There's your answer right there! Asking them to pitch in for the cost of removal is silly.
Also, do you get a say in their trees, landscaping, and property? Enjoy your tree!
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Ethical question about a tree in my yard.
- Thread starter hbarcat
- Start date
There's your answer right there! Asking them to pitch in for the cost of removal is silly.
Also, do you get a say in their trees, landscaping, and property? Enjoy your tree!
No way would I remove that tree.
If it becomes untenable, contact your local PUD. The same hazards (proximity to power lines) that make it expensive for the private tree guys, are exactly why PUDs allocate funds for tree services to keep power lines clear and safe.
The PUD would, in all likelihood, hire the same guys you got estimates from.
The downside of this is tree crews with PUD contracts burning a hole in their pockets. They will approach homeowners with the “your tree could fall on the power lines!” song and dance. Then offer to remove the tree for “free”. I’ve sent them packing more than once.
We lost a magnificent flame maple across the street from our house. Easily 60’ high with a three foot trunk. It provided shade during the sun’s long decline in summer, and was a major consideration when I built our deck. At the time it was shaded by four trees all afternoon.
The loss of that maple was huge. Now the intense low sun makes it very warm at the time you’d most like to be out there enjoying the shade.
The homeowner was just excited not to rake leaves and the “free” service. She was apparently too dense to appreciate that the tree shaded her house until noon. Apparently her house got shade from the trees on the north side. Amaxing!
Our house is a dinger, built late ‘50’s. The four mature trees on our property are what makes it livable.
I’ve spent a couple grand on tree maintenance over 20 some years. Well worth it.
Mature trees cannot be replaced.
If it becomes untenable, contact your local PUD. The same hazards (proximity to power lines) that make it expensive for the private tree guys, are exactly why PUDs allocate funds for tree services to keep power lines clear and safe.
The PUD would, in all likelihood, hire the same guys you got estimates from.
The downside of this is tree crews with PUD contracts burning a hole in their pockets. They will approach homeowners with the “your tree could fall on the power lines!” song and dance. Then offer to remove the tree for “free”. I’ve sent them packing more than once.
We lost a magnificent flame maple across the street from our house. Easily 60’ high with a three foot trunk. It provided shade during the sun’s long decline in summer, and was a major consideration when I built our deck. At the time it was shaded by four trees all afternoon.
The loss of that maple was huge. Now the intense low sun makes it very warm at the time you’d most like to be out there enjoying the shade.
The homeowner was just excited not to rake leaves and the “free” service. She was apparently too dense to appreciate that the tree shaded her house until noon. Apparently her house got shade from the trees on the north side. Amaxing!
Our house is a dinger, built late ‘50’s. The four mature trees on our property are what makes it livable.
I’ve spent a couple grand on tree maintenance over 20 some years. Well worth it.
Mature trees cannot be replaced.
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As someone in a similar situation (two large cottonwoods, one in the front yard, one in the back) you are under no obligation to your neighbors on this. I actually had the neighbor behind me ask (and I heartily approved) if he could have a tree guy he had hired remove one of the limbs overhanging his house. Didn't cost me anything and gave him peace of mind.
That being said, my cottonwoods have caused me no end of trouble (crushed one of my cars, the back fence a couple of times, and one in my side yard that had died fell on a nice clear day and hit the house). So that is something to keep in mind in dealing with them.
That being said, my cottonwoods have caused me no end of trouble (crushed one of my cars, the back fence a couple of times, and one in my side yard that had died fell on a nice clear day and hit the house). So that is something to keep in mind in dealing with them.
I too live in a region where cottonwoods are common, and they really are a nuisance in a residential area, with the cotton that gets blown all over the place. They're not the type of tree that has a very long lifespan ( I believe 70-100 yrs or so, longer if conditions are right) and are susceptible to weak branches and such. So someday it'll need to be taken down. But on the OP's question, you have no obligation to do so now, nor would they have any legal recourse to force you to do so. Keep in mind that at some point in time, you may need to remove it. Given the proximity to your home, I'd want to have a pro assess it and see if there is any risk in its present condition. But there's a huge difference between risk (tree blowing down) and nuisance (cotton blowing all over).
Yeah, definitely a time consuming job in your pictures there.
Several years ago I started shopping to get a couple of black locusts removed and totally blew it when a guy who was new in the area and trying to build up some business for tree work came out and gave me a bid for less than a grand for both, which were both over the neighbor's fence, garage and house.
Not having the money at the time he charged me a couple hundred to remove the single most dangerous of two trunks coming from one of the trees.
Later when I tried to get the rest of it all removed he was no longer in the area and I ended up getting several bids, all of them between 5-9k, which made me realize what a bargain a 1k would have been for a licensed tree guy, not to mention that all the other bids were after the most dangerous section had already been removed.
Two years ago I got one more bid, and it was for 3k, complete haul away! I asked if it would make any difference if he just dropped them and I cleaned it all up, to which he said he'd give me anyway 1k off of I did all the sectioning and cleaning up.
There are deals to be found, but you definitely need to scrutinize Anna go with your own instincts on it.
One last thing; don't listen to your neighbors, or anytime here on the forum about what you should or shouldn't do with your tree. It's yours, and you're the only one with any history when it comes to that tree.
If you want it gone, get rid of it with a clear conscience.
I suggest that you follow up by telling the neighbors that if they will each pay $1000 toward the cost, you'll cover the rest. Make that a standing offer that's good any time they want to say yes. This can be a negotiation. Just leave it that way, and do your homework finding the least expensive but trustworthy tree service. Also, start putting $50 a month into a tree account.
You might also see if either of them have trees that need work; if a tree service has other work to do adjacent to your house, they may reduce the price for you.
Be creative, not confrontational. Even if the neighbors say hell no, you can leave the offer open. You might remind them of that offer every summer when the cotton spreads. Sooner or later they're likely to say yes.
I agree that I'd hate to take out a tree planted in honor of your dad, but you can have the stump ground out and plant a new tree (I have a Firewing Maple that I really like) as a replacement. If YOU plant it, you can do so to honor your dad.
You might also see if either of them have trees that need work; if a tree service has other work to do adjacent to your house, they may reduce the price for you.
Be creative, not confrontational. Even if the neighbors say hell no, you can leave the offer open. You might remind them of that offer every summer when the cotton spreads. Sooner or later they're likely to say yes.
I agree that I'd hate to take out a tree planted in honor of your dad, but you can have the stump ground out and plant a new tree (I have a Firewing Maple that I really like) as a replacement. If YOU plant it, you can do so to honor your dad.
Did your neighbors categorically deny any financial assistance? Maybe a half a loaf is better than no loaf. There is also a possibility that just maybe this bothers you more that your neighbors.
Have you tried “Go Fund Me?
After taking everything that's been said into consideration, I'd made the decision to leave the tree up but not bring up the subject again with my neighbors.
My offer to contribute $1,000 toward its removal if they cover the rest is still open (I made it in good faith and I don't feel right going back on it), and if they bring up the subject in the future, I'm open to discussing it.
But my neighbors are generally nice people whom I've gotten along with for a long time. They weren't rude or disrespectful when they asked me to take the tree down. They simply informed me that the annual cotton shedding was annoying them and they rather politely asked me to get rid of it.
They brought up the subject on two separate occasions, but after I told them that I'd only cover $1,000 and they'd have to come up with the rest, they politely declined and they haven't mentioned it since.
If they don't bring up the subject again, I'll consider the matter closed and continue to have a cordial relationship with them.
I appreciate everybody's input and advice, as well as the humorous responses.
TB rocks!
My offer to contribute $1,000 toward its removal if they cover the rest is still open (I made it in good faith and I don't feel right going back on it), and if they bring up the subject in the future, I'm open to discussing it.
But my neighbors are generally nice people whom I've gotten along with for a long time. They weren't rude or disrespectful when they asked me to take the tree down. They simply informed me that the annual cotton shedding was annoying them and they rather politely asked me to get rid of it.
They brought up the subject on two separate occasions, but after I told them that I'd only cover $1,000 and they'd have to come up with the rest, they politely declined and they haven't mentioned it since.
If they don't bring up the subject again, I'll consider the matter closed and continue to have a cordial relationship with them.
I appreciate everybody's input and advice, as well as the humorous responses.
TB rocks!
If you ever do cut it down then consider getting the trunk carved into something in honor of your dad, there are some fantastic tree carvers out there.
Here's one example of a tree that got broken in a wind storm and transformed into something pretty unique.
I love any kind of big tree so I'd hate to be in your shoes. I have yet to have to deal with it from a decision making POV, but it always pains me a little when I see a big tree go, even when it's lightning or disease.
Any thoughts on maybe pruning it a bit. Can you remove some of the buds before they mature or would enough to lower the discontent temperature kill the tree?
Make it the worlds largest bonsai maybe?
And last, my grandma had a big Magnolia in her front yard. It got big enough to be a threat to power lines so the power company came out and topped the tree. It was ugly as sin after, so may not be an ideal situation unless the tree staying is the primary goal.
Any thoughts on maybe pruning it a bit. Can you remove some of the buds before they mature or would enough to lower the discontent temperature kill the tree?
Make it the worlds largest bonsai maybe?
And last, my grandma had a big Magnolia in her front yard. It got big enough to be a threat to power lines so the power company came out and topped the tree. It was ugly as sin after, so may not be an ideal situation unless the tree staying is the primary goal.
Done right, it could become a community attraction. Here's our locally-famous Lake of the Isles Pencil:
www.mprnews.org
Why a Minneapolis neighborhood sharpens a giant pencil every year
Residents gathered Saturday in a scenic Minneapolis neighborhood for an annual ritual — the sharpening of a gigantic No. 2 pencil.
www.mprnews.org
