At least two staggered rows of Loblolly pines will only create a screen for a few years. My loblolly trees after only 4 or almost 5 years of growing, since I first planted them as one gallon pot size trees, have lower branches which break off with very little pressure applied. I have read that loblolly trees naturally shed their lower branches once the trees begin to fill out and grow 20 or more feet tall. Hope you did not plant your Loblolly trees closer than 10 feet apart. If you planted them less than 7 feet apart you will later need to thin some of the trees out, or your trees will grow tall and narrow, much more quickly, while still shedding their lower limbs in time. If one wants a long lived screen, and still wants to plant Loblolly trees amid the screen, it would be best to plant the loblolly trees at least 10 to 12 feet apart and to plant 'Nellie R. Stevens' holly shrubs spaced to fill the spaces between the loblolly trunks. I have never found any one who sells the male pollinator specifically cultivated for the Nellie R. Stevens, so it is best to plant a Chinese holly not too far away to help increase the berry production on the Nellies. Also, please do not consider trying to top prune any of your loblolly trees. They grow tall, and pruning out the main leader trunk to create multiple leaders is only asking for trouble, once the trees begin to mature. In December '07, my area experienced 4 days of off and on rain with temps staying between 30 and 33 F. degrees. This caused the ground to remain thawed, but the trees accumulated 4 or more inches of ice. During that winter weather event, 4 of my nearly 20 feet tall loblolly tree's main leaders broke off about 5 feet above the ground. All around town there can be seen other Loblolly trees that broke the same way. I cut my 4 broken trees down to ground level, since letting them try to create new leader trunk growth would have only generated weak crotched multiple leaders that could not withstand the weight of the trunks, especially considering the height potentials of any future developing leader trunks.

I'm pretty close to you (I'm in North San Antonio) Similar climate, but you will get more rain. You might check Travis county extension for reccomendations. Ive recently been bitten by the conifer bug so here are some ideas: Any true cedar should work (cedrus) The deodar cedar is nice, but the species tree can get too big in a yard, Some in the older parts of San Antonio have really taken over small lots, even big lots. But then again, I dont know how big your place is. There are intermediate and dwarf varities (tons actually)that are nice, but those will probably be mail order only options for you. Loblolly pines grow ok in east texas, but probably not for you. Italian Stone Pine, Japanese Black Pine, and Aleppo pine are probably better bets. Maybe Southwestern White Pine (Pinus Strobiformis). I'm trying a dwarf (loma linda) here in San Antonio right now. Lots of different juniper species will do well for you. J. Chinensis has tons of interesting garden cultivars. Juniperus Sabina. Also J. Virginiana may work, Juniperus X Media is another. Arizona Cypress (cupressus glabra or cupressus arizonica)will work too and there are several nice blue and yellow cultivated varities e.g. carolina saphire, blue ice, blue pyramid, limelight. Also, these grow very fast so you can buy a small tree cheap. Actually, I would not buy an arizona cypress in anything bigger than a 3 gallon can. (one gallon would be better) And dont get one that has been sitting around the nursery, you may want to wait to they get new trees and shrubs in spring. Big leaf podocarp (podocarpus macrophylla)and Cephalotaxus haringtonia are working for me so far in a shady part of my yard. Im also trying Chamecyparis obtusa (hinoki false cypress). I could keep going, but that should give you some ideas. The group of plants people call conifers is enormous and they grow all over the world - even in San Antonio and Austin Texas. Good luck.

Could be several things - you need to get photos and also trim that damaged portion off if possible to get a better look..

I've never heard of that Jo, will check it out for sure. I left both my puppies inside during the cold. No way they were going to freeze in there. I've been sleeping on the couch and the smaller one has been right there with me, soaking up the heat. The German Shepherd on the other hand, he seems to care less about the cold or rain, or rain in the cold. :) About the yard, I've even considered ditching the elms, moving the elms, I will have to have (and also desire to have) pine trees to feel the bones of my yard are being properly utilized.