Pine Tree Removal in Tyler, TX

Pine tree removal is a large share of the tree work around Tyler because pines are a large share of the trees. Smith County lies in the East Texas Timberlands, and loblolly and shortleaf pines grow tall and straight over many homes, often in groups on wooded lots. A healthy pine is a fine yard tree. A dead one standing 80 feet tall next to a roof is a problem with a clock on it, and drought years in East Texas tend to produce a lot of dead pines at once.

Beetles, drought and dead pines

Pine bark beetles are the usual cause. Texas A&M Forest Service describes three Ips engraver beetle species in Texas, and they rarely kill healthy trees on their own; drought, root damage from construction, hail and old age set trees up for attack. KETK reported in late 2022 that prolonged drought in the East Texas piney woods made Ips activity more likely and that all pine species in the eastern half of the state are susceptible. AgriLife notes the southern pine beetle is the one species that can attack healthy trees, and that a pine once infested by bark beetles is nearly impossible to save.

Signs to look for

• Pitch tubes: small reddish or whitish blobs of resin on the bark, about the size of a wad of gum
• Reddish-brown boring dust in bark crevices or at the base of the trunk
• Needles fading from green to yellow to red, often from the top down
• Bark that loosens and shows Y- or H-shaped tunnels underneath

Not every brown needle means trouble. AgriLife notes that inner, older needles shedding in fall, and scattered red 'flags' on branches, are normal. Forest Service guidance says that in a hot, dry late summer needles can go from green to red in about three weeks, and once they are red the tree is dead.

Why removal timing matters

Texas A&M Forest Service says dead pines typically begin to decay within six to ten months, and that those which could fall on structures, roads, power lines or fences should be removed sooner. A freshly dead pine can usually still be climbed and taken down in controlled sections. One that has been dead for a year or more has brittle tops and loose bark, which may call for a lift or a crane and costs more. The Forest Service also notes that removing a pine after the beetles have already flown out does not stop an infestation, so if the tree is not a hazard, timing is about safety rather than the beetles.

Protecting the pines that are left

Taking out one dead pine should not wound the trees next to it. AgriLife's advice is to avoid damaging neighboring trees, keep heavy equipment and soil disturbance off their roots, and water slowly and deeply during drought. Infested wood should be dealt with quickly rather than stacked beside healthy pines. We plan drop zones and equipment routes with that in mind.