Fifteen miles of barrier island, one bridge to the mainland

Tree Service in Dauphin Island, AL

Tree work that keeps the island's pine forest standing where it protects your home.

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Trees on a Barrier Island

Tree Service on Dauphin Island is different from tree work anywhere else in Mobile County. The island is about 15 miles long and less than a quarter mile wide for most of that length. The wider east end is shaded by thick stands of pine and saw palmetto, while the narrow west end has scrub and few trees. The town's maritime forest guidance asks residents to keep native vegetation and groups of trees whenever they can, because that forest holds sand and slows wind. Our work here leans toward selective removal and careful pruning, not clearing.

Getting a crew to the island

The Gordon Persons Bridge is the only road onto the island. Its predecessor, opened in 1955, was destroyed by Hurricane Frederic in 1979; an anemometer on that bridge recorded a 146 mph gust. Everything we bring comes over that bridge, and we plan island jobs to make the trip count. Telling us about every tree you are thinking about at once lets us do it all in one visit.

A storm record that shaped the forest

The island has taken repeated blows:

Danny, 1997: The storm stalled near the mouth of Mobile Bay, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab gauge recorded 36.71 inches of rain.
Georges, 1998: 41 houses on the island were destroyed.
Ivan, 2004: Nearly a quarter of the island ended up under about two feet of water.
Katrina, 2005: Homes on the west end were destroyed, and the Katrina Cut split off the western tip.
Zeta, 2020: A 62-knot gust was recorded on the island, with 7 to 9 feet of inundation estimated near the west end.

Salt spray and flooding stress the pines after each storm. Stressed pines draw Ips engraver and other bark beetles, which Alabama Extension links to storm-damaged and drought-stressed trees. A pine that starts to fade in the months after a storm is worth a look before it dies and becomes brittle.

Invasives the town wants gone

The town's maritime forest brochure names three invasives to remove: Chinese tallow, air potato vine and cogongrass. Tallow is the tree we are asked about most. It seeds heavily and fills the gaps left when storms open up the pine canopy. Removing tallow and treating the stumps, while leaving native pines, live oaks and palmettos, is a good way to spend a tree budget on the island.

Lot coverage rules

Dauphin Island regulates how much of a lot can be built on through Ordinance 87B, which also deals with preserving trees and natural areas. In March 2026, the council was considering changes that would pair a 40% construction zone with a separate 25% impervious-cover limit. If you are clearing for an addition, a pool or a new home, check with the town first. Call (251) 355-2051 or use the form with photos. Get a free estimate

Dauphin Island Facts

Forest on the east end. The wider eastern part of the island is covered in pine and saw palmetto, while the narrow western end has scrub growth and few trees; the 164-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary is on the island.
Town guidance on trees. The town's maritime forest brochure asks residents to keep groups of trees and native vegetation during construction and to remove invasive tallow trees, air potato vine and cogongrass.
Ordinance 87B. Ordinance 87B limits how much of a property can be built on and covers tree and natural-area preservation; in March 2026 the town was weighing a 40% construction zone plus a 25% impervious limit.
Storm record. Danny (1997) dropped 36.71 inches at the Sea Lab, Georges (1998) destroyed 41 houses, and Ivan (2004) left nearly a quarter of the island under about two feet of water.
Bridge history. The Gordon Persons Bridge is the island's only road link; Hurricane Frederic destroyed the earlier 1955 bridge in 1979, when an anemometer on it recorded a 146 mph gust.

Emergency Storm Tree Service in Mobile, AL

Our Services in Dauphin Island, AL

Dauphin Island Questions

Do I need the town's approval to remove trees on my Dauphin Island lot?

For anything tied to building, clearing or adding hard surfaces, yes: check with the town first, since Ordinance 87B covers lot coverage and tree preservation and was being revised in 2026. For removing a single dead or dangerous tree, a call to town hall before the work is still a good idea.

My pines turned brown after the last storm. Should they come down?

Pines that turn fully brown are usually dead, and dead pines near a house should come down before they get brittle. Trees with only some brown needles may recover. Look for pitch tubes and boring dust on the bark, which point to beetles.

Can you remove tallow trees without clearing everything around them?

Yes. We cut the tallow selectively and treat or grind the stumps so they do not resprout. Native pines, oaks and palmettos stay, as the town's forest guidance recommends.

Free Estimates in Dauphin Island, AL

Free estimates on Dauphin Island, east end to west.

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