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We planted 15 arborvitae's several years ago to give us privacy because it felt like we were sitting in our back neighbor's front yard. They have over the years grown to 30 feet high.We had drainage from this neighbor's front downspout that felled one of these trees. I called our neighbor to let them be aware that we had someone coming to try to save the tree. The husband said to do whatever needed to be done. We called in a professional arborist who came out to stake the tree and recover the roots. Upon the arrival of the arborist, the wife came out and threw a fit because she didn't want the stake in her yard. Our arborist explained to her that was the only way to save the tree. She said she didn't care about our tree or being a good neighbor and fled back into her home. The arborist wound up putting the stake at the bottom of the tree(on our property), but said that it would not fix the problem. Right away the tree started leaning to one side and we thought, well we will just have to live with it. Fast forward to Hurricane Matthew. After 2 days of rain, the tree came down. Not only did that tree come down but 6 others as well. Our arborist said that either it was a result of the run off from her roof or the spike holding the tree had pulled out. He then stated that in 20 years as an arborist, he had NEVER had a spike come out of the ground. I called our neighbors on the phone and pleaded with them to allow our arborist to come out and try to save the tree. Her husband answered the phone and said to do whatever needed to be done. She then got on the phone and said NO! I tried to reason with her but to no avail. I told her at the end of our conversation that my heart was broken and that I was sorry to bother her. I went out in the middle of the storm and videoed her downspout gushing rainwater from her roof into our backyard! She even has the concrete diverter aimed at our house! Do we have any recourse to resolve this problem? She is impossible to deal with or be reasonable. The back porch used to be one of privacy that we enjoyed immensely. Now the back yard looks like H---. Image a line of 30 ft trees (16 as a matter of fact), with the most prominent ones missing. Looking like 00000 000 0000! Now I have to look into the front yard of this Person!
Check local ordinances too, in Georgia it is ILLEGAL to divert water towards someone elses property (it has to remain on yours until it gets to a storm drain).
Similarly, if the neighbors wife wants to be a PITA, take them to small claims court for emotional damages over the loss of a tree. I did that this summer when a neighbor cut down about 70' long worth of 20~30' high and 6~8' deep shrub screen (that blocked my bedroom from the highway and their crappy rental house) when the property owner wouldn't step up and buy me 6 replacement trees. $300 for trees or $3000 for court... he chose court (we've gotten about $800 and get a little each month, also cost him a job). Hardly a replacement for what was there, but covers what we spent to put a fence on the property line and plant trees.
Neighbors are the reason I want to move somewhere I have several acres buffer. I know I'll still have people around me but their "Stupid human tricks" should have less Direct impact.
Fast forward to Hurricane Matthew. After 2 days of rain, the tree came down. Not only did that tree come down but 6 others as well. Our arborist said that either it was a result of the run off from her roof or the spike holding the tree had pulled out. He then stated that in 20 years as an arborist, he had NEVER had a spike come out of the ground.
A few things came to mind...
Maybe the arborist never had a spike come out in the past, but this WAS a severe hurricane situation this time. Five other trees came down also.
Perhaps consider planting something with a greater root depth, and planting them so that if they DO need staked, everything is on YOUR property.
Check local ordinances too, in Georgia it is ILLEGAL to divert water towards someone elses property (it has to remain on yours until it gets to a storm drain).
Similarly, if the neighbors wife wants to be a PITA, take them to small claims court for emotional damages over the loss of a tree. I did that this summer when a neighbor cut down about 70' long worth of 20~30' high and 6~8' deep shrub screen (that blocked my bedroom from the highway and their crappy rental house) when the property owner wouldn't step up and buy me 6 replacement trees. $300 for trees or $3000 for court... he chose court (we've gotten about $800 and get a little each month, also cost him a job). Hardly a replacement for what was there, but covers what we spent to put a fence on the property line and plant trees.
Neighbors are the reason I want to move somewhere I have several acres buffer. I know I'll still have people around me but their "Stupid human tricks" should have less Direct impact.
I agree, you can't redirect your water onto somebody else's property in most areas.
If the professional arborist could pull the tree by staking it, he could just as well push it from your property with no need to stake it in the neighbors yard!
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