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.

Close-up of a tree branch with green leaves starting to turn yellow and brown — an early sign of drought stress in underwatered trees.
Is Your Tree Underwatered? What to Look for and How to Water Properly
Yellowing leaves, thinning canopies, and even fungus may be signs of underwatered trees. Learn what to look for and how to water trees the right way.
Healthy oak leaves on a tree in the Great Plains.
Hypoxylon Canker: What Homeowners Need to Know to Protect Their Trees
Hypoxylon canker is a serious tree disease that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Learn how to spot it early and protect your Midwest trees.
An oak with large horned oak galls in a yard in the Midwest.
Horned Oak Gall: What Those Spiky Growths on Your Oak Tree Really Mean
Spiky growths on your oak tree? It could be horned oak gall! Learn what causes it, how to manage it, and when to take action to support your tree.
Close-up of a tree branch in Des Moines showing yellow leaves with browning, crispy edges – an advanced sign of drought stress in trees.
Don’t Let Your Des Moines Trees Succumb to Drought Stress This Summer
Four years of drought left Des Moines trees vulnerable, and dry conditions are returning. Learn to recognize the symptoms and how to support your trees.
A tree in a city with the summer sun behind it.
The Danger of Heat Stress and How to Protect Your Midwest Trees
Midwest heat waves can do more than dry out lawns – they can also weaken or kill trees. Learn how to spot heat stress and protect your property this summer.
The trademark bag that bagworms produce on a tree.
Protecting Your Midwest Trees from Bagworm Infestations
Think those little pine cone-shaped sacs are harmless? They’re bagworms and they can destroy your trees fast! Learn what to look for & how to protect your yard.
An ash tree with the S-shaped gallery underneath the bark indicating an attack from emerald ash borer.
Everything You Need to Know About the Emerald Ash Borer in the Midwest
Emerald ash borer is a serious threat to ash trees in the Midwest. Discover how to identify, prevent, and respond to an infestation on your property.
An elm tree in front of the sun and blue sky in the Great Plains Region.
How to Identify and Treat for Dutch Elm Disease in the Midwest
Don't lose all your elm trees to Dutch elm disease! Discover how to identify symptoms early and what you can do to keep it from spreading across the Midwest.
A maple leaf showing the signs of anthracnose outside of Des Moines, IA.
5 Common Tree Diseases to Watch Out for in the Des Moines Area
Some tree diseases in Des Moines kill within a year. Learn the early symptoms so you can catch problems before your tree becomes a safety risk.
A group of carpenter ants on a log in Tulsa, OK.
Are Carpenter Ants Harming Your Tree? Here’s What You Should Know
Seeing carpenter ants on your tree? Arbor Masters shares why they’re a sign of hidden decay—not a pest problem—and what to do next.
A group of nursery trees ready to plant in Ankeny, IA.
How to Choose the Right Tree for Your Des Moines Property
From size to soil needs, not every tree fits every yard. Arbor Masters explains how to choose the right tree that will thrive in Des Moines conditions.
Bees setting a hive on a crack of a tree
What Arbor Masters Is Doing to Save the Bees
Find out what Arbor Masters is doing to save the bees – and why your choice of tree care company matters more than ever for pollinators and the planet.