One of my neighbors has a giant maple tree overhanging my side yard. At 72
years young, I still mow my own grass. I keep my own trees trimmed so I
don't have to do the duck & weave while mowing. I asked my neighbor if he
would mind if I trimmed his tree because of the obstacle it creates. It's
not like I'm going to be climbing on a ladder to trim this thing, but just
so it doesn't smack my glasses off. The young man let go with some four
letter words, with finishing he will sue me if I touch his tree. What
happened to the country we used to live in? Do I have to put up with this?

I have a similar situation except I'm on the other side. I have a
giant Elm tree that has a few large branches hanging into the
neighbors yard, crowding his power service line.

Last year he came and asked me to trim the tree and my Lilacs that
were pushing through the fence. I gladly went and trimmed the lilacs
back and disposed of the cuttings, but then his tone started to get to
me and I decided not to trim the tree. He wasnt necessarily rude, but
I could tell he was frustrated and all worked up. Once I thought about
it a bit I thought '**** him, trim it yourself." Why should I have to
care for his property, especially when his yard is littered with dog
**** and stinks.

Just the other day someone comes slamming on my door guess who. He had
the same tone, I could tell he was all worked up but still trying to
be polite. He asked if it was OK to trim the tree back and put the
cuttings in my yard. I said fine, but informed him that public service
had left me a notice and was scheduled to trim the Elm back from the
power lines in the next week or two. I also mentioned that it might be
illegal to do so, not to mention dangerous.

Once again his undertone was ****ing me off and the pounding on my
door while not using the doorbell really drove it home.

Whats everyone opinion on this situation? Should I just swallow my
pride and go over and cut the limbs up to the 8ft(the only code I
could fine online regarding trees in passageways) or should I let him
worry about it?

Thanks,






Matt

clipped

Once again his undertone was ****ing me off and the pounding on my
door while not using the doorbell really drove it home.

Whats everyone opinion on this situation? Should I just swallow my
pride and go over and cut the limbs up to the 8ft(the only code I
could fine online regarding trees in passageways) or should I let him
worry about it?

Thanks,


It sounds like there is some "history" here, more than trees and shrubs?
THE neighbor from hell, and president of condo board, and relative,
in my experience is THE most unpleasant person I have EVER known. I am
retired, worked all of my adult life in very responsible profession. I
have met, and dealt with, all kinds. When I sense a dislike for
someone, I look for something to like about them, and rarely fail to
find something. When given a choice, I avoid people who are unpleasant.
The people I have known who have been truly unpleasant tend to have
had very difficult and rather sad lives. Not into kissing up to
bullies, but it is in both of your best interest to look for common
ground and something to agree about. I would not go onto someone else's
property to do landscaping unless they were close friends. If the guy
is angry because your plants grow, tough luck. I would avoid doing his
chores, but perhaps he would like help with a project sometime? Grill
some burgers and invite him over. Worth a try.

Elms can be pretty dirty trees, and seed lots of volunteers. Is that
the issue? Dropping a lot of dead wood in his yard? Perhaps a pro
trimming/thinning of the tree would help matters?

but then his tone started to get to
me and I decided not to trim the tree. He wasnt necessarily rude, but
I could tell he was frustrated and all worked up. Once I thought about
it a bit I thought '**** him, trim it yourself." Why should I have to
care for his property...

Actually it's your property - it's your tree.

but informed him that public service
had left me a notice and was scheduled to trim the Elm back from the
power lines in the next week or two.

If they trim trees like they do around here, I suggest you have it done
yourself. They did trees around here -- when they were done it looked a
cartoon cannonball went through, a big circle all the way down the
line. They don't give a damn about the tree, just the powerlines.

I thought it was mostly gals who got upset over "tone of voice". Most guys
tend to be rather literal about things.

I'd suggest if you don't like his approach, to tell him that in person.
Politely. See if perhaps he can change his approach.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"MattMika" wrote in message
...

I have a similar situation except I'm on the other side. I have a
giant Elm tree that has a few large branches hanging into the
neighbors yard, crowding his power service line.

Last year he came and asked me to trim the tree and my Lilacs that
were pushing through the fence. I gladly went and trimmed the lilacs
back and disposed of the cuttings, but then his tone started to get to
me and I decided not to trim the tree. He wasnt necessarily rude, but
I could tell he was frustrated and all worked up. Once I thought about
it a bit I thought '**** him, trim it yourself." Why should I have to
care for his property, especially when his yard is littered with dog
**** and stinks.

Just the other day someone comes slamming on my door guess who. He had
the same tone, I could tell he was all worked up but still trying to
be polite. He asked if it was OK to trim the tree back and put the
cuttings in my yard. I said fine, but informed him that public service
had left me a notice and was scheduled to trim the Elm back from the
power lines in the next week or two. I also mentioned that it might be
illegal to do so, not to mention dangerous.

Once again his undertone was ****ing me off and the pounding on my
door while not using the doorbell really drove it home.

Whats everyone opinion on this situation? Should I just swallow my
pride and go over and cut the limbs up to the 8ft(the only code I
could fine online regarding trees in passageways) or should I let him
worry about it?

Thanks,






Matt

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:23:51 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

One of my neighbors has a giant maple tree overhanging my side yard. At 72
years young, I still mow my own grass. I keep my own trees trimmed so I
don't have to do the duck & weave while mowing. I asked my neighbor if he
would mind if I trimmed his tree because of the obstacle it creates. It's
not like I'm going to be climbing on a ladder to trim this thing, but just
so it doesn't smack my glasses off. The young man let go with some four
letter words, with finishing he will sue me if I touch his tree. What
happened to the country we used to live in? Do I have to put up with this?

I have a similar situation except I'm on the other side. I have a
giant Elm tree that has a few large branches hanging into the
neighbors yard, crowding his power service line.

Last year he came and asked me to trim the tree and my Lilacs that
were pushing through the fence. I gladly went and trimmed the lilacs
back and disposed of the cuttings, but then his tone started to get to
me and I decided not to trim the tree. He wasnt necessarily rude, but
I could tell he was frustrated and all worked up. Once I thought about
it a bit I thought '**** him, trim it yourself." Why should I have to
care for his property, especially when his yard is littered with dog
**** and stinks.

Just the other day someone comes slamming on my door guess who. He had
the same tone, I could tell he was all worked up but still trying to
be polite. He asked if it was OK to trim the tree back and put the
cuttings in my yard. I said fine, but informed him that public service
had left me a notice and was scheduled to trim the Elm back from the
power lines in the next week or two. I also mentioned that it might be
illegal to do so, not to mention dangerous.

Once again his undertone was ****ing me off and the pounding on my
door while not using the doorbell really drove it home.

Whats everyone opinion on this situation? Should I just swallow my
pride and go over and cut the limbs up to the 8ft(the only code I
could fine online regarding trees in passageways) or should I let him
worry about it?

Thanks,

Matt

Remember, you asked for an opinion.

Bottom line, I believe no one should allow anything on their property
to prevent a neighbor from using their property how ever they wish.
Granted, your tree provides shade but maybe he wants to place flowers
underneath it that require full sunlight. Or doesn't want sap dripping
on his picnic table. Or bird droppings. Or maybe he wants to plant his
own tree.

Similar to an in ground lawn sprinkler. It can squirt away, soaking
every car and pedestrian who passes. If you stood at the curb with a
garden hose doing the same thing, you would likely be arrested.

I would go over (ring the bell!) and be the better man. Tell him you
know he is frustrated with the overhanging limbs. Ask him to be
patient and see how the public service people trim it. That might suit
him. Before they come ask him exactly which limbs were the problem.
Maybe even tie some ribbon or rags on them. Try to be home when PS
comes. Perhaps you could politely ask them to remove the tagged limbs
as well. If not, at least the neighbor has committed to what it would
take to please him.

In property-line tree matters, my understanding of the law (locally,
YMWV):
notification of owner that overhanging tree is a hazard makes owner
liable for damage triggered by "act of God",
parts of tree crossing property line may be cut at that line at
discretion/expense of cutter.

Cutting at the line presumes a few things, and can leave ugly stumps.
And ... stump likely will spring back some from the line to the delight
of lawyers. :')

Depending, you might negotiate allowing cutting party to cut back to
marked points that won't deface or damage tree. Watch out on allowing
neighbor to cut over the line on your side- a few years back, neighbor
had workers prune our tree about 8' back from line. Way more than
agreed to.

HTH,
J

MattMika wrote:

One of my neighbors has a giant maple tree overhanging my side yard. At 72
years young, I still mow my own grass. I keep my own trees trimmed so I
don't have to do the duck & weave while mowing. I asked my neighbor if he
would mind if I trimmed his tree because of the obstacle it creates. It's
not like I'm going to be climbing on a ladder to trim this thing, but just
so it doesn't smack my glasses off. The young man let go with some four
letter words, with finishing he will sue me if I touch his tree. What
happened to the country we used to live in? Do I have to put up with this?


I have a similar situation except I'm on the other side. I have a
giant Elm tree that has a few large branches hanging into the
neighbors yard, crowding his power service line.

Last year he came and asked me to trim the tree and my Lilacs that
were pushing through the fence. I gladly went and trimmed the lilacs
back and disposed of the cuttings, but then his tone started to get to
me and I decided not to trim the tree. He wasnt necessarily rude, but
I could tell he was frustrated and all worked up. Once I thought about
it a bit I thought '**** him, trim it yourself." Why should I have to
care for his property, especially when his yard is littered with dog
**** and stinks.

Just the other day someone comes slamming on my door guess who. He had
the same tone, I could tell he was all worked up but still trying to
be polite. He asked if it was OK to trim the tree back and put the
cuttings in my yard. I said fine, but informed him that public service
had left me a notice and was scheduled to trim the Elm back from the
power lines in the next week or two. I also mentioned that it might be
illegal to do so, not to mention dangerous.

Once again his undertone was ****ing me off and the pounding on my
door while not using the doorbell really drove it home.

Whats everyone opinion on this situation? Should I just swallow my
pride and go over and cut the limbs up to the 8ft(the only code I
could fine online regarding trees in passageways) or should I let him
worry about it?

Thanks,






Matt

Its your tree that is threatening to damage his property. While laws
vary from place to place, were he injured trying to protect his property
from damage by your tree, I would rather have his case than yours. I
think you should get over your emotional reaction to his tone of voice
and work with him to safely resolve the problem.

Around here, the utilities just trim the trees threatening their lines,
not the drops from their line to your service. However, if you contact
them and ask a favor, they will always (in my experience) go beyond what
they "have" to do, and trim branches that threaten the drop line.

Hummm... If your neighbor has been good in the past, take that into
consideration.
If not, F him. You gave a perfectly good reason why NOT to do it
yourself.

If the responsibility falls onto you trimming your own tree, then I
would consider
doing it when its convienent for you. If he wants to have a go at it,
let him then.

I called our city's forestry dept. and they informed me that he was
entitled to cut the branches, but I was ultimately responsible.

So I stopped off at Lowes yesterday after work and bought a pole
pruner. First thing I did when I got home was to go over and trim all
of my trees branches growing into his yard up to an 8' heighth.

Thanks to everyone for your replies,


Matt

Stormin Mormon wrote:

I'd suggest if you don't like his approach, to tell him that in person.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lsd.org
www.mormonsrmorons.com




And not tell him about the Book of Mormon?? Bet you never made it past
Teacher classification.

You'll never get your own planet at this rate.

--
Learn more about the false religion of Mormonism
www.carm.org/mormon.htm