When you want to prune, remove or clean up storm damage from a neighbor's tree.
During the storm season we are often asked the rules of engagement when dealing with a neighbor's tree; also, throughout the growing season when trees are reaching over property lines. Here are a few tips and "rules" for engaging with your neighbor for tree work:
Storm Damage
General rule of thumb - even if it is your tree, if it falls on your neighbor's house, it's your neighbor who will file a claim with their homeowner's insurance. And the opposite is true if your neighbor's tree falls on your house due to an act of nature.
Specific rules - if your neighbor's tree has known defects and it falls on your house, it could be their insurance who files the claim.
With recent storms in the area, 11Alive compiled a list of action items if you are in a storm damage situation and you can also visit our local county forester's outline of the legal implications of owning and managing trees in Georgia.
Pruning vs Trimming
General rule of thumb - if the tree limb is in your "air space" - reaching over your property line as if the property line makes an invisible wall from the ground up - you can trim that limb without permission.
Specific rules - if the limb must be pruned back to a larger limb or even the main trunk, and requires access from your neighbor's property, you must get permission from the neighbor, especially if the tree requires climbing for access to the limb. If the limb can be reached with a bucket lift from your property and pruned back, it is still good form to discuss a pruning cut with the tree's owner.
Overall - we find most neighbors are indifferent about trimming and OK with most pruning cuts. Very few neighbors do not give access to a tree and are more often glad their neighbor (in this case YOU) are willing to address it before it becomes a larger issue.
Removal
General rule of thumb - if the tree is on your neighbor's property and is dead and could damage your property, make them aware of your concern. If no action is taken, send a letter (certified if you feel necessary) to officially site your concern, which might help in the event of an insurance claim down the road. However if the tree has no known defect and is otherwise healthy, they are not obligated to do anything and in the event it falls, the storm damage rules above would most likely apply.
Specific rules - if the tree is on your property and your neighbor is concerned, but it has no known defects, then it is entirely up to you and your neighbor on how to address the tree. If you are indifferent about the tree, in specific instances we've seen very concerned neighbors pay to remove their neighbor's tree, and sometimes neighbors go 50/50 on "property line" tree work.
Overall - it is important to know your property line and pay attention to your trees and your neighbor's trees. Don't be negligent with dead wood and notify your neighbor if you have a concern. Refer to the forester's outline above for more information.