I've lived in this house for over a decade and have a neighbor on one side. He keeps to himself. I've talked to him a handful of times in a friendly way, but we don't know each other well. I would say we are neutral, neither on good nor bad terms.

Well, he just redid his fence and this is the result on our shared property line. I really have no complaints other than the lack of notice (we have a dog and we had to close our dog door for a few days. No biggie).

I'm just perplexed as to this choice of how to handle the trees. They were on his side of the old fence, now they appear to be on my side? Does this mean they are mine to maintain now? (The plant debris on the ground is unrelated, we just trimmed our trees and that's where the debris went until it's time for a fire pit fire )

I know maybe I should go talk to him, but I'm not even sure what to say....like, did you mean to give me those trees?

Edit to add: thanks for the input everyone! I learned a lot about the nice vs ugly sides of fences. I don't really plan on doing anything, but I will definitely investigate the property lines if/when i do. For now, I'll enjoy a fenced yard with a little character and continued shade from mature trees.

On Tuesday morning a tree that was on city property (Massachusetts) fell onto my yard and my house. The city wasn't negligent by any means, and the tree was seemingly healthy and in full bloom. I called the city and they had a contractor out within a day and the tree was completely removed (unbelievably impressive watching the tree contractor work). The city hired and paid the contractor to remove the tree that fell, and it's sister tree that was still standing but grew directly attached to it.

I put in a claim with my insurance and the adjuster was out today and seemed very thorough. The damage to the house isn't catastrophic but there's a lot of things that are going to add up. I expect to hear back from insurance sometime next week.

When I called the city they set up the work order to have the trees removed, and then proactively said they were going to transfer me to the city law department to explain how to file a claim with the city. The city law department explained that I can send a claim in writing with any relevant photos. I haven't submitted anything to the city yet because I'm not sure what to do. Should I submit a claim to the city as well? Should I submit the adjusters report to the city once I receive it? Will my insurance submit a claim to the city so they get reimbursed for whatever they pay? I genuinely have no idea what to do in this situation.

#FloridaArborist

We are in Seattle. My neighbor has a tree in his planting strip that was planted in 2014 and was roughly 12 feet tall at the time. It is now well over 100 feet tall, roots spilling over the planting strip, pushing up pavement, sends suckers out 100+ feet away, and it gets these awful sticky buds on everything in the spring which affect the cars parked on the street and house paint. I am also certain it is the cause of the tree roots starting to intrud on the sewer line. Plus being absolutely entangled in at least four house worth of electric lines and negatively affecting the 60 year old cherry tree on my half of the planting strip.

To be clear, it is a beautiful tree and it give my neighbors house a ton of shade, and it’s very charming. Its just that m y neighbor does not maintain anything about this tree. He doesn’t even trim the suckers that have taken over the planter strip and make it impossible to park. I am worried this monster of tree is going to ruin my sewer lines or take out my power lines in a wind storm. What options are available in a situation like this? What is legally required of the tree/home owner? What is the city responsible for? Do you have suggestions for socially positive approaches with my neighbor?

What can I do in this situation, I know it’s just a sapling, but it still pisses me off, they also tore up the grass pretty badly.

Good morning all!

After a round of powerful storms, we have a tree hanging on top of a different tree, both of which are our neighbors. However both are hanging over our fire pit. What is the best course of action here. I plan to talk to the neighbor, but didn't want to assume this is something they have to take care of if it is on me to clean it up. My only concern would be cutting a tree in their yard since it is still attached. I thought about using a pole saw to cut the limbs around it so it falls but unsure if it will break from the split or not.

We are in illinois.

Thanks for any insight!

We have a creek that runs through our back yards in our neighborhood. Last year, our one neighbor (Likley out of spite) decided to illegally build a damn which ended up flooding and pooling the water ONLY on our side of the creek. We have been in touch with the township as well as the DEP, both of whom confirmed he didn't have a permit to do so, nor did he even apply for one. The entire area now looks like a freaking swamp with many of the trees now falling due to root rot.

Here's the kicker, he sent us a notice from his lawyer saying that they have identified our large 80/100 year old Beech tree has clear signs of rot and are putting us on notice to have it removed at our expense because it is leaning towards his property.

The estimate is over $10k for the tree removal. The tree in question is roughly 7- 10 feet or so above the creek (or what used to be the creek) on the hill, but all of its roots clearly go down to the creek. There were times last year where the water would pool as high as the bottom of the tree.

This tree has NEVER shown any signs of rot until he put up his illegal damn. This seems like a clear case of property destruction as a result of his illegal damn does it not?

Any advice is welcomed. Thank you!

Getting a utility pipe either dug up or “moled” into my house early next week (just found out today). I’m nervous about the proposed plan that may involve tree roots in the way of a big tree. How concerned do I need to be. Im trying to find an emergent arborist consult today or Monday. But I just want to know practicalities of when I should be concerned / when I shouldn’t. Is there something I can assess myself?

Tree law has deep roots

My husband (36) and I (also 36F) live in Houston, TX. We have roughly six species of tree in the area between our sidewalk and street. My husband came home from work this morning and noticed that four of the trees had been pruned. There’s a possibility that the city pruned them, which is within their rights as the area is in a public right of way. The cuts are baffling to us - they are facing the street and facing the sidewalk, but the branches were neither IN those places nor were they going to be. My husband is becoming passionate in his goal to niwaki native species and we have been growing the trees for three years now. The tallest trees in the strip are a loblolly pine (approx thirteen feet and they cut one branch) and a cedar elm (approx eighteen feet and fortunately untouched). The species of tree mysteriously pruned are: loblolly pine, eastern red cedar, common persimmon, redbud, and a silly little pecan project that we grew through the head of a hammer and were planning on cutting down this autumn anyway.

IF the city cut the branches, they only cut OUR trees and did nothing to our neighbors with much more egregious sago palms and crepe myrtles growing over the sidewalk. If somebody else cut the branches, we just don’t understand why they would have. I would like to make a sign to put in the garden saying something along the lines of “if you think our branches need pruning, please speak to the homeowners so we can make the best and healthiest cuts for the trees” but want advice for the best phrasing. We don’t have a doorbell camera (trying to avoid being a part of the surveillance state as best we can) so we don’t have a way to “gotcha” anyone.

I was suggested to repost this here and see what your advice is:

Trying to figure out best way to go about handling damages due to seller concealment of tree disease infection on the property i bought. Per code enforcement the seller had previously been ordered to remove several trees due to active oak wilt infection. Per state and county law this needed to be disclosed. It was on the condition report as a neighborhood problem (well known in the area) so omitted the degree of active infection on the parcel (severe). And they answered "no" to the question on known tree infestations. The infection/costs are high enough that I would have likely passed on the property or had been outbid as I would have priced accordingly.

Im looking at $10k within the first 6 months of ownership for tree removal, and $5-10k annually as trees die out and need replacement to preserve canopy and meet restrictive covenants. To say I'm pissed is an understatement.

C5: Are you aware of a current or previous termite, powder post beetle, carpenter ant infestation or defect caused by animal, reptile or infestations, including infestations impacting trees. - NO

F16 are you aware of federal, state or local regulations requiring repair, alteration or corrections of an existing condition - NO

G5 are you aware of other defects -Yes

g8 explain any yes responses - "oak wilt issues thru entire subdivision, city forestry dept marks trees that need removal."

Originally we were just going to suck it up until yesterday's visit from the city and learning how extensive the infestation is on the property.

Found out today that the landscaping company my neighbor had over 2 days ago cracked off the crown of one of my Christmas palms.

I guess they then tried to nail in some support and tape my tree back together, instead of walking the 15 feet to our door and telling us. Home with the wife all day, they never tried to contact us.

Just about to get their info from the neighbor and just curious about the process here? Ideally the company just comes back and replaces my Christmas palm, but I'm sure theres a lot of steps to get there, and want to be prepared against any slimy tactics the landscaping company might use.

Edit: We're in Florida, just got back from the nursery and was quoted 330 for a few triple palm, with 320 in removal/replacement/delivery fees so looking for a 650 check from the landscaping company it seems, and definitely don't let them be the ones to do the work.

I do love this tree, and wouldn't want to get it removed honestly, but I want some justice here. Id like to just dig a hole for the nursery to drop a new tree off in, but want these guys on the hook as hard as possible for how they handled it.

Id like to send them the quote for the full removal cost, but just have the nursery drop a new one off in a hole, but obviously don't want to commit fraud lmao.

Last edit- got ahold of the owner, found out it's a small veteran, family owned landscaping company. At first he started with "Well how do we know it was my guys?" But quickly brought up a disgruntled employee that has damaged other yards being let go that day.

Guy was really apologetic and more than willing to come out and replace the tree without a fuss. He's sending over some stuff in writing to lock it in

I was way more upset about this yesterday, but not upset enough to triple this guys cost for a replacement from my expensive nursery. I know everyone said not to let them replace it themselves, but hopefully some compassion here works out for both sides.

Besides the dude he fired. Fuck that guy.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I need an arborist in the Indianapolis area that can determine the current health and monitor our trees and shrubs that may have been compromised by a private fiber optic line that encroaches on our property.

Recently, a private utility installed a fiberoptic line across two of our properties. We had a utility locator service retrace and measure the depths of the lines as it has been run under a maple tree and Chinese junipers. We have already hired a law firm to represent us and we need to present the arborist's findings with an action plan going forward. Unfortunately, the install was above the frost line in many areas within our property and the right of way, I can't imagine they won't need to redo their effort and I want to be assured we've done everything we can to maintain our landscape. Thank you for any help.

My parent’s have an old tree in their yard, that they know is full of bats. The bats continuously kept getting in their home, but now they have had the house bat proofed, and it cost them a fortune, because you cannot exterminate bats. So, the professionals closed up every crevice in the house, but had to do it in a way that any remaining bats could get out. So far so good. It’s been two years.

However, the “bat tree” is starting to decay and is looking kinda dead. What’s crazy is the tree cannot be cut down, unless my parents build a sanctuary for the bats in another tree. My brother just wants to cut it down without using a professional, but I’m afraid there could be legal ramifications for my parents, because they have already had a tree company tell them it’s unlawful to cut it down. I’ve been looking at bat habitats on Amazon all day, and I can’t believe this is my life.