What would you do? UPDATE 7/9/23

[BlueWater]

I'd also speak with the insurance company for your own property, about that risk. And perhaps speak with an attorney regarding what responsibility of the owner of that other property exists for such trees.

I would certainly be prepared, though, for $X damage and sending the guy the full bill for the problem, clean-up and fix ... whatever was entailed in the full restitution for his problem.

Is what it is. With an unwilling, even nasty, neighbor, it's hard to get anywhere until the chips are down. But, hey, if that's what he prefers, getting a hefty $bill out of the blue ...

 

[Old Navy]

Throw the limbs back in his yard.

That is exactly what I do.

 

[JMayo]

I'd say be the type of neighbor you wish he was.
Clean up your side, own your actions.
Enjoy the shade.

 

[DLT]

Drag it back into his yard

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Had two neighbors who were side by side. There were seven very old and tired pine trees planted on the property line that because of their age and growth, the trunks actually encroached on my property. every once in a while a limb would fall into my pool and it was always full of pine needles which clogged up my pool filter. For several years, I tried to reason with them but they completely ignored the situation and one told me to never bother him again.

Not one to talk a lot of crap from anyone and being a man of action, I decided to have a tree party. First I rented a good sized wood chipper bought a good chainsaw and invited six of my police partners and their wives over for crabs and asked them to make sure they brought their own chainsaws with them.

Four showed up on their Harleys and the other two drove cars. At ten sharp, the chainsaws started and we took down every branch on my side of the fence. As we fed the limbs into the shredder, I aimed it towards the tree owners property. Both of these families were avid church goers and spent four hours every Sunday in church and Sunday School.

Buy the time they got home, I had the picnic tables dressed up with steamed crabs, corn on the cob, potato salad and coleslaw and of course lots of beer. To say that they were livid with rage is an understatement. Never heard such language coming out of religious mouths, including their wives and children. threats were made and dares were tossed back at them. Then they called the police. Don't know what the reported, but 3 cars responded. The more these folks ramped up the harder we all laughed at them. That really pissed them off.

Of course I knew the police officers. After listening to their complaints and fighting not to laugh in their faces, they informed them that it was a civil matter and there was nothing law enforcement could do. The only illegal action I took was to direct the wood chips onto their property. They both threatened to sue me but I never hear anything more about it. One month later the one neighbor put his house up for sale. It stayed on the market for a long time and the only way he finally got the sale finalized was to take down the four dead trees in his yard. While the trees were being removed I sat on my deck and just laughed my fool head off.

 

[cmysix]

you do have the legal right too trim/cut anything that over hangs your property, I know you don't want to have to do it, pick a big one with more on your side then his, cut it all off and hopefully it will make the tree off Balance and the next wind storm will bring it down on his property.

 

[Dave M.]

People that ignore their responsibilities will continue to do so until they’re made to change their behavior. Sucks if they’re your neighbor. Have your lawyer send him a registered letter apprising him of the law.
With that letter of notification, you can then take him to small claims court.

Not going to happen because the neighbor is not legally obligated to do anything. That would get tossed right in the trash and cost you $200 of lawyer’s time. If the neighbor wants to be an idiot, unfortunately he has that right.
Dave

 

[swd]

I used to work for a guy who had a similar situation. He waited until the neighbor went on vacation and then sprayed the whole tree with defoliant.

 

[Dave M.]

I'd also speak with the insurance company for your own property, about that risk. And perhaps speak with an attorney regarding what responsibility of the owner of that other property exists for such trees.

I would certainly be prepared, though, for $X damage and sending the guy the full bill for the problem, clean-up and fix ... whatever was entailed in the full restitution for his problem.

Is what it is. With an unwilling, even nasty, neighbor, it's hard to get anywhere until the chips are down. But, hey, if that's what he prefers, getting a hefty $bill out of the blue ...

And the neighbor would promptly NOT pay said bill. Lol.

 

[markT]

SSL, AckleymanII and Shooter13 are correct. You live in CT so hard to say the law. Unfortunately those limbs are yours, unless the tree is dead and then you can send him a certified letter. If it was me I’d have the limbs over my property cut and removed.
When I bought my house a pine tree blew over into my yard from the neighbors. The neighbors house was a rental. The owner former school official and ( later learned) flaming alphabet person. Anyway, he had some MX to come over and clean up the downed trees in his yard and didn’t do anything in my yard. I found out his number and called him and HE said “law says that’s now your tree.” I said sir you had crew over there and didn’t even offer, not very neighborly of you. He said “it’s now your tree.” Well good SC redneck that I am thought about it. Went and got my John Deere 2955 with FEL and push his tree back over across the line for him. I told the renter I was sorry but and I’ll leave out the foul language but he knew it was in best interest not to respond. Few days later MX showed up and cleaned everything up.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

If tree is dead or dieing he is liable. You should file claim against his insurance company
if falls and damage. If tree is healthy then act of nature and you are responsible.
30 years in insurance. Don't think this basic has changed since I retired 20 years ago,

 

[ebb]

Cut the limbs and debris up in little pieces and throw them over the fence. Not a pile all up and down the fence line

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I used to work for a guy who had a similar situation. He waited until the neighbor went on vacation and then sprayed the whole tree with defoliant.

I had a similar experience with a neighbor on the other side of my property. There was a hedge planted along the property line. It had been there long before either of us moved there. Problems was that it was infested with poison ivy. I spoke to him several times about it because my young daughter became covered with it.

Another guy who refused to take care of a problem that was truly his fault. I called the health department and they did send him a notice but he just ignored it. Orthro has a product called ground clear. I bought a two gallon container of it in a concentrated form and sprayed his entre hedge with it. Probably 150 feet of hedge took a dirt nap in less than a week. He never said a word to me about it and we were never on friendly terms anyway. He had two dogs and had to put up a fence to contain them. Beautiful fence. He did have the nerve to ask me if I wanted to share the expense since it separated our properties but I told him I was very happy with the way things were.

Yes, I can be a real Ass at times. But I am also the guy who will see a kid working on his car and do my best to help him. Or fix the neighbors lawn tractor. I moved 30 years ago to a rural farm area and have never had a neighbor problem since and we all get along just fine. Now I am the old man and everyone wants to help me.

 

[Dave M.]

I used to work for a guy who had a similar situation. He waited until the neighbor went on vacation and then sprayed the whole tree with defoliant.

Just make sure the guy doesn’t have any cameras

 

[Dave M.]

I assume the roots are significantly in your backyard. Nothing stopping you from digging down in your yard and treating the roots with ortho ground clear. That stuff is the real deal. Kills everything it touches, and quick.

 

[1911nut]

Next time tell you’re too old for this shit and you need his help.

 

[swd]

Just make sure the guy doesn’t have any cameras

It was a long time ago back in the 80’s. He was real big in his church too and it didn’t seem so Christian, lol

 

[BlueWater]

Throw the limbs back in his yard.

All well and good until the limbs actually break the shed, damage the car, etc. Assuming, of course, the limbs in question are of tossable size.

With such a neighbor, one who's so disinterested in listening to reason and suggestions, it's going to likely be a bitter road when engaging with that person on anything. Tossing downed limbs back into his yard might well be viewed as grounds to "up the stakes" a bit. You never know, with such people who refuse the responsibility of their existence.

 

[Conaso]

I assume the roots are significantly in your backyard. Nothing stopping you from digging down in your yard and treating the roots with ortho ground clear. That stuff is the real deal. Kills everything it touches, and quick.

You better check the laws in your state. Typically, it is legal to trim the offending tree/bush starting at your property line. But if someone takes action that kills the vegetation in the offending neighbor's yard, you may be liable for damages.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

a good friend of mine was super mad at her neighbor for many of the above reasons. She wanted me to write a nasty letter. I told her to call a specific arborist. he is the most folksy guy in the world. He went to the neighbor explained xy and z. Aborist trimmed all trees and then did work in the neighbors back yard too. My friend paid her portion and the neighbor paid his portion.