*I know this will not be a popular post and I will probably get > flamed all
> over the place. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I've reached > the
> point that I just don't care anymore.
>
> My neighbor's huge pine tree (about 70' tall or more and about 3' at > the
> base - right on the property line) is destroying my roof, my gutters, > my
> yard, my pool, and my cars - possibly even my house. I've spent > hours
> cleaning up the needles, the dead branches, and the cones - not to > mention
> the damage it has done to the cars. I'm even suspecting that the > foundation
> of my house has been cracked by a root from this tree as there is a > crack in
> the concrete floor of one room which radiates directly from that > tree.
> There are 2" roots all over my front yard.
>
> The problem is that I like my neighbors and I don't want to sue them. > I
> don't want to threaten them in any way. I don't want to cause any > unrest
> between us. I just want to get rid of the damn tree.
>
> They didn't plant the tree. We've both lived in our 30 year old > houses for
> less than two years. So neither of us really knew what was happening > when
> we purchased these places. That's one reason I really don't want to > come
> down on them with legal action.
>
> I've asked them politely. I've even offered to have it removed at my > own
> expense - but they refuse. They don't feel the destruction because > the
> prevailing wind blows all the stuff onto my property.
>
> Now... with all the roots that are in my yard, it seems I should be > able to
> drill a hole in some of them, apply an herbicide, and legally kill > the tree
> without them knowing I did it. Are there any recommendations? *
I had the same problem. I wrote the neighbor and his insurance company a certified letter. The letter stated that the tree was infested with pine bettles (It wasn't, but it would be his experts word against my experts word), and that if it fell on my house and caused damage it be due to negligance and not "an act of god". The tree was cut the next week. Good luck.