Anonymous wrote:You should not have a tree that large near the property line. He can modify his property however he wants. Maybe he wants to put a garden there.

I always wonder what the yards of people like this look like. Big empty squares of lawn? Old trees, especially oaks, are what make neighborhoods look established. They keep our houses cooler and provide food for wildlife. I would love it if my neighbor had a massive oak!

Anonymous wrote:In some jurisdictions a big old oak tree would be protected, and your neighbor isn’t allowed to harm it. But assuming your town doesn’t have those laws, it’s their lawn to do with as they like. I don’t understand people who dislike trees. I realize they have every right to like what they like, but it still baffles me, given all the health and environmental benefits of trees.

Your tree may or may not survive. You might call out the arborist again to see if there is anything you can do to help the tree adjust to the loss of root mass.

This! Many jurisdictions have tree ordinances for landmark trees, which Oak trees usually are, depending on their size. Look into it.

Anonymous wrote:I became team neighbor when when OP wrote "ANYwho," which indicates that she's more annoying than the neighbor, by leaps and bounds.

Agreed.

This: https://www.whitefordlaw.com/news-events/tree-liability-in-maryland-dc-and-virginia suggests that if the tree dies or is seriously harmed, the neighbor might be liable, even if he has the right to trim the roots in a way that doesn't kill the tree. I'd document, and contact an arborist to look at the situation just in case.

You need the neighbor's written acknowledgement that he did something to the tree, so that if it blows over in a storm, you have legal recourse.

Or perhaps you can say what a good job he did to his yard, and which tree company did he use? And then ask the tree company to identify which tree was ground on which date.

Anonymous wrote:IF the tree suffers, sue him.

I love trees and hate what was done. I would have just spread some pinestraw in that area. Nonetheless, if the roots are in the neighbor's yard, the neighbor can do what he wants to them.

Anonymous wrote:If you learn nothing from dcum, let it be that there are a lot of people out there who truly hate trees and most forms of natural life. Don’t mess with these people, they are nuts. If he damaged your tree from his side of the property line, there’s unlikely to be anything you can do and even if you could you’re only kicking a hornet’s nest.

+1 And be glad he didn't pay a tree "surgeon" to cut every limb protruding over the fence, no matter how high.

Anonymous wrote:Document, document, document. If you saw the name of the tree company, you could call and ask what they did. And I’d make a nice show of standing on your side and photographing the damage on his side of the lawn, too.

+1

Anonymous wrote:If you learn nothing from dcum, let it be that there are a lot of people out there who truly hate trees and most forms of natural life. Don’t mess with these people, they are nuts. If he damaged your tree from his side of the property line, there’s unlikely to be anything you can do and even if you could you’re only kicking a hornet’s nest.

+1

Well said.

Document, document, document. If you saw the name of the tree company, you could call and ask what they did. And I’d make a nice show of standing on your side and photographing the damage on his side of the lawn, too.

IF the tree suffers, sue him.

If there’s a big old oak tree, it’s an amazing asset and both neighbors should want to preserve it.

But sadly, this neighbor, like many of the DCUM anti-tree squad, hates trees and he was fully within his rights to trim those roots.

That said, document it. If it compromises the tree at all, it probably makes it more likely to fall in his direction.

I hope/suspect the tree will be just fine. Oak trees have huge tap roots.

I’ve seen elm trees have a 2 foot deep trench dug between them (with maybe a couple feet on either side till the trunk) and both survived.