Tree Care Tips from Arbor Masters

Arbor Masters supports you long after we leave your property. Find expert tips on our blog to keep your Des Moines trees healthy and beautiful.

A large mature ash tree stands in full foliage near a lake, showing the impressive size and canopy spread that mature ash trees can achieve.
How to Tell If You Have an Ash Tree (and How to Care for It)
Wondering if you have an ash tree? Learn how to identify common ash species, recognize early stress signs, and support tree health in areas affected by EAB.
Tree branches bending under heavy snow along a snow-covered path in a Des Moines neighborhood.
How Weight Reduction Pruning Can Help Prevent Property Damage During Iowa Winters
One storm can cost thousands in damage. Weight reduction pruning removes the branch weight that causes failures — before the next winter storm hits Des Moines.
A boxwood shrub displays orange and yellow salt damage symptoms on its foliage in a mulched landscape bed.
How to Protect Your Des Moines Trees from Salt Damage This Winter
Learn how winter salt affects Des Moines trees and the most effective ways to prevent damage, backed by guidance from ISA Certified Arborists.
Arbor Masters arborist pruning tall deciduous trees with red spider lift equipment during winter in Des Moines.
Is Your Tree Dormant or Dying? A Guide to Winter Tree Care in Des Moines
Cold snaps ahead? No problem. Our Des Moines winter tree care guide walks you month by month to keep trees thriving now and blooming come spring.
Arborist performing winter tree removal by climbing and cutting a tall trunk with safety gear.
Why Arborists Recommend Winter for Tree Removal and Major Pruning
Think tree work has to wait for spring? Think again. Winter tree removal in Cedar Rapids is safer, cheaper, and smarter – see why the pros prefer it.
Vibrant fall foliage displaying brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds along forest path in healthy Midwest woodland.
How to Make Your Midwest Trees’ Fall Colors More Vibrant: A Tree Care Guide for Spectacular Autumn Foliage
Tired of dull fall trees? Discover proven methods to enhance fall tree colors in the Midwest through strategic fertilization, pruning & soil treatments.
Close-up of a tree trunk with girdling roots wrapping tightly around the base, restricting the root flare and trunk growth.
Spotting and Fixing Dangerous Girdling Roots Before They Strangle Your Trees
Girdling roots in Des Moines can silently kill mature trees. Learn how to spot early signs, best treatment timing, and when removal is the safer choice.
Vibrant fall foliage with red and orange maple trees in the Central Midwest during peak autumn season.
Benefits of Fall Mulching for Central Midwest Trees
Why do some Central Midwest trees thrive through winter while others fail? The secret is fall mulching. Discover proven techniques from Certified Arborists.
Professional arborist in work clothes using proper fall planting technique with tree root ball positioned correctly in Des Moines area
Why Fall Tree Planting in Des Moines Creates Thriving Urban Forests
Struggling with clay soil or spring frosts? Fall tree planting in Des Moines offers better soil temps, fewer risks, and lasting growth for your landscape.
Emerald ash borer larval galleries under tree bark showing winding tunnels in a Des Moines ash tree.
The 5 Most Destructive Tree Pests Affecting Des Moines in 2025
Don’t let destructive tree pests in Des Moines destroy your landscape. Learn when to act, what to watch for, and how to keep your trees strong and healthy.
Arbor Masters and TreeHugger owners shake hands in front of the Arbor Masters logo, marking their new partnership to strengthen Central Iowa tree care.
Arbor Masters Grows Central Iowa Presence with Addition of TreeHugger Complete Tree Care
Certified tree care expands across Polk City, Ankeny, and Des Moines as Arbor Masters welcomes the TreeHugger team.
A tree in Oklahoma showing yellow leaves with green veins, classic symptoms of iron chlorosis in alkaline Great Plains soil.
Treating Iron Chlorosis: Why Fall Gives Great Plains and Midwest Trees the Best Chance
From September to November, trees absorb minerals best. Treat iron chlorosis in the fall to prevent branch dieback, slow growth, and long-term damage.