SERVICES | Iowa Forest

SERVICES OFFERED BY IOWA FOREST & PRAIRIE

Professional land management services designed to restore, improve, and maintain your property—built on experience, safety, and long-term land health.

FORESTRY MULCHING &

BRUSH CUTTING

Forestry mulching and brush cutting are fast, highly effective ways to clear overgrown property without without creating large piles of debris to deal with later on. Our drum mulcher grinds trees, saplings, and dense woody material into mulch on the spot, The brush cutter makes quick work of tall grass and thick herbaceous vegetation as well.

If you have a problem with honeysuckle, autumn olive, multiflora rose, or other dense & thorny species invading your site, this is the best option to reset things back to a manageable level.

This is often the first step to restoring a highly overgrown area to eventually allow for planting and full establishment of a better prairie, savanna, or forest plant community over time.

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PRAIRIE PLANTING & ESTABLISHMENT

Prairie planting and establishment takes planning, patience, and a strategic approach. From prepping the site, to selecting the proper seed mix, to monitoring the weather to find the perfect time to plant, to early weed control through mowing & spot spraying, to the first controlled burn to fully establish things - every step is designed to allow the native perennials a chance to outcompete the tough invasive weeds.

The result? Diverse, thriving prairies that bloom year after year, improve habitat, and create beauiful landscapes you can be proud of.

Full Prairie establishment is typically a 3-4 year process:

Year 1 (growing season) - Site Preparation

Year 1 (dormant season) - Frost Seeding

Year 2 (growing season) - Mowing to reduce weeds

Year 3 (growing season) - Spot-Mowing for biennial weeds

Year 3 or 4 (dormant season) - Prescribed Fire

Year 5+ Prescribed fires every 1-3 years for continued maintenance

Iowa Forest & Prairie - Expert Land Management

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PRESCRIBED FIRE

Prescribed fire is a safe, carefully planned tool used to restore and maintain prairie, oak-hickory savannas, and native timber stands.

Historically, fire was a prevalant abiotic factor in developing and maintaining Iowa's native plant communities. When we think of an Iowan prairie full of color with wildflowers and native warm-season grasses, we know this was made possible by fire. Native plant species have evolved to complete their life cycles in the presence of fire, so it is an essential tool to restoring and preserving native habitat.

Fire works to reduce invasive species, promote native herbaceous grasses and forbs, increase biodiversity in the plant community, incentivize healthy regeneration, and more!

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TRAIL & RECREATIONAL AREA MAINTENANCE

We provide mowing and trail maintenance services to keep paths clean, defined, and ready for use. Using zero-turn mowers, we maintain smooth, consistent edges and manageable growth along trails and open spaces. We also refresh and reinforce worn-out trails with properly spread mulch to improve footing, reduce erosion, and extend the life of the trail.

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INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL

Removal of Invasive Species is done through a number of methods including:

Mechanical Removal (mowing, mulching, brush cutting)

Chemical Treatment (herbicide applications, spot-spraying)

Biological Control (currently not offered, includes grazing)

Prescribed Fire is a great tool for battling invasive species as well as maintaining initial mechanical & chemical treatments. This is the go-to method for long-term restoration and maintenance.

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