Not so neigborly Neighbor and tree cutting What to Do??

[coobie]

TMTT, I see three options.

1, here in Illinois, there is an air-line boundry. Anything that is in your side of the line is yours. Cut the tree straight up from your line.



2, Make friends with a lineman, (but keep it quiet ), they have a chemical that they put on the ground that will kill it with-in a year.



3, find her weak points and ride them, make her sell and move!!!



I had a neighbor that was a night outdoors drunk. He would get home at 1 AM and turn his outdoor speakers on and drink. I needed my sleep and the Cops were not very good at keeping the neihborhood quiet. On night there were 18 calls about his stereo-all different #'s. When I call , the dispatcher named the song with my windows closed!!!



So I checked the local ordinances, and built a fence. Nothing on the books. It was 8 ft high with sound insulation on his side. Shiney side to him. It really made a difference. He spent the next 2 years trying to make me take it down, no luck. he moved. I bet 75 people thanked me!!!!

Answer to question # 2 is Garlon or banvil,works great. Lineman,coobie :-laf

 

[fox]

I can't believe we haven't come up with this.



You got a CUMMINS, Hook on it and drag it over on her side. !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fox]

OR , Better YET, Have all of us over for a pulling contest!!!



We can do one of those Ford commercials.

 

[Rotty]

Check with a lawyer first before doing any trimming. Know your rights.



Then have a pulling part at your place, all you have to do is anounce in TDR and I am sure you will have at least 10,000 Cummins truck show up and you will never see a tree(s) dissapear so fast in your life.



Problem solved Oo. :-laf



Good luck

 

[evldsl]

I just received my new Husqvarna chain saw,let me at that tree.

 

[EBottema]

Tim... I hate neighboors, they hate me too. I mean we have never done anything to them but they don't like all the cars and loud 12v's LOL



I would say cut the branches back to the property line... If you want the tree removed call the city and ask them what to do

 

[J Shocik]

Tim, I'm reading all the advise you're getting and just remember one thing, you live in the liberal north-east. Their could be laws protacting HER tree. IMO I would contact the local tree warden or other town official about the problem, then a lawyer if that doesn't help. Find out what you CAN do-never mind what you can't!! Just my opinion... John

 

[fest3er]

There is the concept of 'self help'. If you believe the overhanging limbs are a menace to your property, then you are within your rights to trim them at your own expense with no questions asked. But you would be wise to photograph the limbs first.



Do not count on that neighbor having insurance to cover damage from falling limbs. From the sounds of her, she has none.



If you do decide to trim the limbs, do be a good neighbor and do the job right by treating the exposed wood to prevent disease. I understand a couple tablespoons of Listerine mixed with a pint of latex paint generally makes a good barrier against disease.



And if, in your reasonable trimming, the tree becomes lopsided on her side (so that it will most likely fall on her house should the trunk snap), well, them's the breaks.



They say, "all things in moderation'. This is one of those 'things'.



Regardless, I believe the concept of self help dates back to English common law, which still governs many aspects of our lives.



That said, remember Mr T. It's got bugs! Chop it down! Or, on the nights the breeze is just right, generate a copious amount of H2S that can waft in through her open windows. Maybe you park your truck *just* so and drop the generator in your exhaust pipe. Or draw up a goodly amount of sewer gas to tickle her nose. But leave no evidence.



N

 

[JPope]

"... Do not count on that neighbor having insurance to cover damage from falling limbs. From the sounds of her, she has none... . '



Years ago while living in Louisiania, we had a pine tree blow down during a sudden straight line wind condition, the tree broke about 10'-15' up, and came down (remaining 50'-60') on the neighbors new fence, missed his new garage, new car, and most importantly Oo. missed his small daughters playhouse, and she was playing in it We found out that under La. rules his insurance was responsible for damages, even though the tree was clearly well in my yard.



All the neighbors did get together and we got a reduced rate from using the same tree trimmer/lumberer for removing the problem trees!!!! that was a circumstance where the neighbors worked together for everyones benefit



So maybe a call to your insurance agent can get some free advice , otherwise you may have to check with an attorney .

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Wow Guys this is interesting. I am going to consult with a tree guy that just so happens to be an x TDR member. However keep em comin' this is a hot topic I am sure for many a folk.

 

[rkressg]

If you want to kill the tree, hammer in some copper nails in the trunk.

 

[mjendrejcak]

call zoning, worked for me at my last house. I asked the Neighbor if WE could work on trimming some branches back. He said nope. I called zoning they came out looked at the tree, told Neighbor he had to pay to drop the whole tree since they belive the root system was nearing my septic line.





If zoning can't help a local aborist could tell you what your rights are. If all of that fails hold a hooters met and wagon train to your place for a pulling party. How many cummins does it take to drop a tree anyway?

 

[fox]

True story

A year ago, we had a straight line wind that blew a neighbors tree down on my roof. Damaged roof and TV tower.

We had been asking him to get the trees trimmed, but he wouldn't listen. ( I had been mowing his empty lot for 10 years for $75 a year ).

We called him and asked him to at least pay the deductible. He refused and said "it was an act of GOD", I said 'you know better than that, it was an act of nature. '

Well, to keep the wife happy and not 'make waves' I ask him to come up on our deck and have a glass of tea. He did. About ten minutes later, a bird flew over and crapped on his head. I sat there and waited till he was sure what it was, then asked if he wanted a paper towel. I got him one and said " THAT WAS AN ACT of GOD.

He got up and left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1



PRICELESS !!

 

[10.5 Dave]

I had to do some tree trimmin last year on my neighbors tree. I couldn't pull my toy hauler out without dragging branches down the side of the trailer and scratching it.

I tried to be nice and asked her in my most diplomatic way if she could trim them back. Her response was"I've lived here longer than you so I'm leaving them the way they are". My response was" okay I'll do it for you,free of charge"

I fired up the 22" Stihl and within an hour I'd chopped every branch hanging over my fence down. She cussed and yelled at me but I just kept the saw at WOT to drown her out.

Cops showed up and basically told her tough I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER.

She now has eight 30 ft tall pine trees that are nice and fluffy on her side and look like a coat rake on my side. She flips me off every time she see's me now but oh well,my stuff doesn't get damaged anymore.

 

[red-rider]

Don’t put any nails in the trunk because if that tree dies, your going to kill the poor guy with the chainsaw taking that tree down.



I heard that copper does kill vegetation, maybe throw a **** load of copper pieces on her yard, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t mow either so that would provide good camouflage.



I have a neighbor just like yours, I just marked my property line and cut straight up, his tree looks like **** but at least its not hanging on my property anymore, now I have to do something about all his leaves that come over to my property.

 

[biggieou]

Well I guess if you want to just kill it off, calcium is much better than nails or cutting it or whatever. Mix some calcium and and water and "feed" the tree. It will be dead in no time.

 

[Jengle]

Not to mention, if you kill that tree, its just that much more likely to fall on your property, causing more damage, than if you had her cut it. I know here in VA, if it hangs over your property line, any damage it causes is the responsibility of the owner of the tree.

 

[TRegan]

I Think Hammer Has The Very Best Idea

 

[TRegan]

I Think Hammer Has The Best Idea

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

Not an attorney - but I've read about something called the "Rule of Reasonableness" - in which you can certainly cut down branches that are over your property - BUT !!! - if you remove so much that the tree dies, you could be liable for its replacement.

This is true.



Tim, how about 5 gallon of gasoline on the roots to help it grow, just dont throw a lighted cig on it, cuz it might just burn the tree down. Man , I hate it when that happens... . :-laf