Removing Pines – Hardwood

Q: We’re having all of the pine trees removed from our lot. We have beautiful red and white oaks that do not have enough room amongst all the pines. Someone told me that removing the pines would kill my hardwoods because of the lack of acidity in the soil from the pine trees.

A: Removing the pines will have no effect on the oaks, other than to help them grow faster in more sunshine. Contrary to popular myth, pine trees don’t contribute much to soil acidity. In fact, your oaks would eventually kill the pines anyway. This is a natural process called “forest succession” in which an open field becomes populated in turn by grasses, shrubs, pines and finally hardwoods. Each competes with, and eventually overshadows, the former field inhabitants.