Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Cedar Rapids
On August 10, 2020, a derecho crossed Iowa with winds over 100 miles an hour in places and destroyed roughly two thirds of Cedar Rapids' tree canopy in under an hour. Most of the loss was on private property. Years later, the city's ReLeaf plan is replanting public land, and many damaged trees are still standing in yards.
- County
- Linn
- Tree rules
- City of Cedar Rapids Forestry; ReLeaf Cedar Rapids urban reforestation plan
- Key local rule
- Public trees replanted under ReLeaf; private trees are owner decisions
- Electric utility
- Alliant Energy
- Main hazards
- Derechos and straight-line winds, ice storms, flooding along the Cedar River
August 10, 2020
The derecho reached Cedar Rapids around noon. Winds snapped and uprooted trees across every neighborhood and left most of the city without power for days and, in places, weeks. Estimates of canopy loss range from about 60 to 75 percent, with most sources settling near 65 percent.
Cleanup took months, with debris piled at curbs across the city. Many trees that stood through the storm were left with broken tops, split trunks or roots loosened in the soil.
Some of those damaged survivors are still in yards, and some have started to decay at their wounds. A tree that looked repairable in 2020 may not be sound now.
Should a derecho-damaged tree come down now?
If it has a split trunk, a broken main leader, decay at old wounds or a new lean, have it assessed. Trees that lost limbs but kept a sound trunk and most of their crown often recovered. Trees that lost their tops and pushed out masses of sprouts may be weakly attached and need structural work or removal.
- Usually fine
- Lost some limbs, trunk sound, crown regrown.
- Needs a look
- Sprouts clustered around broken tops, cracks, soft wood.
- Remove
- Decay, splits or a lean toward the house.
The ReLeaf plan
ReLeaf Cedar Rapids, adopted by the City Council in early 2022, calls for planting more than 42,000 trees in parks and along streets over ten years. The plan was prepared for the city and Trees Forever and prioritizes neighborhoods with fewer trees and hotter summer temperatures.
By 2025 the program had planted more than 16,000 trees and was ahead of pace. New public trees carry a two-year warranty. ReLeaf covers public land. Private replanting is up to owners, with community programs offering help.
How tree types fared
| Tree | How it held up | Planting advice |
|---|---|---|
| Bur and white oak | Generally well | Long-lived and strong |
| Silver maple | Poorly, many failures | Avoid near houses |
| Ash | Already weakened by emerald ash borer | Do not replant |
| Hackberry and Kentucky coffeetree | Fairly well | Good choices for Iowa |
| Spruce and pine | Many uprooted in saturated soil | Plant with space and wind in mind |
Signs left by the storm
Decay at old break points
Soft wood or fungus where limbs tore away.
Sprout clusters on topped trees
Weak attachments that can tear out in wind.
Lean that has increased
Roots damaged in 2020 continuing to fail.
Cracks in the soil on one side
Root plate movement.
Replanting after storm losses
Remove the stump
Grind and replant a few feet to the side.
Pick strong species
Oaks, hackberry, coffeetree, elm cultivars.
Mix it up
No single species should dominate a yard or block.
Water two years
New trees need steady watering through Iowa summers.
Prune early
Structural pruning helps trees withstand the next storm.
Cedar Rapids tree questions
Will the city plant a tree in my parkway?
ReLeaf plants along public streets and in parks. Contact the city about the planting schedule for your area.
How strong were the 2020 derecho winds?
The National Weather Service estimated gusts of 100 to 140 miles an hour in parts of Linn County.
Do I need a permit to remove a private tree?
Cedar Rapids does not broadly regulate private yard trees. Trees in the parkway are city trees.
Can a damaged tree be cabled?
Sometimes, if the wood is sound. Decayed or split trees are better removed.
What should I plant in place of a lost silver maple?
Strong-wooded species such as bur oak, swamp white oak, hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree or a disease-resistant elm, placed with room to grow away from the house.
Reach a tree service in Cedar Rapids
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Cedar Rapids area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day