City of Ames Forestry

According to Chapter 27 of the City of Ames Municipal Code, “the City has charge, custody and control of all trees and shrubbery upon the parking and other portions of public streets; and has the right and power to plant, prune, care for, remove and maintain all trees and shrubbery upon the public street; and, to prune limbs and branches of trees and shrubbery that extends onto or over public streets. ‘Public Streets’ means all land lying between property lines on either sides of all public streets, avenues, highways, boulevards and alleys within the corporate limits of the City”.

City of Ames Forestry team conducts regular pruning to maintain the health and form of trees, along with removing dead, dying, or dangerous trees. Forestry staff assess all publicly owned trees once every five (5) years for health and safety. Any necessary work is completed at that time. Staff is also responsible for maintaining a clear and open right-of-way in the case of debris blocking streets or sidewalks.

A link to a map of all publicly owned trees in Ames is coming soon.

The City of Ames Forestry department plants trees across the community every spring and fall. We strive for a one for one replacement for every publicly owned tree removed, utilizing City and grant funds to achieve this goal.  

Want the City to plant a tree in your adjacent right-of-way?

Contact Ames City Forester Gabriele Edwards, at gabriele.edwards@cityofames.org, to be placed on our community tree request list. Please note this does not guarantee a tree will be planted in your right-of-way area.

Want to plant a tree yourself in the right-of-way?

Complete the Street Tree Planting Permit.

Check out our Native Tree Rebate Program to receive a rebate up to $100 each, for up to two trees per year, from the City of Ames for planting trees on your private property or adjacent right-of-way.

Native Tree Rebate Program

Selecting, Planting, and Maintaining New Trees:

Selecting the right tree for the right place impacts the overall health and longevity of urban trees. Identify goals for the planting such as shading a building, attracting birds or wildlife, blocking winter winds, or adding to the beauty of your yard. With these goals in mind, select an appropriate species that meets the goals.

Resources for selecting the right tree:

The Right Tree For the Right Place – Arbor Day Foundation

Rethinking Maple: Selecting Trees for your Yard – Iowa DNR

Tips for Selecting and Purchasing Trees and Shrubs – ISU Extension and Outreach

Guidelines for Selecting Trees – ISU Extension and Outreach

Resources for planting and maintaining newly planted trees:

Tree Planting Basics – ISU Extension and Outreach

Planting Trees in the Landscape – ISU Extension and Outreach

Planting and Maintaining a Healthy Tree – Iowa DNR 

Your Complete Guide to Pruning Trees and Shrubs – ISU Extension and Outreach

Tree Owner’s Manual for the Northeastern and Midwestern United States – USDA Forest Service

Additional Resources:

Emerald Ash Borer – Iowa DNR

Emerald Ash Borer - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

The City of Ames Parks and Recreation Department utilizes prescribed fire to manage land in various parks in Ames. A prescribed fire is the careful, controlled application of fire on a landscape to meet management objectives. Prescribed fire in Ames is conducted by trained staff, following the same training structure as national wildfire firefighters. All burns are conducted using proper permitting and partnership with the Ames Fire Department, and with necessary weather conditions for smoke management and fire safety.

Benefits of Prescribed Fire:

The greater Midwest ecosystem evolved with natural, periodic fire across the landscape. These naturally occurring fires helped create vast, high-quality prairies, savannas, and woodlands in Iowa. Today, professionals utilize prescribed fire for many benefits, including:

• Decrease threat of wildfire by decreasing the accumulation of old, dry combustibles
• Reduce and manage undesirable and/or invasive species
• Maintain species diversity by helping to establish native prairie wildflowers and grasses and native tree species in woodlands
• Improve operating efficiency by reducing mowing chemical applications
• Improve water quality through the presence of deep rooted prairie plants
• Enhance natural beauty of park spaces

Parks Managed with Prescribed Fire:

Ames Parks and Recreation conduct prescribed fire at the following parks and facilities:

• Ada Hayden Heritage Park
• Christofferson Park
• Greenbriar Park
• Moore Memorial Park
• Munn Woods
• River Valley Park
• Water Treatment Plant

Stay Informed:

City of Ames notifies the public of prescribed fires through local news and social media.