That Girl Tree Care

07/20/2026

Well... this is pretty cool! 😊

A huge thank you to Kirkwood Community College for recognizing That Girl Tree Care as Alumni Business of the Month!

I started this company because I love trees and wanted to build a business I could be proud of and one that takes great care of both our clients and our team.

🌳 Alumni Business of the Month: That Girl Tree Care

"Ashley Whittlesey ('07) began That Girl Tree Care with a clear mission: to prove that women belong at the top of trees and at the helm of businesses. Driven by passion and a deep love for arboriculture, she’s created a company that blends skill, strength, and heart." Learn more and discover other Alumni-Owned Businesses at https://www.kirkwood.edu/alumni/alumni-directory.

07/20/2026

WE'RE HIRING!

That Girl Tree Care is growing, and we're looking for one more incredible person to join our team!

We're an all-women tree care company based in Cedar Rapids, but we're looking for the right person, everyone is encouraged to apply. We value hard work, integrity, a positive attitude, and people who genuinely enjoy working as part of a team.

Tree experience is a bonus, but it's not required. We can teach the skills. We can't teach someone to care, show up every day, or have a great attitude.

This is a physically demanding job, but it's also incredibly rewarding.

You'll work hard. You'll get dirty. You'll sweat. You'll probably go home sore some days.

You'll also learn an amazing trade, work with an incredible team, and help care for some of the most beautiful trees in Eastern Iowa. Every day is different, and there's nothing quite like standing back at the end of the day and seeing what your team accomplished together.

We're looking for someone who:
🌿 Loves working outdoors.
🌿 Isn't afraid of hard, physical work.
🌿 Has a positive attitude and enjoys being part of a team.
🌿 Is dependable and takes pride in doing things the right way.
🌿 Wants to learn, grow, and build a career, not just collect a paycheck.

If this sounds like you (or someone you know), send us a message or email your resume to [email protected].

Everyone is welcome to apply.

💚 Please share this post—you never know who might be looking for the perfect opportunity!

07/11/2026

I debated posting this… but it was too funny (and too humbling) not to.

People think tree work is all about chainsaws and climbing. Sure, we worry about chainsaws, protecting people’s property, and making sure everyone on the crew gets home safely.

But every once in a while, a three-leafed little jerk reminds you who’s really in charge. 😅

‘Stay safe out there… unless you’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to look like Quasimodo auditioning for a pirate movie. ☠️🫠
OutHereTollingBells

06/11/2026

Thanks to Betsy’s creativeness, we have a new way of getting to your tree with all this rain! 🙃😂 ☔️

06/01/2026

This is a tough post to write, and I’ve been putting it off.

Last Friday was DUG’s final estimate run with me. We said goodbye to his sweet soul at the wise age of 16.

DUG was the best companion a girl could ask for. He was always by my side—whether it was estimate appointments, landfill runs, or a quick trip to the shop. If I was going somewhere, he was ready to come along and keep me company.

He wasn’t just part of my life; he was part of this business and a familiar face to many of our customers over the years.

His loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love will be deeply missed. Thank you for 16 wonderful years, buddy. ❤️🐾

05/30/2026

We’re proud to be sponsoring the Newbo Woman’s Fest again this year! 🌳🎉

Today we’re celebrating women business owners, musicians, and artists, with 60–70 amazing vendors, live music, and a fantastic community atmosphere all day long.

We’ve got our booth set up and are ready to talk trees, answer questions, and connect with everyone. Stop by, say hello, and enjoy everything this incredible event has to offer!

05/07/2026

The crew had a day of destruction! We removed some overgrown arborvitae that had completely outgrown their space around the well house. While they once worked great for screening, they had become too large for the area and were starting to crowd the structure. Sometimes removal is the best long-term option to keep a space functional, healthy, and looking its best. Great work by Mandy, Mitch, and Korey getting it done safely and efficiently!

04/24/2026

Happy Arbor Day 🌳

Yesterday we celebrated Earth Day, and today we get to honor Arbor Day, two days that mean a lot to us and the work we do every day.

This year, we donated a tree to Brucemore here in Cedar Rapids. After the derecho, they lost so many beautiful trees, and being able to give even a small piece back to a place that means so much to our community (and to us as our dear clients) was incredibly special.

Trees do so much more than just look nice. They clean our air, cool our neighborhoods, support wildlife, and create spaces where memories are made. Planting and caring for them is one of the simplest and most powerful ways we can give back to the earth.

We’re grateful every day to do work that helps protect and care for something so important. Thank you to our amazing clients and community for supporting our small business and allowing us to keep doing what we love.

If you’ve ever thought about planting a tree, today is the perfect day to start !

04/15/2026

So…these are Triumph Elms, and they’re pretty impressive.

They’re coming in around 20 feet tall with a 2.5–3" caliper (measured 6" above the soil line), so you’re not starting with a tiny tree, you’re getting something that already feels established. Under Legacy’s growing system, these trees are putting on about 4–6 feet of growth per year.

Normally, trees this size are priced quite a bit higher, but Legacy Trees is doing a “Cedar Rapids needs more big trees” push and offering them at the same cost as standard stock. Ron stopped by to visit the crew a couple weeks ago and quickly saw what we’re all feeling!! We need shade, and we need it sooner rather than later.

These trees also come with a 5-year warranty and are grown using a system designed to promote strong root development and proper planting depth, setting them up for long-term success right from the start.

If you’ve been thinking about planting, or have a spot that could use some real shade, this is a great opportunity to skip a lot of the “waiting years” and get something established right away.

We’ll be doing our spring planting next month, so reach out if you want to take advantage of these big beauties.

—That Girl Tree Care
📞 319-899-5311
📧 [email protected]

04/10/2026

I was asked to be on the 1 Year 1 Fear podcast with Cara Flynn.

It was a really great conversation, and Cara is an awesome interviewer.

We talked about my childhood growing up in a small town, finding my place in this industry, taking a chance on hiking across the country, and the creation of That Girl Tree Care.

We also got into deep conversations about fear and how we deal with it.

If you want to learn a little more about me or just have another good podcast to listen to, check it out!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5w6xadk4Iz1Em411bWm0DA?si=u_2K7ZtDSA6fM0vWe6kgfw