Pine Tree Removal by Tree and Problem
Tall Pines Over the House
UF/IFAS rates slash pine as susceptible to breakage, and its trunks that break in hurricanes tend to snap several feet above the ground. Over a roof or a pool cage, that's a takedown in sections, with the top lowered piece by piece.
- Trees over 80 feet: $1,200 to $2,500 or more (HomeGuide, national)
- Fixr notes that trees of 80 feet and up may need a crane-assisted removal
Beetle-Killed and Lightning-Struck Pines
UF/IFAS says southern pine beetle attacks are usually limited to damaged pines, most often ones injured by fire or a lightning strike. Outside outbreaks, which happen almost only in and around overcrowded pine stands, the beetle is rare; it is common in north Florida and grows scarcer toward the south of the state.
- Every dead pine gets bark beetles, but most are secondary species that don't attack healthy pines nearby (UF/IFAS)
- Severely damaged pines, such as lightning-struck ones, should come down promptly (UF/IFAS)
Pines Declining After Construction
UF/IFAS notes that slash pines can turn yellow and start dying soon after construction work begins near them, and that bark beetles and wood borers are a serious problem on pines hit by construction. If a pool, addition or new driveway went in near a pine in the last year or two, mention it when you call, so whoever looks at the tree knows to check for beetle damage.
Pines on Wooded Lots
On a lot with many pines, the species matters. UF/IFAS lists sand pine, along with southern red cedar, as a conifer that has done poorly in hurricanes again and again, while slash pine came through best. Clearing a whole lot rather than a few trees is a land clearing job.
Trimming Instead of Removal
A healthy slash pine needs little pruning: it sheds its own shaded lower branches as it grows. UF/IFAS warns that those dropping branches can land on walks and parked cars, so a pine over a driveway may only need its dead lower limbs taken off. That work falls under tree trimming.
Why Palm Coast homeowners, HOAs and property managers call Palm Coast Tree Service
- Each request goes to just one tree company
- Free to use; you pay only for work you sign off on
- Ask for an estimate that lists cleanup and hauling
- Ask to see liability and workers' comp proof
Before a Pine Comes Down
The beetle claim. UF/IFAS lists "my pine has beetles, so I have to remove it" among the common myths. Correct identification of the insect matters, and the beetles in most dead pines are no threat to living ones. A dead pine still has to come down, but those secondary beetles are no reason to cut the healthy pines around it.
The pines you keep. UF/IFAS advises avoiding damage to surrounding pines from heavy machinery during a removal. Ask where the truck and any heavy equipment will park, and keep them off the roots of the pines that stay. For replanting, the same guide suggests at least 25 feet between mature pines in a yard.
The stump. Fixr notes that a pine's tap root makes it harder to dig out completely, so grinding the stump below grade is the simpler option; stump grinding covers the cost and the 811 call. A pine of this size usually needs a City permit to remove, which the tree removal page explains.