Do you guys do house calls?
We have an old forest - maybe 15 acres - surrounded by relatively new residential areas. We’re trying to figure out ho...
Knowledgebase
Forest rehab #925557
Asked March 06, 2026, 7:04 PM EST
Do you guys do house calls?
We have an old forest - maybe 15 acres - surrounded by relatively new residential areas. We’re trying to figure out how best to maintain the common forest area. There are differences of opinion. The forest has century old oak, walnut, osage orange, but also buckthorn, mulberry, locust, and honeysuckle. On the floor, there are wildflowers, including jack in the pulpit, mayapple, vinca, dutchman‘s breaches, columbine, bleeding heart. There used to be raspberries of some sort… Now greenbrier seems to be spreading. Adjacent to the forest are cucumber magnolia, ginkgo, cornelian cherry, redbud trees…. Some neighbors are for clearing out all the deadwood, and all the small trees, leaving only the established walnut and oak, and clearing out the underbrush, not just the honeysuckle. Others prefer the deadwood and the natural disorganization.
I think all would listen to a knowledgeable voice to help guide us.
Is there a knowledgeable voice that could pay as a visit?
Thanks
Scott CountyIowa
Expert Response
Here is some information on contacts for Urban Forestry for Scott County. One of the contacts is for the Iowa DNR state urban forester. She may be able to suggest someone that help answer your questions. Also listed are contacts for arborist in your area that can be hired to advise. https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/contacts/urban-forestry/scott