Pine Tree Removal in Tallahassee
Tall pines over a roof, a new lean after a storm, brown needles or pitch tubes on the bark. What to look for, why pines are their own kind of job, and what to ask before a crew takes one down.
Free, no-obligation estimate from a local tree service.
Pines in North Florida
Why pines come up so often here
Pines are everywhere around Tallahassee, from loblolly and slash pines in backyards to longleaf in the Red Hills region north of town, which Tall Timbers describes as holding much of the native longleaf pine left in the US. Pines grow tall and straight, and many were left standing when neighborhoods were built around them. Decades later, a lot of those trees are 70, 80 or 90 feet tall and standing right next to houses.
A tall pine near a home isn’t automatically a problem. Healthy pines with sound roots handle wind well. The calls usually come when something changes:
- The tree starts to lean, or the soil on one side lifts or cracks
- Needles turn reddish-brown across the whole crown
- Pitch tubes (small blobs of sap) or fine sawdust appear on the bark
- The tree was struck by lightning: look for a long strip of bark blown off down the trunk
- Roots were cut by a new driveway, pool, septic work or trenching
Source: Tall Timbers, Red Hills region.
Leaning after a storm?
A pine that has newly leaned, with the root plate lifting, can finish falling in the next wind. Keep people out of the area it could hit and ask for an urgent visit.
Bark beetles
Storms, stressed pines and beetles
According to UF/IFAS, Ips engraver beetles attack stressed or storm-damaged pines, mostly in the first year after a storm. Pitch tubes on the bark are a sign of an active attack. UF/IFAS also notes that southern pine beetle isn’t usually tied to storms, and no confirmed southern pine beetle infestations were found in Florida in 2024.
UF/IFAS advises basing removal decisions on the risk of the tree falling (or its timber value), not on the beetles alone. If a beetle-killed pine is near a structure, it’s a dead tree, with all the risks covered on the dead tree removal page.
The job itself
How a tall pine is usually taken down
In an open yard with room to spare, a pine can sometimes be felled in one piece. Near a house it’s usually climbed and taken down in sections: limbs first, then the trunk cut from the top down in lengths short enough to lower or drop safely. Where there’s no safe drop zone, a crane may be the better option.
Pine is softer and lighter than oak, but the trunk sections of a 90-foot tree are still very heavy. Pines also leave a lot of debris: long trunk sections and a big pile of limbs and needles. Check that hauling is included, since the City’s curbside yard-waste pickup only takes limbs up to 6 feet long and 4 inches thick.
Source: City of Tallahassee, Yard Waste.
Questions
Pine tree removal FAQ
How much does it cost to remove a pine tree?
Is a leaning pine dangerous?
Should I remove a pine that was struck by lightning?
Do pine needles and sap damage roofs?
Do I need a permit to remove a pine?
Can I grind the pine stump?
Get a quote for your pine
Tell us the rough height, how close it is to the house, and whether it leans. Photos help.