To Kill a Tree or Not to kill a tree! Is that really the question?

Question

A Weeping Willow on the lot line, belongs to my neighbor and branches overhang my roof by 15 feet. She will not trim. Tree has gaping hole on 1 side and surely will die. I need to help it along UNNOTICED. Tree fills my gutters, deposits a huge amount of tree matter in the valleys of my roof. We have had water in the basement because the gutters were plugged shut and the water ran down the side of the house and into the basement. I DON'T NEED THIS ANYMORE!!! I am 60 years old and do not like getting on the roof to clean the gutters and valleys. The tree also overhangs 2 fire place chimmenys, so we don't use them. The city says I can cut anything overhanging my property, BUT if I damage the tree in any way, and the tree dies ( or falls because I made it lopsiided), the neighbor can sue for full value replacement (nice city ord.). GUYS - the key word here is "UNNOTICED". I love trees, but it's the tree or me (is that the real question?) Help - one and all

Answer 1

I don't know how to do it. But if it was me, I would kill that sucker graveyard dead. Then the neighbor will be forced to remove the dead tree. The question is, how to kill a tree without getting caught. Call a tree company and anonymously ask them how to kill a tree.

Thank God I live in the country. That city crap with neighbors would drive me up the wall. Good luck.

Answer 2

I do not think you should do this. But if you want to do this the sneaky way, I have a suggestion. You can use herbicide to kill the tree. To do it with less chance of getting caught, sprinkle some around the roots of the tree when the tree starts shedding its leaves for the winter. Next spring the tree does not leaf out. The owner will probably think it died naturally. Problem solved. Two good chemical herbicides that will do the trick are: Velpar (Hexazinone) and Chopper/Arsenal (Imazapyr). Use the arsenal if you have pines or other conifers nearby. These are soild active herbicide that enter the plant through the roots. Be careful with application. You could kill more than just that tree.

Or you could work it out with you neighbor diplomatically.

Answer 3

Not accounting for your age; I'm 63 and not unhealthy; I'd probably try some legal avenues. Obviously you have a problem; and while you might get away with poisons; etc. you might also end up with that tree landing on your house.

I think too; I'd speak to someone who might have jurisdiction over that particular ordinance; and Options. Certainly seems an odd one however. Is the tree on property in a historic district? Do you have any association with any attorneys? I think I'd seek advice with consideration for the damage being done to YOUR property by the byproducts of the tree.

Answer 4

you could desire to do it or at last they'll get you. look, we've greater timber now than we did interior the mid 1800s. If we hadn't been killing them only about all those years they could be starting to be top interior the midst of our dens - heck, they had be starting to be top via our pcs. you'll be satisfied that there are a ways-sighted human beings interior the international who've taken up the undertaking to conflict and kill this insidious tree invasion. without this courageous cohort team we would not in basic terms be between a rock and a tough place yet probable between 2 very heavily starting to be timber. And, that would not be good. truthfully you will discover that.

Answer 5

You are legally allowed to cut the tree on your side of the fence. And as long as you get a liscensed arbourist to do it she cannot sue you if the tree dies. Now, if the arbourist says that pruning will kill the tree and he prunes it, then it is your problem. If he says it can be done without killing the tree and it does die, then she sues you and you sue the arbourist. The law is grand.

Answer 6

Please do yourself a big favor and spend a bit of $$ to hire an arborist from your area.

They will be familiar with your local tree ordinances, the type of tree that is causing your problems and they will be able to assess the situation so that they know how much of the tree can be cut back on your property without killing it. They are licensed to do the tree cutting as well, usually. You have the right to cut the tree back, you just don't have the right to kill it.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Why don't you just contact the city and ask them to send her a notice? It is perfectly legal, in most cities, for a homeowner to trim tree branches off their neighbors trees if they are hanging over the property line. Check with your city office.

I personally wouldn't try to kill it. Noticed or not, it would look awfully suspicious to me.

Answer 8

trees last longer than people-save the tree

Answer 9

call the city inspector out to ask if this is an accident waiting to happen and they can talk to her