Tree Service in Prairie City, IA

Tree Service in Prairie City happens on the edge of one of Iowa's largest restoration projects. The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, near town, covers 8,654 acres and aims to restore the tallgrass prairie and oak savanna that once covered most of Iowa. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the core land in 1990. Today the refuge has a herd of about 62 bison and 19 elk, the Prairie Learning Center and miles of trails.

Prairie City is in Jasper County, 22 miles east of Des Moines, with 1,700 residents in the 2020 Census on about 1.24 square miles. James Elliott founded it in 1856; it was originally named for him, but the name was changed because Iowa already had a town called Elliott.

Oak savanna lessons for yard trees

Oak savanna is open grassland with scattered, wide-crowned oaks. Those oaks grow in full sun with room to spread, and they are some of the longest-lived trees in Iowa. In town, mature oaks are often valuable and long-lived, but they are sensitive to root damage from construction, compaction and grade changes. Oaks also should be pruned in the dormant season, when the risk of spreading oak wilt is lowest.

Small town, open ground

With farmland on most sides, Prairie City is exposed to wind. On May 7, 2024, a brief EF0 tornado touched down about 0.1 miles south-southwest of town. Trees on exposed lots benefit from deadwood removal, thinning, and reduction of long, heavy limbs.

What we do in Prairie City

• Prune mature shade trees, including oaks
• Remove dead, dying and storm-damaged trees
• Thin windbreaks on nearby acreages
• Grind stumps
• Clean up after storms

Ash and other declining trees

Ash trees were planted widely across Iowa towns, and emerald ash borer has been killing them. Look for thinning in the upper crown, bark stripped by woodpeckers and small D-shaped exit holes. Removing an infested ash before it dies and becomes brittle is usually safer and simpler than waiting.

Wood and cleanup

Every estimate spells out what happens to the wood and brush, whether that's chipping and hauling, leaving chips for mulch, or cutting logs to firewood length.

Utility lines

If a tree is touching an overhead power line, the utility should clear it first. We'll handle the rest of the tree once the line is safe.

In town

Prairie City's own parks include sports fields, playgrounds and open areas, and many homes in town have big shade trees that are decades old. Those trees benefit from regular deadwood removal and clearance pruning, especially over roofs, driveways and the street.

Free estimates

Call (515) 762-6977 or use the form for a free, written estimate. Get a free estimate