Easiest way to cut roots from neighbors trees?

[DrPizza]

My neighbor dug up his yard, and in the process killed a tree that's just on my side of the property line. Am I entitled to compensation for the tree?

Yes. In this situation, the tree owner has the right to sue for damages . Anyone who engages in tree removal, tree cutting, or injury to the tree without the owner's permission is liable for compensating the tree owner. In many cases, the tree-owner has been compensated by up to three times the value of the tree.

Found this... seems even more relevant.

 

[0roo0roo]

slate bar/reciprocal saw...

circular saw is well, super dangerous

 

[JEDI]

Found this... seems even more relevant.

i live in Va.

hm.. i'm allowed to cut the tree over my property line. but if it dies, i owe $??
WTF contradictory law is this?

 

[JEDI]

slate bar/reciprocal saw...

circular saw is well, super dangerous

why would a circular saw be dangerous?!

 

[JEDI]

This link shows the type tree shoot that I am used to seeing. They say it is from a cherry tree or other fruit tree.
http://gardening.stackexchange.com/...to-prevent-tree-shoots-from-coming-up-in-lawn

Here is a text description of the problem stating there is no real solution except for continued cutting. Herbicides may kill the tree and this is not desired if it is a fruit tree.
http://diagnostics.montana.edu/Plant/topics/WEEDS027.HTM

thx..sigh.. so just keep wrenching off the shoots which appear

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

thx..sigh.. so just keep wrenching off the shoots which appear

Now you have the perfect excuse to get a riding mower. :biggrin:

 

[Modelworks]

Nothing fancy required, just use an ax.

 

[BoomerD]

yeah, dont want to rent a trencher. seems overkill.

shovel + reciprical saw sounds easier than an axe

That's how I'd do it. Sawzall with a long blade...dig the fucking roots out.

If you REALLY want to stop it...cut the roots about 12 inches into your property, drill some holes into the roots, pour brush killer or even concentrated Round-up into the holes. (IMO, brush killer works better) :biggrin:

 

[Northern Lawn]

3 stories?

Evil 1%er

Maybe he lives in a rooming house.

I like the stump grinder Idea the best. I've cut roots and its still a pain to pull them out of the ground. A stump grinder will make short work of this project then you can wheel barrow away the crap, replace with topsoil and maybe some sod. If the roots are very big you could hurt the trees though.

 

[chusteczka]

When a tree branch is cut from a tree, it is often sealed to prevent regrowth. The sealant can be a varnish or paint.

It may work to cut a hole, cut the root, and seal the live end of the root. Let the sealant dry, then cover up the hole.

 

[DrPizza]

i live in Va.

hm.. i'm allowed to cut the tree over my property line. but if it dies, i owe $??
WTF contradictory law is this?

They're the kind that are needed when people can't be bothered to discuss problems with their neighbors. It's your neighbor's tree. If it's bothering you, then you and the neighbor need to work things out. In the absence of the ability to be neighborly, the laws spell out what you can do, and what liabilities come with that.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The tree was there before you should up.

You have encroached into it's living space

 

[JoeyP]

I've had very good luck with a sawzall and a mattock. You can get long blades that work very well.

 

[WelshBloke]

... It's your neighbor's tree...

But it's his lawn.

Now me, I wouldn't give a shit, but some people are obsessive about their lawns.
If the neighbour can sue if he damages the tree on his(the ops) side of the property line can the OP sue for getting his lawn fixed?

 

[silverpig]

So you are going to end up having to re-do your lawn. I've done this tons of times (I used to work on the grounds crew at a golf course), and you can do it with an axe and a shovel. It'll be a full day's work, and you'll need a chain and a pickup truck to yank them out once you've cut them. The thing is, you'll rip up most of your lawn doing it, and there'll be big gouges in the ground.

Once you tear your lawn up, you'll probably want to dig out the grass in a nice square, churn it over a few times, get it nice and level, add a bit of sand and fertilizer, and then sod over it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Unless you need a level lawn; dump a few cubic yards of decent soil over the roots that are exposed and reseed.

Better for the tree and safer.

Dead roots will eventually decay and collapse the lawn; so you will need to do what Silver Pig recommended sooner or later.

 

[silverpig]

Unless you need a level lawn; dump a few cubic yards of decent soil over the roots that are exposed and reseed.

Better for the tree and safer.

Dead roots will eventually decay and collapse the lawn; so you will need to do what Silver Pig recommended sooner or later.

The saplings will still pop up through the lawn though.

 

[slayernine]

An shovel and axe would be both simple and well suited to the task.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The saplings will still pop up through the lawn though.

Big deal - he needs to mow the lawn. At that point; the saplings are just like a week.

 

[Squisher]

Generally speaking you can cut up 1/3 of a tree's root system without harming the tree. Also, roots usually extend out a little further than the branches of the tree (weep line).

How big is the canopy of this tree and how far from the base are you cutting these roots?

 

[DrPizza]

An shovel and axe would be both simple and well suited to the task.

Without pictures, there's no way to know what tools would be suited to the task. I've got a few roots in my front yard from 2 trees. I'll pay you $300 if you remove them with an axe and shovel. Hell, I can make that $500 or more, because I know you'll give up after less than 10 hours of work, when you realize it'll take forever. I saw this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD8BFePowqY and realized I was competely wasting my time (my stumps are much bigger, and the roots are exposed on the surface.)

 

[alkemyst]

yeah, dont want to rent a trencher. seems overkill.

shovel + reciprical saw sounds easier than an axe

you'd use a chain saw for this.

 

[DrPizza]

You don't use a chain saw below ground level, unless you want to sharpen your chain after 2 minutes of use.

 

[alkemyst]

You don't use a chain saw below ground level, unless you want to sharpen your chain after 2 minutes of use.

You would need to dig around the root first.

 

[CZroe]

You would need to dig around the root first.

Easier said than done and I guarantee you that you'd end up treating your shovel like an ax before it gets anywhere near that far.

The problem is digging around something you can't see all of with underground obstructions which block your shovel nearly anyplace you think you can push it under to dig around.