Dying trees on a prpoerty line questions

BigClay

BigClay

Knower of useless ZJ things
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Location
Winston-Salem
I have some Pine trees that were planted on the property line between my neighbor and I some 40 years ago. They are now starting to die. I want to take them down, but my neighbor doesn't. I said I would pay to have them professionally taken down, but that didn't matter. What recourse do I have? They will certianly hit my house/fence/cars if they were to fall.

Any one had any experience with this?
 
Are they "on" the property line ? I went through this with a neighbor... If is is "on" the property, about the only thing you can do, is document you concern, mail to him, (even if he next door) ... And wait....

When you say the are staring to die...would a tree guy said that ? maybe two tree guy? The tree I've got is heatly but is dam near 3-4' in diameter

It is hard to deal with this, i know.....
-mike
 
Any tree/shrub touching or crossing a property line is fair game as long as it is permitting. How well do you get along??:popcorn::huggy:

The only manner to deny would be if they are planted in a landscape buffer. But then they can be replanted with healthy trees. The HOA (if you have one) has some say but your local municipality will have the last word.

I work for a surveyor and have won battles with 3 different neighbors at my house in Durham so far... Durham has some very strange folk??? I can definately give pointers. Access to a surveyor is a huge plus but by all means if you don't, contact your local municipality and go through them. You can email them directly with photos and get a letter / approval to have them taken down or do it yourself.

Needless to say all of my nasty neighbors are scared of me now for I went as far as to have one put on a condemn list if they don't purchase an adjoining piece of land and upgrade their septic. Which reminds me, I haven't contacted Mathew with Durham health department with another photo / letter this year yet. :burnout: It's about that time...

Ignorant neighbors thet come off with offensive behavior deserve full punishment in my opinion...:kaioken: Life would be so boring without them though.:burnout:
 
If the limbs are on your property, cut them off. For this instance, you own the "air space" above your land, so anything on a property line, or even on their property, that overhangs into your property is fair game to have cut at your own will as needed, especially if its a nuisance. Municipalities are all different but around here, thats the rule of thumb
 
If I planted them and then I wanted them gone, I'd cut them down. Unless they are completely across the property line, then I'd mail him a certified letter saying his trees are verified dead/dying requesting them be removed.
 
It sounds like the first step would be to hire a surveryor to mark the exact property line to find out who's property the trees are on.
 
Thanks for all the info and advice.

I had a survey done about two years ago, and the stakes are still there. The trees are almost all right on the line (trees are about 18" in diameter).

The neighbor doesn't live in the house but comes by everyday (very odd situation).

I am thinking about just cutting off the limbs on my side and hope they fall away from my house if/when they fall.
 
What kind of pine trees/ If white pine they will continue to decline. Have the county ag agent or county arborist help you out
 
R Q said:
What kind of pine trees/ If white pine they will continue to decline. Have the county ag agent or county arborist help you out
Click to expand...
If he's got white pines 18" in diameter in WS he's got a miracle.
 
R Q said:
What kind of pine trees/ If white pine they will continue to decline. Have the county ag agent or county arborist help you out
Click to expand...
Ron said:
If he's got white pines 18" in diameter in WS he's got a miracle.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately they are white pines. Planted in the 1960s, the biggest is 18" in diameter, while some are only 8" or so.
 
Im sorry, in my state of mind I was thinking trunk diameter I am now assuming you mean 18" including the branches?

White pines are mountain native species they start dieing around 85 degrees...but they do grow one ring of limbs a year even in shitty climates and even if the limbs are poor quality...

<edit> and crap Im still an idiot. Just now saw the 40 years ago part.


Ok..maybe 18" but Id still think that would be rare
 
I may be off on my species, and I may be over exagerating the trunk diameter, I will get a pic. The pines are long needles, and the bark is small (not large chunks like some of my other pine trees).
 
BigClay said:
I had a survey done about two years ago, and the stakes are still there. The trees are almost all right on the line (trees are about 18" in diameter).
Click to expand...


This is not a grey matter situation. Almost right on the line = not on the line and they are either on your property or his. If they are on your property, cut them down. If they are on his, I would do what was suggested and write a letter to the neighbor (paper trail) stating your concern. now if anything happens you can point to that for insurance reasons.

If it's extremely important, have a surveyor come out and paint the property lines. That should clear it up pretty fast. Its black and white, your trees or his. Someone owns them. This is how I have handled it in the past, hopefully it works out for you.
 
REDLYNER said:
This is not a grey matter situation. Almost right on the line = not on the line and they are either on your property or his. If they are on your property, cut them down. If they are on his, I would do what was suggested and write a letter to the neighbor (paper trail) stating your concern. now if anything happens you can point to that for insurance reasons.

If it's extremely important, have a surveyor come out and paint the property lines. That should clear it up pretty fast. Its black and white, your trees or his. Someone owns them. This is how I have handled it in the past, hopefully it works out for you.
Click to expand...

I will get pics, but the stakes from the surveyor are right next to some of the trunks and are literally right in the middle of the trunk. How do you handle that?
 
BigClay said:
I will get pics, but the stakes from the surveyor are right next to some of the trunks and are literally right in the middle of the trunk. How do you handle that?
Click to expand...
Easy.
Step 1 - send certified letter to him stating you want to take them down, and you are concerned about it being done safely, and that if he refuses or doesn't respond, you'd take down your 1/2 of the trees.

Step 2 - Cut off all the limbs on your side, then take a aw and cut the trunk down the center on your side of the line... leaving 1/2 a tree.
For good measure, lean wedge some 4x4s up against it. So when it dies and falls - it falls on his side.
 
BigClay said:
I may be off on my species, and I may be over exagerating the trunk diameter, I will get a pic. The pines are long needles, and the bark is small (not large chunks like some of my other pine trees).
Click to expand...

White Pines are very distinct with an almost blueish tint to the needles, a very light colored bark and the key characteristic is all branches will be in rings running up the tree. They grow branches from terminal Xylum buds and they sprout annually, (just like rings if you cut one down) they are alos notoriously poor self pruners so if there are no limbs the first 20 or so feet...its doubtful its a white pine.

But yah get a pic and we can identify the tree, not that that will solve your issue.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Easy.
Step 1 - send certified letter to him stating you want to take them down, and you are concerned about it being done safely, and that if he refuses or doesn't respond, you'd take down your 1/2 of the trees.

Step 2 - Cut off all the limbs on your side, then take a aw and cut the trunk down the center on your side of the line... leaving 1/2 a tree.
For good measure, lean wedge some 4x4s up against it. So when it dies and falls - it falls on his side.
Click to expand...

I believe #1 is the legal route you have to take in NC if you have trees that concern you and your property. You basically say you're concerned about them. If they choose not to do anything about it, when something does happen, you're insurance will go after the propery owner. Now, since you both seem to own the trees the certified letter hopefully absolves you from liability.
 
Ron said:
White Pines are very distinct with an almost blueish tint to the needles, a very light colored bark and the key characteristic is all branches will be in rings running up the tree. They grow branches from terminal Xylum buds and they sprout annually, (just like rings if you cut one down) they are alos notoriously poor self pruners so if there are no limbs the first 20 or so feet...its doubtful its a white pine.

But yah get a pic and we can identify the tree, not that that will solve your issue.
Click to expand...

they have 5 needles per bundle or "fasical". the branches do come out in a wagon wheel pattern up the tree.

if the trees are tall and the bark looks like big blocks, the limbs are up high, cones are the size of golf balls and they have 2 needles per bundle. that be a short leaf pine.
 
Regardless of where it is White pines are planted everywhere by people who don't read up on them and if they're in the right microclimate they can survive for many years, even 40. 18" trunk is not unheard of for a 40 year old tree, especially if measured very close to the ground. Once trees reach a certain caliper, the measuring point is moved up to about chest height because they are so fat 6" from the ground where you would measure them normally.
And if they are White pines you are in much less danger of them doing damage if they fall because they usually have limbs down to the ground that slows its speed as it falls plus they are very soft and light wood.
Just google white pine and see if its them
 
Have a local forester come by and inspect them, let the property owner know that you will replant w/ a much better species and see if the forester can convince him that they need to go..
 
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