Can I cut the branches of my neighbors trees?

My neighbor has trees that hang all over my fence and more leaves fall in my yard then in his. I have to rake them every hour if I want them gone. Can I have a tree guy come in and cut the ones that hang over and send him the bill? I have sent him countless letters asking him to do something but have got no response. What are my options in the matter does anyone know?

John

Reply to
John
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Although in my town, it's legal for a neighbor to cut overhanging branches, I would be disproportionately pissed off if a neighbor did that without first having a conversation. Have you knocked on your neighbor's door and asked for his/her opinion?

Also: Why do so many leaves fall on your side? Prevailing wind?

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

Hi, I did it after mentioning to neighbor. He did not seem to bother with it. Was shading my gazebo real bad.

Reply to
Tony Hwang

You must be busy!

-- Oren

"I wouldn't even be here if my support group hadn't beaten me up."

Reply to
Oren

According to what I have heard on this group and my own knowledge.

You own everything from the fence up so you can trim all you want as long it doesn't harm the tree or maybe make it look stupid. The leaves that fall on your side are yours, if it was a fruit tree you would own the fruit.

Here's the bad part for you, you can't charge him for the trimming.

Reply to
Cliff Hartle

You can cut the branches on your side without his consent because they "belong" to you.

However, you cannot also charge him if you do not get written or verbal consent from him. You are improving your own property, why should he have to pay for it?

Reply to
Rocinante

True. Just don't kill the tree next door.

-- Oren

"I wouldn't even be here if my support group hadn't beaten me up."

Reply to
Oren

... so I guess painting the cut ends with Garlon would be wrong ;-)

Reply to
gfretwell

I am not at this home many months of the year and the fall is the only time when the leaves fall. I have had a kid take care of the lawn during the summer but now is off season with nothing to cut. I did have the cleaning done but now I am the one that is left as my usual helper is gone. I first decided to drop off a note and keep a copy but after several left in his mail box and several actually delivered by the US Mail I assume I am being ignored. I only get pissed when I am in the middle of raking and think of dropping the leaves off on his front steps along with some dog crap just to make my point.

Reply to
John

No, they are never gone. On a good day I could rake continually all day. Like shoveling snow in a blizzard.

Reply to
John

Oh they would look pretty bad trimmed. Take my word for it. Not to mention the job it would be as they have really grown rather tall. I actually feel sorry for the trees more than anything. Even if I did trim from the fence straight up the leaves on his side would still end up blowing off and landing on my lawn. They are actually beautiful trees this time of year. Now that I think of it there really doesn't seem like there is anything that can be done short of removing them entirely.

Reply to
John

Because they are a nuisance and the cause of distribution of unwanted litter. Just like a mud slide that caused dirt or anything else to end up on my land. Just like a car rolling down a hill I can have it removed and charge him for the tow. Why not?

Reply to
John

Maybe I can throw the limbs over the fence. If I start with one at a time I might get some reaction. If I did that and they are my limbs because they are over my land then could he have me charged with littering?

Reply to
John

Get a grip, dude. They are LEAVES, not radioactive fallout. Don't your leaves blow into the downwind neighbor's yard? Do you go collect them? I get a big dose of leaves (and branches) from my upwind neighbors tree just over the lot line, and his tree screws up my satt signal as well. Guess what- that is part of living in a subdivision. At least his dog is mostly quiet.

The only cure to 'neighbor leaves' is to have a lot big enough that it isn't an issue, because your own stand of trees catches them all.

Let the leaves set until the tree is bare, and just clear them all at once. The yard will be fine.

aem sends...

Reply to
aemeijers

One man's litter is another man's soil amendment. Tree roots scavenge nutrients from deep in the soil. These nutrients are made available when the leaves fall. Placing them in bags by the curb for pickup is wasteful. Better to sprinkle a few gallons of water into the bags, then stack them up out of the way to decompose into lovely, sweet earthy-smelling mulch for use in your garden next spring.

If you're going to trim the branches, go ahead, but know what you're doing, for the sake of your property's appearance and the health of the trees. Use the three cut method to keep the branches from tearing off -- on YOUR side of the trunks. First cut from underneath, about six inches out, halfway through. Second cut from top, about eight inches out to remove the bulk of the limb. Third cut is flush to the growth collar to allow the tree to form a scar which will close up over the next few years. Do not paint the wound. Leave it open to weep and clean itself out.

Reply to
Father Haskell

Get a clue 'DUDE.' There are no leaves blowing from my yard onto anyone else's property. I do not have trees planted close enough to any neighbors land. The guy doesn't even mow his lawn and the place looks like a slum. Maybe if you didn't have your head up your ass you might imagine others have the same problems with this 'DUDE' in that run down barn he lives in. Try not to use that imagination and assume anything you are not told and you might not have so much trouble processing thoughts properly.

Reply to
John

I thought someone might have had the same problem so I posed this question. I see it is a bit much for some to handle.

Reply to
John

I don't know. Do you want to know what the weather is expected to be like HERE tomorrow? It's the same about property law.

It all depends on where you live. Go down to city hall and ask. I could tell you what we do here, and what I would do, but that might not plug into your equation and where YOU are. It might buy you a boatload of trouble where you are.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

I will be hiring someone to do the work and was hoping someone on this group had a similar problem and had dealt with it before. Thanks for your response. Good post.

John.

Reply to
John

a old neighbor of mine lived on the end of the block and had NO TREES AT ALL!

Unfortunately prevailing winds filled his yard over 6 feet deep of leaves every fall. You could not see him but just the leaves moving, he raked and baged all fall.

Long dead now the current owners erected a 7 foot fence no doubt to keep the leaves on the street.

I dont live there anymore but pass by occasionally and note such changes.

if the OP trims the trees and makes the neighbor mad he might start a neighborhood war.

best the OP NEVER does anything wrong EVER!

like play radio or tv loud in evening, have dog, barks or pees in neighbors yard, the list of possible war material is endless..

Reply to
hallerb

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