Tree Service in Grimes, IA

Tree Service in Grimes mostly serves homeowners with relatively new houses and relatively new trees. The city, which straddles the Polk and Dallas county line along Iowa Highway 141, had 8,246 residents in 2010 and 15,392 in 2020. Census QuickFacts puts residents 65 and older at just 7.3%, one of the youngest profiles in the metro. Many of our customers here are first-time homeowners figuring out what their yard trees need.

Grimes was established in 1881 and incorporated in 1894, and it was named after James W. Grimes, Iowa's third governor and later a U.S. senator. The blocks near 1st Street and Iowa 44 are the old town, with some mature trees. Most of the 11.8 square miles of city land, though, is newer development on former farm ground.

Storms that reached Grimes

On June 7, 2009, a storm moving east from Adel redeveloped rotation near Grimes around 6:51 p.m., and the NWS survey found tree damage concentrated in the northern half of town. During the August 10, 2020 derecho, multiple large limbs came down in Grimes, the largest about 8 inches across. In the December 2012 blizzard, Grimes measured 13.4 inches of snow.

What a young Grimes tree needs

1. One central leader. Remove or shorten competing stems while they are small. 2. Branch spacing. Keep main scaffold branches spread around and up the trunk instead of bunched at one height. 3. Clearance. Raise the lowest limbs gradually over sidewalks, driveways and play sets. 4. A clean base. Keep mower and trimmer damage away with a mulch ring. 5. Patience. Don't remove more than about a quarter of the live crown in one season.

Removals in Grimes

Removals here are usually ash trees that have declined, trees planted too close to the house, or trees damaged in storms. On new lots with open access, many removals are straightforward. We still plan the drop zone around fences, sheds and play equipment, which fill most backyards in town.

Parks and the bigger picture

Grimes has a long list of parks, from Water Works Park with its splash pad to Beaverbrooke, Autumn and North Pointe parks. Over time, the canopy on private lots will matter just as much. Healthy, well-shaped yard trees are what turn new subdivisions into shaded neighborhoods.

Ash in new subdivisions

Ash trees were planted widely in Iowa subdivisions before emerald ash borer showed up, and Grimes yards built in that era often have one or two. The beetle's larvae carve long, serpentine galleries under the bark, and adults leave small D-shaped exit holes. Green ash, the most commonly planted, is one of the species the beetle prefers. Once an ash has lost much of its crown, removal is usually the practical move, and taking it down before it gets brittle is safer for everyone.

Estimates

We walk the yard, explain what each tree needs, and give you a written quote. About 70.9% of homes are owner-occupied, and 90.5% of residents were in the same house a year earlier. Many owners here are planning for the long haul. Call (515) 762-6977. Get a free estimate