Sep 03, 2020
âThe neighbours tree is hanging right over my side, the
roots are lifting my paving and the leaves are blocking my gutters, am I
allowed to cut it back?â
Itâs a question #Treeswest are asked on a regular basis. How
far can we cut the tree back? Can I poison the roots that are over my side, and
whoâs going to pay for this? All relevant questions if youâre contemplating
having work carried out on a neighbours tree.
The first course of action is to contact your neighbour.
Have a chat or send them a letter if youâre unable to catch them at home. In my
experience, the neighbour is usually blissfully unaware of whatâs going on over
the fence. Neighbourly disputes are best avoided where possible.
Avoid paying next door a visit, when youâre all worked up or
the situation has become untenable. Pick your time, either invite them around
to outlie your concerns or take some detailed photographs, highlighting the
problems as you see them. Ideally, the neighbour should pay for the cost of the
works, whether itâs pruning back to the boundary line or the cost of repairs.
Far better to have the conversation prior to engaging a contractor to carry out
the work then after, especially if they have no idea whatâs going on.
Research various contractors look to see whether theyâre insured
and are they a member of their industry body. If you are satisfied that the
company ticks some or all of your boxes, invite them out to quote. How do they
turn up, on time, clean and smart with their company logo displayed? Are they knowledgeable
about the job theyâre quoting on?
Of course, thatâs an option, but, my first question is, âDo
you know what youâre doing?â My second question is, âIf youâre going to attempt
pruning the neighbours' trees, do you have the right equipment?â
If youâve been given a quote for tree work and you think you
can do it yourself, seriously consider it. Standing high up on a ladder with a
hand saw or even an electric circular saw (Iâve seen someone with an extension
cable hanging upside down in a tree) trying to cling on with one hand and saw with the
other, is it worth the downtime if you fall?
Like any industry, there are many contractors out there offering
a wide variety of services, and with varying degrees of industry experience and
knowledge, thatâs where the cost lies. Using a quality arborist (one who
studies and works with trees) should give you a level of assurance and certainty
around the standard of their work. Especially, if theyâre a member of their
industry body, and work to a code of conduct and ethics.
Do you know there is an industry-standard for cutting trees?
Treeswest prides itself on aligning with best industry practice. Training is
carried out regularly whether in house or from an external provider.
Our equipment is constantly being updated, with a recent acquisition
being a 23m âSpyderâ elevated work platform, this fits through a 1m gap,
impressive! With 2 x 18 inch woodchippers a 15-inch machine with trucks to
match, we make a formidable tree care company.
If you have a boundary dispute and are uncertain about a
tree or root issue, please give us a call. 0407511639
