Can smoke from a firepit harm a large spruce tree? - Ask Extension
Hello! We were contacted by our backyard neighbor in Eden Prairie who says that the proximity of our firepit to her very large (100 ft?) spruce tree i...
Knowledgebase
Can smoke from a firepit harm a large spruce tree? #870475
Asked May 28, 2024, 4:34 PM EDT
Hello! We were contacted by our backyard neighbor in Eden Prairie who says that the proximity of our firepit to her very large (100 ft?) spruce tree is harming her tree. In the two years that we've live in our home, we've probably had 6 fires. The distance from our firepit to the closest spruce branch is probably 15 ft. Is this a possibility? Or is this a question for an arborist?
Photo #1 - view from our yard with spruce in background
Photo #2 - view of the tree from the neighbor's yard
Photo #3 - closer view from the neighbor's yard
Thank you!
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
You could have a certified arborist come out but this may be an issue to be settled by your city's Code Enforcement Officer. There may be city regulations about how far a fire pit must be from the property line.
Hello, we are within the legal limits for Eden Prairie.
We will suggest having an arborist come out, but want to know first if smoke could be the issue.
Thank you! ~Jane
Smoke could possibly dry out the needles on the tree. It would depend on how much and how often. I can't tell you what to do but consider finding a different spot for your fire pit where the smoke will not envelop the tree. I speak from experience that smoke is very irritating. I had a neighbor who had their fire pit at the back of their yard and prevailing winds blew the smoke into my house. I had to keep my windows closed. If they had moved it over a bit the problem wouldn't have occurred. Good luck.
