Neighbor has tree right on property line that has destroyed our fence

[Anonymous]

Cut the damn tree and plant another one.
Don’t remove your fence. It’s important to keep your distance from such a reckless neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Always check on your survey where your property line actually is. Sometimes the fence line doesn't follow the property line!

This isn't something to be angry about, BTW. Maybe the person who planted the tree did not think it through vis-a-vis the fence, or planted it before there was a fence, which then makes the person who put up the fence the one who did not think through the future growth of the tree.

Once a tree is well adjusted and growing, and provides desirable shade, then obviously people are not going to want to cut it down! There is nothing your neighbor could have done apart from that extreme measure. Trees that are moved usually die, unless you're an expert or you move it when it's still a sapling. It costs the earth to move a mature tree.

The solution is to accommodate future growth. Walk about some neighborhoods and you'll see lots of properties that have done this: taken down the fencing that's being crushed, and building a bump-out on your side. Leave the rest of the fence: this indicated that your property line has not moved, and that your little bump-out is merely for the tree.

Unless you have other reasons to get rid of the tree? If you do, you'll have to be in agreement with the neighbor, and if they don't want to pay half, maybe they'll agree if you pay the entirety. A large tree can cost upward of 5K to cut down, or more if you want stump grinding.

Cost is the main reason people don't do anything about trees, OP.

[Anonymous]

How is a tree that is right on the property line exclusively your neighbor’s problem? By definition that would be a shared responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move the fence! This is not hard. We have a couple trees on our property line and built the fence around them. In one spot, the fence comes in about 8 inches into our property, so the trunk is fully in the neighbors yard, and in another spot it’s the opposite.

Add a zig-zag to the fence. Or, if it's truly on the line, get together with your neighbor to remove it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor has a tree right on the property line that keeps growing. The girth of the trunk has now pushed out and destroyed our fence. It was never like this before, because google has images from 15 years ago with our fence in tact from previous owners. The tree is simply growing out of control and the neighbor left it growing in a terrible spot.

And no, we can’t cut down the portion invading our yard. It’d require basically splitting the trunk in half because it is straddling the property lines. What can we do here?

Talk to them. Discuss what would be a good solution for both of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cut the damn tree and plant another one.
Don’t remove your fence. It’s important to keep your distance from such a reckless neighbor.

Why would you cut down a mature tree? We need those around here for many, many reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor has a tree right on the property line that keeps growing. The girth of the trunk has now pushed out and destroyed our fence. It was never like this before, because google has images from 15 years ago with our fence in tact from previous owners. The tree is simply growing out of control and the neighbor left it growing in a terrible spot.

And no, we can’t cut down the portion invading our yard. It’d require basically splitting the trunk in half because it is straddling the property lines. What can we do here?

If the tree is on the property line, it's your tree, too. You just cut the whole thing down. Talk to your neighbor and tell them, you're cutting it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor has a tree right on the property line that keeps growing. The girth of the trunk has now pushed out and destroyed our fence. It was never like this before, because google has images from 15 years ago with our fence in tact from previous owners. The tree is simply growing out of control and the neighbor left it growing in a terrible spot.

And no, we can’t cut down the portion invading our yard. It’d require basically splitting the trunk in half because it is straddling the property lines. What can we do here?

If the tree is on the property line, it's your tree, too. You just cut the whole thing down. Talk to your neighbor and tell them, you're cutting it down.

Actually, you might not be able to cut it down without their consent. Talk to the lawyer, and if they don't agree, call a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor has a tree right on the property line that keeps growing. The girth of the trunk has now pushed out and destroyed our fence. It was never like this before, because google has images from 15 years ago with our fence in tact from previous owners. The tree is simply growing out of control and the neighbor left it growing in a terrible spot.

And no, we can’t cut down the portion invading our yard. It’d require basically splitting the trunk in half because it is straddling the property lines. What can we do here?

You move the fence. But, I am curious - what do you think your neighbor should have done in the past to prevent this situation?

[Anonymous]

The tree should become part of the fence. Remove the part that is damaged by the tree, then rebuild the section that abuts the tree so that the tree is incorporated. I see this all the time and it looks cool.

[Anonymous]

What do you expect them to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Darn those trees and they’re incessant growing!! How dare it invade your yard! Doesn’t that tree know its place?!

Yes, you’re a moron.

Wait until the neighbor wants its fruit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor has a tree right on the property line that keeps growing. The girth of the trunk has now pushed out and destroyed our fence. It was never like this before, because google has images from 15 years ago with our fence in tact from previous owners. The tree is simply growing out of control and the neighbor left it growing in a terrible spot.

And no, we can’t cut down the portion invading our yard. It’d require basically splitting the trunk in half because it is straddling the property lines. What can we do here?

You move the fence. But, I am curious - what do you think your neighbor should have done in the past to prevent this situation?

You move the tree over away from the property lines, duh.

What makes you think you have the right to plant crap right near the line and ignore all of the implications for how growth will impact other peoples' private property.. it would have taken 10 seconds of effort initially to put the tree in a more appropriate spot.

Moving the fence is not easy and costs $$$$. Fences always have to be dig out because they're secured with cement base. Why should a neighbor's personal choice now impacting someone else's private property force the nonconsenting party to have to do all of the heavy lifting of modifying their fence that is already on their land?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor has a tree right on the property line that keeps growing. The girth of the trunk has now pushed out and destroyed our fence. It was never like this before, because google has images from 15 years ago with our fence in tact from previous owners. The tree is simply growing out of control and the neighbor left it growing in a terrible spot.

And no, we can’t cut down the portion invading our yard. It’d require basically splitting the trunk in half because it is straddling the property lines. What can we do here?

You move the fence. But, I am curious - what do you think your neighbor should have done in the past to prevent this situation?

You move the tree over away from the property lines, duh.

What makes you think you have the right to plant crap right near the line and ignore all of the implications for how growth will impact other peoples' private property.. it would have taken 10 seconds of effort initially to put the tree in a more appropriate spot.

Moving the fence is not easy and costs $$$$. Fences always have to be dig out because they're secured with cement base. Why should a neighbor's personal choice now impacting someone else's private property force the nonconsenting party to have to do all of the heavy lifting of modifying their fence that is already on their land?

How do you know the neighbor planted the tree specifically in that spot in the first place? It might have been a volunteer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you screw with a tree for a stupid fence? Fences are ugly and fleeting.

Fences make good neighbors.