March 2026 : Tree Service Projects in Knoxville & East Tennessee
Every property has its own story, and the trees on it are a big part of that. Some trees provide shade and beauty for decades. Others outgrow their space, create safety hazards, or just stop fitting the vision a homeowner has for their yard.
At Whites Tree Services, we handle tree service projects across Knoxville, Knox County, Loudon County, and Blount County every week. Below are three recent jobs that show the range of work our crew takes on — from removing oversized Leyland cypress trees near a swimming pool to planting a new privacy screen along a busy road.
Each project came with its own set of challenges, and each one ended with a homeowner who got exactly what they needed.
Leyland Cypress Removal & Privacy Replacement — Poolside Project
The Problem
The homeowner had several large Leyland cypress trees growing around their pool area. When these trees were first planted, they were the right size — a dense, fast-growing privacy screen that looked great and did its job well.
But Leyland cypress trees don’t stop growing. Over the years, they had shot up well past 40 feet and spread wide enough to block sunlight from the pool deck, drop debris constantly into the water, and create a root system that was starting to push against the pool’s hardscape and the nearby metal fence.
The branches were hanging over the house, leaning into the neighbor’s property, and making the entire backyard feel dark and closed-in. The trees had become the problem instead of the solution.
What We Did
Our crew came in and performed a complete tree removal of the overgrown Leyland cypress trees surrounding the pool. This was a tight-access job — the trees were wedged between a swimming pool, a metal fence, the house, and a patio area with lounge furniture. Every cut had to be controlled to prevent debris from landing in the pool or damaging the stone deck.
After the trees came down, we ground every stump below grade so the homeowner wouldn’t have to look at (or trip over) old stumps for years. Stump grinding also eliminates the risk of regrowth, which is common with Leyland cypress if the stump is left intact.
Once the area was cleared and cleaned, we came back and installed smaller, more manageable privacy shrubs and trees in the same spots. The new plantings give the homeowner the screening they want without the maintenance headache of 50-foot evergreens growing three feet a year.
The Result
The pool area went from feeling like an enclosed tunnel to being an open, sun-filled space with clean sightlines and proper airflow. The homeowner now has privacy screening that fits the space instead of overwhelming it — and they don’t have to worry about branches falling into the pool every time the wind picks up.
This is a project we see often across the Knoxville area. Leyland cypress is one of the most common privacy trees planted in East Tennessee, and many homeowners are now dealing with trees that were planted 15–20 years ago and have completely outgrown their original purpose. If that sounds familiar, our team can help you evaluate what needs to come down and what can replace it. We offer full tree services in Knoxville including removal, trimming, and replanting.
Privacy Tree Installation — Cusick Circle, Lenoir City
The Problem
Karen’s property on Cusick Circle in Lenoir City backed up to a road, and the noise was becoming unbearable. Traffic sounds carried straight through her backyard, making it hard to enjoy the outdoor space she’d invested in.
There was no natural barrier between the property line and the road — just open lawn and a few scattered deciduous trees that dropped their leaves every fall and left the yard fully exposed for half the year.
What We Did
We designed and installed a row of evergreen privacy trees along the property’s back boundary. The trees were selected specifically for Karen’s situation — species that grow into a thick, year-round screen without reaching the unmanageable heights that Leyland cypress are known for.
Each tree was planted at the right spacing to fill in within a couple of growing seasons while still allowing each one enough room to develop a healthy root system. We also cleared existing stumps from the area and prepared the soil to give the new plantings the best possible start.
The placement was strategic. We positioned the trees to block the noisiest line of exposure from the road while keeping the rest of the yard open and usable. A well-planned privacy screen isn’t just about jamming as many trees into a line as possible — it’s about understanding how the trees will grow and how they’ll look in five, ten, and twenty years.
The Result
Karen’s backyard now has a dense, living barrier that significantly reduces road noise and gives her the privacy she was looking for. The new trees look natural, complement the existing landscape, and will continue to fill in over the coming seasons.
Privacy tree installation is one of those services people don’t always realize a tree service company can handle. At Whites Tree Services, we don’t just take trees down — we also plant them. Whether you need a full privacy screen, replacement trees after a removal, or hedge and bush trimming to keep existing screens looking sharp, our crew handles it all.
Bradford Pear Removal — Farragut, Tennessee
The Problem
Dave had two large Bradford pear trees on his property in Farragut that were becoming a real problem. The branches were reaching the house, scraping against the siding and roof during storms, and dropping debris onto the gutters constantly.
Bradford pears were planted all over Tennessee for decades because they grow fast, bloom beautifully in the spring, and have a nice rounded shape. But the reality is, they’re one of the worst trees a homeowner can have on their property.
Their branch structure is notoriously weak. Bradford pears grow with tight, V-shaped crotches that split apart under wind, ice, and their own weight as they mature. A single storm can rip a Bradford pear in half — and when that happens near a house, it becomes an emergency.
On top of that, Tennessee and several other states have moved to ban the sale of Bradford pear trees because they’re invasive. Their fruit spreads into wild areas and produces thorny callery pear saplings that choke out native plants. They’re not just a nuisance on your property — they’re a nuisance for the entire ecosystem.
What We Did
Our team removed both large Bradford pear trees from Dave’s yard. These were mature specimens — tall enough to reach the roofline with wide canopies that spread over the driveway and into the neighbor’s yard.
We brought the trees down in controlled sections, roping branches away from the house, driveway, and fence line. Once both trees were on the ground, we processed all the wood through the chipper, cleaned up the debris, and left the yard clear.
The fresh-cut stump photos tell the story — these were substantial trees with thick trunks. Leaving them standing any longer would have been a risk the homeowner couldn’t afford, especially with the branch structure already showing signs of splitting.
The Result
Dave’s property is safer, cleaner, and no longer at risk of a Bradford pear splitting onto his roof during the next thunderstorm. The driveway and yard feel noticeably more open, and the house is no longer being slowly damaged by branches pressing against it.
If you have Bradford pear trees on your property in Farragut, Knoxville, or anywhere in East Tennessee, the time to deal with them is now — before a storm makes the decision for you. Our crew specializes in professional tree removal for exactly these situations.
Why These Projects Matter for Your Property
These three jobs might look different on the surface — removing evergreens around a pool, planting privacy trees along a road, and taking down invasive Bradford pears near a house. But they all share the same core issue: trees that weren’t serving the homeowner anymore.
Trees are living things. They grow, they change, and sometimes they outgrow the role they were meant to play on your property. The smartest thing a homeowner can do is address tree problems early, before they turn into emergency situations that cost significantly more to resolve.
Whether you need a single tree taken down, a whole row replaced, or you’re clearing land for a new project, our team handles it. We also offer lot clearing services for homeowners and builders who need larger areas cleared efficiently and safely.
Get a Free Estimate for Your Next Tree Project
Have a tree that’s outgrown its space? Dealing with invasive species? Need a privacy screen installed? We’d love to take a look.
Whites Tree Services offers free, no-obligation on-site estimates for homeowners and businesses across the greater Knoxville area. Chris White personally reviews every project to make sure you get an honest assessment and a fair price.
Schedule your free estimate online, or call us directly at (423) 519-7484 to talk with our team.
We proudly serve Knoxville, Knox County, Lenoir City, Loudon County, Farragut, Maryville, and Blount County with complete tree care — from professional tree removal to planting, trimming, and everything in between.
