March 19, 2024

Officials raise concerns about threats to Iowa trees

BURLINGTON — City officials in Burlington are concerned about the city’s trees following a wave of plant diseases and unusually wet weather in recent years that has loosened the soil’s grip on root systems. Many of the trees have no natural immunity to the diseases. City crews and Burlington’s nine private tree services are busy removing trees that have succumbed to disease or fallen because of storms. Parks Superintendent Ryan Gourley said he believes ash trees will eventually disappear from the area.