Dallas, please don't spray insecticides without a clear reason for doing so. Extremely doubtful the ants had anything to do with tree conditions.

You can-and I would-prune the trees away from the house a bit. I'm a long ways away from you, so can make no direct recommendation for an arborist. But do look for ISA certification. It won't guarantee good work, but makes it much more likely.

+oM

if you are in a wind zone... i would get rid of the cottonwood ...

seedless or not.. they are weak wooded trees ... ken

Trees do not need to be pruned as a normal thing. There are times, and trees, when pruning is indicated. Mostly, pruning is done for the better health of the tree, or for the greater beauty.

Another reason to prune is what seems to be your case, the well-being of you and your house. I would trim away any branches that threatened to rub against your house. Use normal, good pruning practices - use sharp tools, trim to a larger diameter branch or to the trunk, don't leave stubs. There have been a few recent postings about tree trimming/pruning, so you might want to search through for them, and see what is considered the best way to cut off a branch. If the branches are large, and you have no experience with using a chain saw, hire it done, for your safety. Losing an arm, falling out of the tree and breaking something r the like would be a lot more expensive than paying for tree limbs to be cut.

Because anyone can buy a chainsaw, and set up in the tree-trimming business, try to get a certified arborist to do the work - the certificate at the least implies a certain minimum standard, if not a true excellence. Failing that, get references, and follow up on them.

As far as the cottonwoods go, most ant species don't attack living wood - they just move into already dead wood. If you can get a certified arborist, have him/her look at the cottonwoods too. They may be diseased or rotten, and need to come down before they do you or your house damage. Most of the carpenter ants I have met have been large and black, but yours MIGHT be another species, I don't know ant species well.

I repeat the suggestion not to spray for any pest until you know exactly what you are spraying for - it's just wasted money and time, not to mention what else it might kill off, if not what you thought you were targetting.

thanks for all your good advice. I believe I will trim the cottonwoods this year and consider removing them next year when I have the backyard landscaped. They really do take up a lot of room and wind is definitely an issue here. I have found a certified company to do the trimming and am considering trimming the tree brushing the house too. Boy it sure is expensive! But better safe than sorry. Thanks again!