Neighbours and tree

Bendy_House

If it isn't something YOU want, but are nonetheless prepared to ACCEPT, then THEY can pay to have it done.

Otherwise it's "No, I like my tree just the way it is."

If they say they'll pay, then it should be a pro tree surgeon, working under an agreed schedule - in writing. And not a mate of theirs, trigger-happy with a saw.

Keep_pedalling

I would not mutilate such a beautiful tree. So many of our native Ash trees have been lost to Ash dieback and cutting a mature tree back is likely to make it more susceptible to the same fate. 

Tell him you have been advised that trimming the tree may kill it and check with the council to see if it has a preservation order on it. If it hasn’t ask them to slap one on it. 

Mistral001

Disregarding what your neighbour wants, it is a good idea to make sure that the size of your trees are kept under control by regular crown reduction.  I have found that carrying out crown reduction needs to be done every 5 or 6 years.  If you leave it any longer than that, the trunk diameter and the roots become so big that when you eventually do the crown reduction you will get shorter branches being supplied with the same amount of nutrients as before and hence the rate of growth in the branches can increase dramatically.  This happened with one of my trees which was not pruned for over 10 years and I now have to prune it every two or three years simply because the branches grow so quickly now.  

Soot2006

If it's a happy healthy tree, then I say let it live in peace.  Probably worth the tree surgeon visit anyway to check all your trees and make sure they are indeed happy and healthy. And then you can advise neighbour of this outcome.

I paid a tree surgeon £50 to come so a "consultation" when I moved into my house in 2019. It was really helpful as he helped me make a 5-year plan for the trees, some of which are huge. He also agreed that cutting down the massive sycamore was the right thing to do and did that for me the following winter. I also had a neighbour from two house down at the back (so another road entirely and actually nowhere near us) complain that the removal of that tree had spoiled his view. However, its removal has allowed the much more desirable trees to thrive now.

Redwino222

Tree surgeon booked for next week.  

He says if it is an ash tree it has to come down - or it could become dangerous.  I am really upset about it - it’s really beautiful. 

I am also annoyed my neighbour will think he snapped his fingers and I cut down the tree!

but hopefully I am wrong and it isnt an ash

Bendy_House

How can an ash tree become dangerous? If it's diseased? But, until then?

Although galling, you should understand that some - many - folk are like your neighbour, and have an inflated idea of their own importance. Now't you can do about what's in their heads, but YOU just act and behave based on reason and evidence when 'dealing' with them, and give them a wide berth the rest of the time.

So, if it's an ash, and it has to come down, that's that. Pop 'round to the neighb, say summat like "It was useful to have it brought to my notice - it's an ash tree and it seems as tho' it has to come down, but happily all my other trees have been given a clean bill of health..."

IF he's sneery or anything, you can say what you want - provided it's factual and delivered in a matter-of-fact, non-aggressive, tone; "Wasn't TOO impressed by the way you brought it to my attention, but hey..." Smile, and walk away.

If he's downright arrogant - "Yeah, I knew it had to come down!" - then whatevs; "Ah! A tree expert too! Marv...", chuckle, walk away. Ignore.

(Obviously if that feels right to you!)

FreeBear

Redwino222 said: Tree surgeon booked for next week.  

He says if it is an ash tree it has to come down - or it could become dangerous.  I am really upset about it - it’s really beautiful.

If the tree is diseased, then yes, taking it down would be prudent. But if it is a healthy specimen, thinning the crown may be beneficial. Certain other trees such as Beech and Eucalyptus have a habit of dropping limbs as mature trees with little warning. That said, any large tree is vulnerable in high winds.

Keep_pedalling

Redwino222 said:

Tree surgeon booked for next week.  

He says if it is an ash tree it has to come down - or it could become dangerous.  I am really upset about it - it’s really beautiful. 

I am also annoyed my neighbour will think he snapped his fingers and I cut down the tree!

but hopefully I am wrong and it isnt an ash

How the hell does he know without actually looking at it? You don’t cut down a tree just because it might become diseased in the future. Ash dieback becomes pretty obvious well before it becomes dangerous so if it is healthy there is no reason to fell it. I would certainly be looking for a second opinion before spending a fortune on having it removed.

If it does need to come out plant a willow, almost impossible to kill and provides beautiful shade

Can you provide an image of the leaves (or just a leaf) so we can confirm the species?

Brie

There's no reason to cut back/remove an ash just because some trees are succumbing to dieback.  It's possible that your tree will be one of the few survivors that all the population to regenerate.  

Frankly I agree with another poster who suggested finding out when neighbour bought his place.  

I would also let him know the next time you see him that he should be grateful to have a bit of shelter from the sunshine during a heat wave.  We have 2 massive trees on neighbour's land both front and back of our house.  It means that we are saved from some of the brutal heat.  we also have a delightful time watching the birds and the changes of the seasons.  if anyone proposed felling either I'd be front of the line to protest.

Redwino222

Not sure if this helps - bad picture sorry!