Tree removal · Pines
Pine Tree Removal
Pines grow tall and straight with most of their weight near the top. That makes them easier to fell in open ground and harder to remove beside a house, and it is why pines snap or uproot in storms more often than spreading hardwoods.
Call availability varies by area and time of day. Calls are answered by an independent tree service provider.
How pines fail
A loblolly or slash pine in a Southern yard can reach 80 to 100 feet with a narrow crown at the top. In wind, that crown acts like a sail at the end of a long lever. Pines that grew up in a stand and were left alone when neighbors were cleared are especially vulnerable, because they never built the trunk taper that open-grown trees have.
Pines also have relatively shallow, spreading roots in wet soils, and they tend to uproot or snap mid-trunk in hurricanes rather than lose limbs.
Bark beetles add to the risk. Southern pine beetle, Ips engraver beetles and in the West mountain pine beetle can kill a pine within a season, and the dead wood dries and weakens quickly.
Signs a pine is dying or dangerous
Needles turning yellow then red-brown
The whole crown changing color together usually means beetles or root failure.
Pitch tubes on the bark
Small popcorn-like blobs of resin where beetles bored in.
Fine reddish boring dust
In bark crevices and at the base of the trunk.
Bark sloughing off
Common a few months after a beetle kill.
Lean after a storm
Especially with raised soil on one side of the trunk.
Should dead pines come down quickly?
Yes. Beetle-killed pines can lose structural strength within months, and in the South they often break within a year or two. Removing them promptly also gets beetle brood out before it spreads to nearby pines.
- Same season
- Beetle-infested pines near healthy ones should go before the next generation emerges.
- Over structures
- Remove before the wood becomes too brittle to climb.
- Remote areas
- Dead pines away from targets can sometimes be left as wildlife snags.
Common pines and their problems
| Species | Region | Typical issue |
|---|---|---|
| Loblolly | Southeast | Southern pine beetle, wind snap, height over houses |
| Slash and longleaf | Florida, Gulf coast | Hurricane damage, lightning strikes |
| White pine | Northeast, upper Midwest | Weak forks, snow and ice breakage, root rot |
| Ponderosa | West and mountain states | Bark beetles, wildfire |
| Austrian and Scots pine | Planted in the Midwest and Plains | Needle blights and pine wilt |
How a pine is taken down
Check for space
If there is a clear fall zone as long as the tree is tall, it may be felled whole.
Limb the trunk
A climber removes the branches on the way up, often on spurs since the tree is coming down.
Top the tree
The crown is cut off, roped and lowered or dropped into a clear space.
Section the trunk
The trunk comes down in lengths the crew can control.
Chip and haul
Branches go through the chipper. Logs are cut for hauling.
Things that are different about pine
- Sap
- Fresh pine sap is sticky and gets on everything. Crews protect vehicles and walkways.
- Needles
- Pine needles stay on the ground long after cleanup. Raking is often part of the job.
- Firewood
- Pine burns fast and builds creosote. Many people prefer to have it hauled.
- No sprouting
- Pine stumps do not resprout, so grinding is optional except for space and looks.
Felling whole or sectioning
Fell whole
- Open ground longer than the tree's height
- Fastest method
- Trunk lands in one piece
Section down
- Near a house, fence, or lines
- Climber or crane required
- More time but controlled
Most yard pines are sectioned. See crane tree removal when a tall pine stands right beside the house.
Pine removal questions
Will one dead pine kill the others?
It can, if bark beetles are breeding in it. Remove infested pines promptly and keep nearby pines watered during drought.
Do pine stumps need to be ground?
Only for space or appearance. Pines do not resprout, and the stump will rot over years.
Can pine trees be trimmed instead of removed?
Yes, for dead limbs and clearance, but a pine whose top has died will not regrow a crown.
Why do pines fall in storms more than oaks?
Tall, top-heavy crowns, shallow roots in wet soil and thin trunks in trees that grew in stands.
Talk to a pine tree removal provider
Call to be connected with an independent tree service company near you.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day