Personally I hate this idea. He says those two pines and a few other trees in the video are “junk trees”. He wants to plant trees near the porch and get rid of all the vines in the yard. I love it how it is now and wouldn’t change a thing other than the bottom lawn. Is he right?
by aninegager
26 Comments
Sorry first post, south Connecticut
I wouldn’t personally remove the trees but I would wage war with the kudzu
I personally think the only reasons to cut a tree down on your property are if it’s dead or dying and it’s a danger to your house if it falls over. It takes trees so long to grow!!! But people do what they want. Someone recently bought a house on my street and cut every single tree down for no reason. It looks so trashy now. Probably because they filled the yard with trash (campers, deer stands, kids toys, old cars) after they cut all the trees down.
Pines are not junk trees but they can drop a lot of material. Getting rid of the vines is a good idea but removing the trees has zero to do with vine removal. The vines will stay unless you get each and every root.
They’re not junk trees, but you need to remove those vines on the trunk if you do decide to keep them.
All you have to do is sever them down near the base, and the rest will die back.
More asphalt, less trees. It will be too late when we realize how beautiful nature is
Bad idea. Google Pine trees keystone species. Most people know oaks are keystone species, but they don’t know pines are. Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of their environment, and their removal leads to significant ecological changes.
I removed all the english ivy in my back yard. It was all over trees like this. Smaller area mayb ebut more trees. The dead vines are drying out on the trunks and slowly falling down. It took a few months to really get a handle on it but totally worth it. It’s easy enough to stay on top of once it’s under control.
I think the pines are fine. It would take years to get a similar size and presence of a newly planted trees, I don’t think pines are considered junk trees either, like Bradford Pears or Tree of Heaven, along with other disease prone or problematic trees. If he’s concerned about their health, an arborist could help determine any issues.
I would get rid of the kudzu though! And maybe evaluate some of the other filler plants and replace with natives where possible. It’s hard to tell what is there, but looks like a lovely yard with a lot of potential.
Well it’s his property so at the end of the day it is his call.
I would implore him to perhaps just start with the vine removal and see if that does the trick for him.
Then start with the tree closer to the house so that he can get the space he wants close to the porch.
I think removing the farther away tree is a bad idea as you lose a lot of privacy and potentially could make the house much warmer in the summer if there are no trees sheltering the house and yard.
I’d head over to r/arborists for specific questions regarding the pines. Hard agree with waging war on the kudzu.
Why type of pine, any ideas?
As an emergency manager, I would consider at least having a tree expert out to give a consultation on the trees. I had a giant pine like this at my ex’s house and me also being a bit of a nature nerd, I discovered a fungus growing on the tree that was an indicator of root rot. Convinced the ex that the tree should come down as it was a huge risk to the house (was only about 10 feet from the front door and was over 60 feet tall). Tree guy came out, said yep that trees gotta go. When they cut it down, the middle of the tree showed signs of disease. The tree guys even talked to me about the indications. So while I would normally agree with everyone here to keep the tree, it may be worth at least making sure with an expert that it’s not a risk to the house. Most tree companies will even do a free consultation. But just my humble opinion!
Leave them
Kill the vines, keep the trees
Those are beautiful trees, why does he want to cut them down?
I just removed 7 white pines in the easement behind my house that were covered in vines and dying. They had heart rot and the vines were killing them, and technically on the neighbor’s property but they were leaning towards my house. Call an actual arborist, they will tell you whether the trees can be saved, but the vines all have to go. I’m planning on planting one big tree in my yard to get the shade back, but it won’t be a pine.
Those trees are not decorative, fruit- or nut-bearing, or deciduous, but they’re not junk!
If he prefers something different, I would strongly advise to plant it now, but wait to remove the existing pines until after the saplings have grown up. You don’t want to spend the next ~decade with nothing but a piddly sapling, and most trees will do fine with partial shade under the pines.
Look up your local conservation district’s plant sale for some species:
https://www.conservect.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CRCCD-plant-sale-brochure-2025_final_web.pdf
https://www.conservect.org/product-category/ct-river-coastal-conservation-district-2025-native-plant-plug-sale/
The official spring sale is over, but call them – they’re volunteers and if they’re anything like my local district they would probably love to help out! They might also connect you with a local nursery provides the saplings and which might stock larger trees and provide them outside of annual sales.
Black gum or red oak are great trees. Pagoda dogwoods are gorgeous if there’s not that much room. Red Cedar smells lovely and, like your pines, has foliage all year long, which may be valuable for privacy in winter. And they stock conifers like Balsam firs and White Pine (can’t be sure, but I think that’s what these are).
He should focus on the vines
Tell him all the good white pines in the area were cut down for ship masts 200 years ago and to get his head out of his ass
That would lower the value of your home and potentially raise energy bill.
Is it your place or his?
Wtf. NO
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago
He cray