Tree Trimming and Clean-up Law

We have a tree in the far back corner of our backyard that sits close to the border of four neighbor property lines. If you were to split the tree into sections, the largest section probably lives in our property. But. it’s old enough and large enough that trunk and branches of the tree has expanded and grown into the other three neighbor’s property. One neighbor has recently started throwing branches and leaves from the tree into our backyard. A couple of questions:

1. Are we responsible for cleaning-up the debris from the tree in all of our neighbor’s yards?

2. Is it legal to throw the debris from the tree into our yard?

Thanks!

Scott

mrscotchy

in General Discussion 7 years and 10 months ago

7

Please log in, in order to post replies!

7 replies

Newest Oldest

Arkady | 7 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5084 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4885 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "14677"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BSLpIhH1FLNbV2Qdpb/F67tu7brrgw1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "rkdillon@verizon.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/arkady/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2008-08-04 21:50:38"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "HL9P1Plx6tnm1l8GiJvd"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(14677)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Clearview – Call Paul: 917-807-7316 (from ‘Stoner)
Prospect – 718 871 1354
Urban Arborist – 718 522 0612
Ken Nicely – 718 252 2388
Lawrence Schultz – 267 241 6858
Family – 718 698 2725
Your Tree – 718 443 3277
Tree Care – 718 638 8733
Rite Way – 718 376 2070
People on ‘Stoner recommend Family & I did too. Two friends liked Schultz best. I did find that no one service gives best estimate on different projects.

daveinbedstuy | 7 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5083 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4867 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3864"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BtJYyObAQmff2MQp.qFP7/kmwU1bBZ1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "djl135e54@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/daveinbedstuy/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:23:53"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3864)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Family Tree Service

mrscotchy | 7 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4904 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5085 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "185194"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "mrscotchy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BEJaN7RoGBZRTp1Rm/FjxVbMetGvTS/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "mrscotchy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "mrscotchy@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:56:22"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "mrscotchy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(185194)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

A quick follow-up: please recommend a good tree trimming service that anyone has used and felt did good work.

figtree | 7 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5084 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5086 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "182894"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "figtree"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B8I78pk/Ite9fmMbdYz7jxfpnUAodP."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "figtree"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(27) "jason_shahinfar@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:28:05"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "RCBNWKBKh8Z0KH3NvMx8"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "figtree"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(182894)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

As the others said, I would get in front of this quickly if you want to protect the tree. A friend of mine had a giant beautiful willow tree in her backyard that stretched out across several back yards. A new family with children moved in next door and they were very scared of the large branches (which arborists told them were fine). So they cut the branches that hung over their yard and completely destabilized the tree. During one of the big rain storms this summer, the whole thing came toppling down.

mrscotchy | 7 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5085 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5083 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "185194"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "mrscotchy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BEJaN7RoGBZRTp1Rm/FjxVbMetGvTS/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "mrscotchy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "mrscotchy@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:56:22"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "mrscotchy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(185194)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Very helpful, many thanks to you both!

evg25 | 7 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4904 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5087 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "193355"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(5) "evg25"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B/lBDPwcv4XcFa/qd8L0VfqKvlJcmM0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(5) "evg25"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "evg25@cornell.edu"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:51:16"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(29) "Eleonore Grant Eleonore Grant"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(193355)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

indeed, sport in correct. On/over/in your property, in your control. But they may not cause damage to the tree itself. Now, if you are good terms, speak with them about throwing out the debris with their trash…it is theirs. or you can dispose of it, and then speak with them about future actions. Much success.

nyc_sport | 7 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5083 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5084 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "39535"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "nyc_sport"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BFv.HDXnnlYzjvInY5Q64aXS/5iuhf1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "nyc_sport"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(16) "btfraw@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/nyc_sport/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:16:50"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(45) "1716947865:$P$BBdyqKX22eBh6JksYu8L5KasH0jSlb."
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "nyc_sport"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(39535)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

The neighbors are free to butcher your tree as they wish to the extent it extends into their yard, but none of what extends into their property is your issue (nor is their refuse). Still, you may find it better to be involved in the trimming as they may destroy your tree.