ground and hits subdivisions head-on.

What we see most in Ankeny yards

1. Codominant leaders. Many young maples, lindens and honeylocusts have two equal stems forming a V. Those split in storms. Reducing one early is simple. 2. Branches over roofs and driveways. Trees planted close to the house reach the gutters within 15 years. 3. Ash trees in decline. Ash was widely planted before emerald ash borer arrived. Once the canopy thins and woodpeckers strip bark, removal is usually the realistic choice. 4. Storm-split limbs. Flat terrain and open fields mean strong gusts reach yards at full force.

Storms on record

The August 10, 2020 derecho produced a 78 mph gust at the Ankeny airport and 69 mph at I-35 and NE 36th Street. A spotter west of town reported 6-inch limbs down and power outages, with 50 mph gusts for half an hour. The city estimated four to six weeks to clear the debris. Earlier, on July 19, 2018, a brief EF0 tornado with winds near 80 mph formed just east of I-35 in far eastern Ankeny and crossed a housing development, damaging trees, fences and playground equipment.

Water is a second problem. During the June 30, 2018 flash flood, about 10 inches of rain fell on the north side of Ankeny, Fourmile Creek set a record stage, and Rock Creek ran out of its banks. Trees standing in water for days afterward can suffer root loss that shows up a season or two later as dieback.

Snow load

In the December 2012 blizzard, Ankeny measured 14.5 inches, the highest total on the NWS list for the metro. Wet snow on wide, flat-topped crowns is where branch failures start.

Getting an estimate

We walk the yard with you, point out the trees that need work now and the ones that can wait, and write it all down with prices. About 71.3% of Ankeny homes are owner-occupied, and many homeowners like to stage pruning across a few years; the quote can be split that way. Call (515) 762-6977 or send the form. Get a free estimate