(515) 735-0121 elderstreeservicelandscaping.com
Equipment and Capabilities: Bucket Truck
Emergency and Storm: Storm Cleanup, Quick Response
Tree Services: Lot Clearing, Stump Removal, Dead Tree Experience
Customer Experience: Affordable, Cleanup Included
Elder Tree Service is your local expert for tree removal, tree trimming, and professional tree services in Norwalk, IA and nearby communities. Since 2017, our locally owned and operated company has proudly served residential and commercial clients with reliable, safe, and high-quality outdoor care. We specialize in maintaining healthy, safe, and visually appealing trees — from precision trimming to full-service removals, storm damage cleanup, and ongoing tree maintenance. Our team is trained, equipped, and committed to delivering efficient service with exceptional customer care.
4.8 from 157 reviews
Based on reviews representing only 4% of total ratings
Elder’s Tree Service is best suited for residential properties with substantial tree work, including tall or mature specimens, steep or hard-to-access sites, and projects where safety and thorough cleanup are non-negotiable. For Des Moines-area homeowners, this company shines on single-family lots that require decisive, professional removal or significant pruning near structures, power lines, fences, or steep slopes. The service excels when urgency is real, storm aftermath, hanging limbs near roofs, or trees threatening utilities, and when the job calls for a capable crew, reliable scheduling, and a reasonable price (mid-range to competitive bids rather than rock-bottom, cosmetic-only trimming).
The team’s prowess with complex removals is evident across the reviews. They consistently manage obstacles that paralyze lesser outfits: trees perched near power lines, limbs overhanging houses, and trees on difficult terrain or hill sides. Several cases describe removing 40-inch to 70-year-old specimens with precision, using climbing gear where needed or a bucket truck to reach tight spots, all without compromising nearby facilities. One standout example shows a near-line clearance where a tree was removed while maintaining uninterrupted power service, a scenario many competitors deem “impossible.” Another speaks to handling a large, dangerous removal on a hill with outstanding safety discipline. These are not routine cuts; they are engineered solutions for high-stakes situations.
Pricing and value are consistently favorable, but with nuance. The company frequently delivers fast, fair quotes and can tailor options to fit different budgets. Multiple reviews highlight competitive bidding, timely estimates, and clear communication about scope, with crews that avoid unnecessary upsells. The emphasis on value is reinforced by reports of efficient work and strong cost controls, yet not at the expense of safety or cleanup. Occasional dissatisfaction centers on insurance-related pricing or isolated perceptions of value, but these are rare outliers in a long thread of praise. Overall, Elder’s Tree Service presents a compelling balance of speed, reliability, and cost.
Safety and cleanup standards are the defining factors in judging this work. The majority of clients report meticulous attention to protecting landscaping, fences, roofs, and driveways, followed by thorough debris removal and stump grinding as requested. The crew is repeatedly described as careful around property, organized, and disciplined about using gear and equipment to minimize collateral damage. Cleanup is often praised as “cleaner than before they arrived,” with branches hauled away, mulch redistributed, and no leftover mess. However, there are a few isolated negative notes mentioning partial cleanup or overlooked roof debris in one instance, underscoring the importance of a detailed, written cleanup scope and a post-work checklist to prevent any slip. For safety-conscious buyers, this means insist on explicit risk controls, ground protection, and a signed plan for debris removal before work begins.
Reliability and communication emerge as another pillar of Elder’s Tree Service. The company is lauded for prompt responses, same- or next-day scheduling, on-time arrivals, and straightforward, professional dialogue throughout the project. Customers repeatedly note that Elder or the crew explains options clearly, respects budgets, and delivers promised results ahead of schedule. The consistency of experience, fast responses, courteous crews, and neat, predictable outcomes, appears to be a core strength. The occasional negative review about miscommunication or higher-than-expected pricing serves as a cautionary reminder to lock in scope, price, and timing in writing. In the balance, this is a team that earns trust through reliable, responsive service.
Bottom line: Elders Tree Service is a strong choice for homeowners facing serious tree work where safety, speed, and cleanup cannot be compromised. It is particularly well-suited for properties with access challenges, proximity to power lines, or tasks involving large, mature trees that demand skilled operation, careful route planning, and minimal campus disruption. Clients who seek a transparent, no-drag solution with robust cleanup and clear, option-driven pricing will find this outfit aligns well with their needs. For best results, prospective buyers should request a written scope that specifies access requirements, equipment use, safety protocols near utilities, and a detailed cleanup plan, including stump grinding, mulch disposition, and final lawn restoration.
Practical guidance for decisions: prioritize Elder’s when the job involves high risk or tight margins for error, near houses, fences, roofs, or lines; emphasize a concrete plan for debris and stump removal; confirm whether the quote includes minor repairs to surrounding structures if damage occurs, and ensure the contract outlines post-work cleanup to your satisfaction. If the objective is rapid removal with clean, professional finish and you’re willing to accept fair pricing rather than the absolute cheapest bid, Elder’s Tree Service is likely to deliver. If, on the other hand, there is a preference for ultra-low-cost trimming with minimal impulse to address safety contingencies, a different budget-minded outfit may be a better fit. In any case, insist on a detailed, written plan, explicit safety commitments, and confirmation that all aspects, site protection, line safety, cleanup, and warranty on work, are settled before the first cut.
Uses an aerial bucket truck for safe, efficient access to tall or hard-to-reach branches. Faster and more stable than climbing for many jobs.
Bucket truck capability lets Elder Tree Service navigate around obstacles such as aerial power lines without requiring electrical disconnects, even when a tree is entwined with utilities. A prime example shows a front-yard tree tackled with a bucket truck and removed without a hitch, with the team handling access smoothly and then cleaning up thoroughly. In Des Moines metro and nearby communities, customers consistently note fast, efficient service, punctual crews, and careful protection of property with excellent cleanup. This bucket truck approach complements the crew’s coordinated, careful work, enabling large or hard-to-reach removals—on steep slopes or near houses—to be completed quickly while keeping disruption to a minimum.
Ready to respond after high winds, ice storms, or heavy snow bring trees and limbs down across your property.
Storm cleanup is handled with rapid emergency response, with crews arriving the same day and, in urgent situations, within minutes to secure hazards and begin removal of fallen trees and large branches. They consistently navigate around obstacles like aerial power lines and nearby structures, often avoiding the need for utility disconnections. Access is supported by bucket trucks and skilled, careful techniques that reach tall or awkward limbs, even on steep hills or tight spaces, without compromising safety. Cleanup is thorough, with debris cleared and driveways and yards left neat, sometimes including mulch or wood removal as requested. In the Des Moines area, customers note a professional, courteous crew delivering reliable, fast storm cleanup at competitive prices.
Fast to answer calls and quick to schedule. Whether it's routine work or an urgent situation, these businesses don't leave you waiting.
Rapid response is a consistent strength in client feedback, with crews mobilizing quickly and completing work efficiently, even in hazardous or tight-access sites. Text inquiries often receive near-immediate replies, with reports of responses in under two minutes. Emergency and storm scenarios highlight the speed pattern: teams can arrive within hours, and in some cases within 15 minutes to address downed limbs and begin removal. Across Des Moines metro and Norwalk, IA, this combination of fast dispatch, skilled execution, and thorough cleanup demonstrates a dependable quick-response capability.
Full-scale land clearing for new construction, overgrown acreage, or development prep. Trees, brush, and stumps - all of it gone.
Lot clearing is a core strength, with Elder’s Tree Service handling extensive land clearing and removal of multiple large trees on properties throughout the Des Moines metro, including challenging sites like slopes and tight backyards. They navigate obstacles such as power lines and nearby structures without compromising safety or speed, and employees coordinate around access limits to keep disruption minimal. In one job they cleared seven large mature trees in about two days, with stump grinding and mulching included, demonstrating rapid, wide-scale capability. They adapt to limited access, using bucket trucks or climbing as needed to reach trees where heavy equipment can’t fit, while maintaining careful work near houses, fences, and other features. Cleanliness is a hallmark of their lot clearing, with consistently thorough debris removal and yard restoration after the job is finished.
Full stump extraction, root and all - not just grinding. Ideal when you need the area completely cleared for construction, landscaping, or replanting.
Stump removal and grinding are core capabilities, with many clients reporting complete stump removal and grinding that goes below ground level. In the Des Moines metro and nearby Norwalk area, examples include removing a 40-inch diameter stump and grinding multiple stumps in a single project, all with thorough cleanup and an option to leave mulch on site. They handle stump work as part of larger jobs—such as multi-tree removals and land clearing—often grinding several stumps in one visit and returning the yard to a tidy state. The team can work in challenging spots, including tight or sloped areas, near structures, and around power lines, using careful, safe techniques. Overall, locals describe fast response, reliable scheduling, clear communication, and meticulous stump removal with strong cleanup as a consistent part of service.
Specialists in the safe removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees. Dead trees are unpredictable - experience and caution matter.
Dead-tree removals are handled with speed and precision, even when the tree is large or in tight spaces near structures or utilities. Crews employ bucket trucks and skilled rigging to bring down dead or dying trees around power lines or on slopes without disrupting service or damaging property. Cleanup is thorough, with debris removed and stumps ground when requested, leaving the area ready for safe recovery. Customers repeatedly report fast response, reliable scheduling, clear communication, and fair, affordable pricing for dead-tree work.
Competitive pricing without cutting corners. These arborists offer fair rates and transparent quotes, making professional tree care accessible for most budgets.
Affordable pricing is a core capability, with customers repeatedly noting reasonable, competitive rates and even the best bid on tree removal and stump grinding. They tailor options to fit budgets, presenting multiple approaches to get the job done safely and thoroughly without pushing unnecessary extras. The service is fast and efficient, often delivering prompt estimates and quick completion while keeping costs down. Across Des Moines metro and Norwalk, clients consistently report strong value—clear pricing, reliable service, and thorough cleanup that leaves the yard looking good.
All debris - branches, logs, and brush - is hauled away as part of the job. No pile left behind for you to deal with.
Cleanup is included as a core part of their service, with crews removing brush, branches, and yard debris after removals, trims, and storm cleanup. Customers in the Des Moines metro and Norwalk areas consistently report thorough cleanup, leaving the yard neat, free of debris, and often looking better than before. In many projects they go the extra mile, tidying driveways and, when requested, leaving mulch for reuse. While a few isolated reviews note cleanup gaps, the overall pattern emphasizes fast, thorough, and careful post-job cleanup as a standout strength.