SLS Tree Management -- Schwinger's Tree Division
Stuart, Iowa Tree Service -- Trimming, Removal & Stump Grinding
Fully insured. Free estimates. Iowa storm damage, overgrown trees, dead ash -- we handle it all from start to cleanup.
SLS Tree Management -- Schwinger's Tree Division
Fully insured. Free estimates. Iowa storm damage, overgrown trees, dead ash -- we handle it all from start to cleanup.
Voted Best Lawn Care Business -- Best of Guthrie County
Tree Services in Stuart, Iowa
In 2013, Schwinger Lawn Service added a dedicated tree division: SLS Tree Management. Same crew, same work ethic, with the specialized equipment and insurance coverage that tree work demands. Whether you've got a dead ash in the backyard or storm damage across your whole property, we've done this work here in Stuart and surrounding Guthrie County communities for years.
Stuart has a lot of mature trees -- old-growth ash, oak, and elm throughout the older neighborhoods east of downtown. Those trees are beautiful when they're healthy. When they're not, they're a hazard. We deal with both.
Fully insured. Free estimates. We show up when we say we will, do the job right, and leave the site clean.
Call 515-523-1061
Stuart, Iowa
Regular trimming keeps trees healthy and prevents the kind of problems that turn into emergency calls. Deadwood falls. Branches over roofs and power lines become liabilities. Crossing limbs rub bark and open the tree to disease.
We trim to the right standard -- not just hacking off branches, but making proper cuts that the tree can actually compartmentalize and heal from. Crown cleaning, crown raising, hazard pruning. The right cut in the right place makes a difference in how long that tree lives.
Removal and Stump Grinding
When a tree has to come down -- dead, dying, structurally compromised, or just in the wrong place -- we do it methodically. That means planning the fell direction, rigging when necessary to protect structures, and sectioning the tree down safely. We're not in a hurry, and we're not reckless about it.
After removal, you've got a choice: leave the stump, or grind it. We have the equipment to grind stumps to below grade so you can re-seed the area, mow over it, or build on it without tripping on a stump forever. We always offer stump grinding at the time of removal -- it's cheaper to do it in the same visit than to schedule it separately.
Storm Cleanup and Debris Removal
Iowa's weather is no joke. The August 2020 derecho tore across central Iowa with winds topping 100 mph in some spots, snapping trees and taking out entire canopies. Stuart felt it. So did every town along that I-80 corridor from Des Moines to the Nebraska line.
Ice storms in February can load branches with 200+ pounds of ice before they let go. Straight-line winds out of the southwest in spring don't need to be a named storm to cause real damage. We've responded to all of it -- sometimes the next morning when there are dozens of calls, sometimes weeks later when folks finally get around to calling about that oak that came down in the backyard.
We can handle a single downed branch draped over a fence or an entire property cleared after a bad storm. Chain saws, chippers, dump trailers -- we have the equipment on hand.
Schedule Cleanup
Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer (EAB) has been working its way across Iowa since it was first confirmed in the state around 2010. Guthrie County is not immune. If you have ash trees on your property, this insect is a genuine threat -- not a scare tactic.
EAB kills ash trees by tunneling under the bark and cutting off the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. An untreated ash that gets infested will be dead within 3-5 years. The problem is that the tree often looks fine for the first year or two after infestation, so folks don't notice until it's too late to save it.
Preventive treatment works. We apply systemic insecticide treatments that protect ash trees before infestation takes hold. If your ash tree is already showing signs -- thinning canopy, D-shaped exit holes in the bark, serpentine galleries under the bark -- we can assess whether treatment is still viable or removal is the smarter call.
Ask About EAB Treatment
From a Real Customer
"It was like it never even happened. John and his crew removed the entire tree quickly, safely, and completely. This was a stressful situation we've never experienced before, and they made it so much easier."
Nathan Breen — Google Review
See the Work
Real tree removal by SLS Tree Management in Stuart, Iowa.
Common Questions
How long does tree removal take?
That depends almost entirely on the size of the tree, what's around it, and how much we need to rig vs. fell. A straightforward removal of a 30-foot dead tree in an open yard might take 90 minutes. A 60-foot oak overhanging a garage that needs to come down in sections could be most of a day. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when we look at the job. We don't rush tree work -- it's not the place to cut corners on time.
Do you grind the stump after removal?
We offer stump grinding as part of the removal job or separately if you already have a stump you've been looking at. Grinding puts the stump below grade -- typically 6-8 inches down -- and turns it into mulch in place. We always recommend doing it at the same time as removal since it's a second mobilization otherwise, and that costs more. If you want the area to be re-seeded or clean afterward, grinding is the right call.
What's the emerald ash borer and should I be worried about my ash trees?
The emerald ash borer is a small beetle from Asia that arrived in the US in the early 2000s and has been moving west ever since. It kills ash trees by boring under the bark and disrupting the tree's vascular system. Iowa confirmed its presence around 2010, and by now it's throughout much of the state including our area. If you have ash trees -- and a lot of older properties in Stuart and surrounding towns do -- you should take it seriously. Preventive systemic treatments protect healthy trees. Once a tree is more than roughly 30-40% dead from the top down, treatment isn't likely to save it. Call us to look at your trees before that point.
Do you clean up after the job?
Yes. We chip the brush and haul everything away. The wood from larger limbs and trunks can be left for you if you want firewood -- just let us know upfront. If you want the logs gone, they go with us. You should not be left with a pile of debris after we finish. That's part of the job, not an add-on.
Where We Work
Schwinger's SLS Tree Management division serves communities across Guthrie County and beyond. We cover Earlham, Dexter, Panora, Lake Panorama, Adair, Adel, Diamondhead Lake, and Greenfield, plus Winterset, Guthrie Center, Redfield, and surrounding communities. If you are within a reasonable drive of Stuart, call and we will tell you straight whether we can get to you.
Stuart, Iowa
3278 White Pole Road, Stuart, IA 50250 • Serving Stuart, Guthrie County, and surrounding communities