GRTree LLC

06/19/2026

5 fairly large dead Pines this time with tight access into the backyard. But, I was able to squeeze my small bucket truck in the yard for an easier go of it. With the usual power line and fencing obstacles Bluffs Tree Service and GRTree powered through it, rigged them out and got them removed. But, now that's 5 more stumps on my stump grinding list! Dead Pines are the hot item this year! Pray for our trees in this drought!🌲 💦

06/12/2026

Two more crispy dead Pine removals today with Bluffs Tree Service serving as backup/ground work. Nothing major but I did run into a colony of carpenter ants in one of them. Not a great pic of the ants but they are not something I see regularly here in NE. Much more common where I grew up in New England so I figured that I would make a post. You definitely do NOT want to see these big, plump, black ants in your home!

06/12/2026

Our NE Forrest Service giving an update!

Nebraska's trees are facing a challenging season. While recent rainfall brought some relief, much of the state remains in moderate to extreme drought, with exceptional drought expanding across western Nebraska.

The May Forest Health Report also covers freeze damage recovery, a new Emerald Ash Borer detection in Thurston County, and updates on common tree pests found across the state.

Read the full report to learn what these conditions mean for Nebraska's trees and communities: https://go.unl.edu/fhmay26

06/06/2026

On the heels of that serious last post, here are the regular pictures of the Pine removal today. Bluffs Tree Service came out to play and sweat 💦😅 but we got it down and cleaned up! 💪

06/05/2026

Pine removal today and I decided to take a few extra, and not my regular type, of pics. This dry and stone dead Pine obviously had a lot of beetle activity in it. In these pics you will see the holes the beetles make, the sappy tree response to it, some fraas (which is beetle 💩) and the blueish staining in the trunk wood they leave behind. These are some things to watch for if you have beetle concerns for a Pine tree (not spruce, cedar, other evergreens) of your own. This is a pine specific post and some species of pine handle the beetle activity better than others. There are many factors to consider! This particular tree died quickly over the winter even though it was in a very well kept landscape and was receiving supplemental water outside of the regular irrigation season. I ALWAYS recommend a timely removal of any similar Pine tree to this, including the stump, and no keeping that firewood! This is to control the potential spreading of what is likely Pine Wilt (a whole other subject that involves the pine beetles). No need to lose any more Pine trees than we need to, just because we don't know better!

06/03/2026

Another wind ravaged victim! Spent some time cleaning up the downed damage and then found another split higher up, where I was tying my climbing line in to deal with the twisted mess of downed and broken limbs about 25 feet up! So... I broke out some straps to keep it together for now until I can organize and get back for a full removal. Sad to lose a mature tree but with EAB approaching as well as there being other borer activity and lots of dead in it, I think it is fitting for this one.

05/29/2026

Stump day today... Before, during and after pics. From a 6 foot across root flare to no sign of the stump that once was! Lots of raking, I filled the bed of my pick up with grindings and even had to go dump to have enough room for what still remained. That's what happens when you are doing right for your customers instead of just leaving a lot of grindings mixed with the remaining dirt so next to nothing will grow!

05/24/2026

She was a big one is an understatement! 55 foot bucket truck, about a 70 foot mostly stone dead hybrid Cottonwood, 6 foot trunk at the root flare, teetering over 2 homes and a fence made for a decent challenge! And, after all that work Bluffs Tree Service and GRTree llc are tired and a little sore! But, with no injuries or damage, we are feeling accomplished as well. We even managed to fulfill the request of the neighbor (who graciously offered access to their backyard) by keeping the base trunk cut in one piece and moved it to their place for them to use in their backyard. Lots involved with this one, and I still have the massive stump to grind, but the hazard is now abated! 😎 💪 😅 ⛓️‍💥 🪚

05/23/2026

A good tree read of our very dry situation here in Nebraska!

As most of western and central Nebraska faces historic drought, the state’s tree experts are concerned drought could proliferate disease and pest concerns. Dry vegetation and trees also compound wildfire risk.

05/20/2026

Another large and very dead Pine removal with Bluffs Tree Service is in the books! Still a stump to take care of but that will wait until the 811 folks do their thing. Nothing fancy with this one... Just some cutting, rigging and a lot of man handling the vast amount of debris these things shed as you dismantle them! It honestly never ceases to amaze me... 😵🌲🪚🤯