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Etiquette on trimming trees hanging over my property…

2,098 Views | 14 Replies | Last: 2 mo ago by BrazosDog02
kevmiller
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1:38p, 7/9/24
Neighboors on both sides have trees on their property that have branches that hang over the fenceline quite a bit.
I know I can trim these back that overhang onto my property. But am I expected to knock on their door and let them know or is it something I should just do?


One tree would likely lose some big branches and probably half the tree will be eliminated.

TIA.
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highpriorityag
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2:14p, 7/9/24
let them know and maybe they will help or even pay half
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CS78
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3:20p, 7/9/24
Id want to know. There's a right and wrong way to trim trees. Drawing a horizontal line down a fence is usually not it.
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combat wombat™
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In reply to CS78 • 7:46p, 7/9/24
AG
CS78 said:
Id want to know. There's a right and wrong way to trim trees. Drawing a horizontal line down a fence is usually not it.


No, but if they refuse to do anything he's completely within his rights to do it that way. Doesn't make for great neighbor relationship, but the neighbor who refused to do anything about his tree is kind of the person who started it.
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SteveBott
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9:02p, 7/9/24
AG
Who said they didn't agree? He hasn't even asked yet.

And yes the branch cuts should be next to the tree trunk so you need access. If they say no wack away on your side and so be it. Once the limb goes over your property line it's your limb up to the fence line.
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JP76
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9:31p, 7/9/24


What happens if you trim the tree and it then dies ?
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SteveBott
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9:38p, 7/9/24
AG
Depends. If it's a sick tree and you can show that there is no liability. If it's healthy and you hack it up you could be liable. It's an issue that gets murky very fast.

If in doubt get an arborist out for an opinion on what you want to do.
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combat wombat™
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In reply to SteveBott • 9:46p, 7/9/24
AG
My statement was an "if" scenario.
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JBLHAG03
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8:30a, 7/10/24
AG
I had a tree company come out for this situation and they would not cut all the way back to the fence line because it would damage the tree.

Fills my pool with leaves so open to ideas on how to kill the tree from my side?!
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combat wombat™
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In reply to JBLHAG03 • 11:29a, 7/10/24
AG
JBLHAG03 said:
I had a tree company come out for this situation and they would not cut all the way back to the fence line because it would damage the tree.

Fills my pool with leaves so open to ideas on how to kill the tree from my side?!


Make your neighbor come get his leaves.
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OnlyForNow
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In reply to combat wombat™ • 12:32p, 7/10/24
AG
Or scoop and dump over the fence.

Trimming vertically on your property line is legal.

If that causes the tree to die (unlikely) I don't think you could be held liable. Just like if you sprayed herbicide along your fence line and killed neighbors plants.
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MooreTrucker
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In reply to JBLHAG03 • 2:35p, 7/20/24
AG
JBLHAG03 said:
I had a tree company come out for this situation and they would not cut all the way back to the fence line because it would damage the tree.

Fills my pool with leaves so open to ideas on how to kill the tree from my side?!
We had the same situation. We even had to build our fence with a notch in it to accommodate the tree. The arborist told us the same thing and said yeah, we'd be liable.

The worst part is that the owner is a kid who inherited the house from his mom and doesn't even live there any more. The yard it never mowed and I think he has a renter who hasn't moved in yet.
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LostInLA07
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In reply to MooreTrucker • 5:35p, 7/20/24
AG
If you're in Houston you missed your chance to blame the storm
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MooreTrucker
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In reply to LostInLA07 • 7:43a, 7/21/24
AG
LostInLA07 said:
If you're in Houston you missed your chance to blame the storm

Nope, west Texas. And not even a good windstorm to blame lately.
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BrazosDog02
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11:11a, 7/21/24
AG
At our last places I adopted the idea that if the trees weren't causing me trouble, I let them ride. However, once they presented a threat to my fence or property somehow, something needs to be done. I reached out to my neighbor and tried for 6 months and never got any response. So, I hit them all with the chainsaw right up the property line. They became overgrown and the brush was such that I couldn't maintain my fence and then one evening I got popped by Apache wasps in that brush and lost my ****, cut my own fence, took my 8' bush hog and CLEARED 1,000 LF of fence on their side. Scalped it to the ground, trees, brush and all. Chainsaw and bush hog. I never heard from them after that either so I guess truly they didnt care. Looking back, if they had, I guess they'd be more responsive in the future at best, or caused me a lot of trouble at worst. As the wife said "uhm…that was a little extreme dontcha think?", maybe don't go that far but if they won't respond, screw them. Take care of it how you need.

Always reach out and approach with the good neighbor route first.
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