Tree Service in Des Moines, IA

Tree Service in Des Moines is a different job from tree work in the newer suburbs. The capital sits where the Raccoon River joins the Des Moines River, and many of its blocks were laid out long before the cul-de-sacs to the west and north. That means tall, mature shade trees growing over garages, alleys, overhead service drops and the house next door. Des Moines Tree Service Pros spends most of its time here doing careful pruning and controlled removals on lots where there is little room to drop anything.

What older blocks mean for tree work

The Census counted 214,133 residents and about 95,082 housing units in the city in 2020, packed at roughly 2,428 people per square mile, far denser than most of the suburbs. Neighborhoods like Sherman Hill, about fifteen blocks northwest of downtown, hold 210 buildings on 80 acres, with single-family Victorian houses going up from around 1880. On lots like that, a big silver maple or elm can be older than the porch it shades. Removing one usually means taking it down in pieces with ropes, lowering each section to the ground instead of felling it, and sometimes working from the alley side.

Rentals and absentee owners

About 60.5% of Des Moines homes are owner-occupied, according to Census QuickFacts, which leaves a large share of rental property. Landlords and property managers often call us after a tenant reports a cracked limb or a tree rubbing on the roof. We can meet a tenant on site, photograph the problem and send the owner a written estimate, so decisions can be made without a trip across town.

The trees that come down in storms

Des Moines gets frequent spring and summer thunderstorms; its wettest months are May and June, at a little over 5 inches each. On August 10, 2020, the derecho pushed a 75 mph gust through the Des Moines airport ASOS, and a spotter nearby reported large limbs down, snapped trunks and blocked roads. MidAmerican Energy reported more than 132,000 metro customers out of power, and the city estimated debris cleanup could take up to six weeks. Most of the damage we see after storms like that comes from trees with old pruning wounds, decay pockets or heavy limbs reaching sideways over a roof.

Winter does its own damage. In the December 19-20, 2012 blizzard, the airport recorded 12.4 inches of snow that started as rain and turned wet and slushy. The weight cracked some branches, and overnight wind finished off many more. Ice and wet snow load is one reason we prune long, heavy leaders back to strong side branches before they become a problem.

City rules that actually apply

We haven't found a city permit requirement for an ordinary backyard removal in Des Moines. The Tree Removal and Mitigation ordinance, adopted in 2009, kicks in when trees come out as part of a grading permit, site plan or subdivision plat, and it measures mature trees at 12 inches across at breast height. The public trees along the street are another matter. The city's 2020 Urban Forest Master Plan counted 196 species on public property, led by maples and oaks, and set a seven-year remedial pruning cycle for them. In local historic districts such as Sherman Hill, the Historic Preservation Commission reviews certificates of appropriateness; we haven't found a published rule that puts tree removal itself under that review, so if your project includes other exterior changes, ask the city.

Before you call

• Look at the trunk flare. Mushrooms, soft wood or cracks at the base are worth a visit.
• Note what is underneath: a garage, a fence line shared with a neighbor, service wires, or a parked car.
• If the tree sits between the sidewalk and the street, it is a public tree. Call Public Works Forestry before anyone cuts it.
• If a limb is near the lines, MidAmerican Energy asks for two business days' notice (888-427-5632) before tree work so it can disconnect or de-energize the lower-voltage line.
• Take a photo from the street. It helps us plan access before we arrive.

We give free on-site estimates and a written, itemized quote that spells out what gets cut, how the wood and brush are handled, and what the yard should look like when we leave. Call (515) 762-6977 or use the form. Get a free estimate