This Eastern Iowa Landowner Had Two Problems. We Fixed Both.
Some jobs come in as a single request. This one came in as a list.
In summer 2023, a client reached out about a section of his property that had been fighting him for years. The field edges along his corn ground and hay strips dropped sharply into a wooded area — and every heavy rain made it worse. Topsoil was washing off. Ruts and ravines were forming where flat, productive ground used to be.
And the timber itself? Loaded with dead ash trees and overgrown shrubs so thick his family couldn't hunt it, hike it, or run a UTV through without a fight.
He needed someone to come in, assess the whole picture, and actually fix it. That's what we do.
The Plan
After walking the site, our crew put together a three-part approach:
1. Grub out the timber — clear dead ash trees, overgrown shrubs, and dense undergrowth to reclaim access and eliminate the mess
2. Install tile drainage — run tile lines from the farm ground to a nearby natural water source to get excess water moving off the field edges the right way
3. Grade the hillsides — reshape the slopes along the field to stop the erosion that had been eating his topsoil and cutting ravines into the sidehill
One project. Three problems solved.
What Is "Grubbing Out" and Why Does It Matter?
If you've never heard the term, grubbing out is exactly what it sounds like — getting in with equipment and pulling out overgrown trees, root systems, shrubs, and dense vegetation that have taken over a section of property.
It's not just cleanup. It's land reclamation.
For Eastern Iowa landowners, grubbing out is often the first step toward getting more out of your property — whether that means expanding a crop field, creating accessible timber for hunting and recreation, improving pasture, or just eliminating a section of ground that's been a liability for years.
Dead ash trees in particular are a real problem across Eastern Iowa right now. The emerald ash borer has taken out a significant number of trees, and standing dead timber is both a safety hazard and a breeding ground for pests. Getting them out is overdue on a lot of properties.
The Erosion Problem Nobody Talks About Until It's Bad
Field edges that drop off into timber are one of the most overlooked erosion problems on Eastern Iowa farms. The transition zone between crop ground and wooded areas is where water accelerates, where soil loosens, and where small ruts quietly turn into real ravines over time.
By the time most landowners call us, the problem has been building for years. A few heavy rain events accelerate it fast.
The fix isn't complicated — but it does require the right equipment and a plan that addresses both the water movement and the slope. In this case that meant combining tile installation with hillside grading to redirect water properly before it had a chance to cut further into the field edge.
The Result
A timber section the family can actually use. Field edges that drain the way they're supposed to. Hillsides reshaped to hold soil instead of losing it.
And a landowner who doesn't have to worry about what that corner of the property is going to look like after the next big rain.
That's what a good grub out and drainage project is supposed to deliver — ground that works for you instead of against you.
Is Your Property Due for a Cleanup?
If you've got field edges giving you trouble, dead timber taking over, or erosion that's been getting worse every season, spring is the right time to deal with it.
We serve landowners across Dubuque, Delaware, Jones, Jackson, and Buchanan counties. Give us a call and we'll come take a look.
📞 563-542-6610
Or contact us via email to get on the schedule.