What do you think about my tree problem?

Let the aborist be the delivered of bad tidings. At the very least, you could prune, lop and trim the top ⅓ of that monster.

We had a massive maple tree in our yard, as well, years ago. The branches on it were even larger than the ones on your tree, and half of them were growing over our neighbor’s living room. After the tree was badly damaged in an ice storm (Portland, OR here), we unfortunately had to cut it down. It was deemed much too dangerous to leave up in general. In our case, our neighbors were really uncomfortable with it and wanted it to come down, but we didn’t blame them.

I’m not an arborist, but your tree looks really healthy to me – which is definitely a good thing. When it gets rot, or branches are badly damaged, it’s usually pretty easy to tell. But as you mentioned, we live in the Pacific Northwest and one bad ice storm could change everything. I think, at the very least, if the arborist says it’s healthy and everyone wants the tree to stay up, you could look into getting your neighbors to sign a document saying they won’t sue you for any damages if it falls? Not very likely, I know, but it is at least an option.

Like @gailcalled mentioned, you could definitely trim the top, too. But I’d get a professional to do that.

It’s a smart move to get the opinion of an arborist. But after all is said and done, this tree is your responsibility.

And even tho your neighbors love it now when the sun is shining and the weather is fair, they’ll be singing a different tune after an ice storm has it come crashing down on their roof. Then, it’s lawsuit time.

If you’re considering leaving it up and just trimming it, you
should also get the advice of a lawyer to see if a signed waiver from them is enough to protect you in a court of law.

Then make your decisions accordingly. I’m fairly certain that the lawyer will inform you in no uncertain terms that this tree is your responsibility (and liability) and yours alone regardless of what your neighbors opinions on the matter are.

Other options are to trim back the leaning branches so there isn’t so much weight on them. You can also run a strong cable around the trunks at the appropriate point. Someone did that with a tree on our property many years ago when our tree was larger than yours is. It’s doubled its size by now, and grown completely around the cable, and towers above the building below it. Arborists check it every year. It’s very secure.

I think you have a huge problem on your hands. It’s been a while since my natural resources and forestry courses, but that looks like a widowmaker. Those forks are very weak. Shallow angle forks are the worst. They tend to split so easily. Is that a crack on the bottom of the trunk in the one pic? Probably that it’s a maple kept it together this long. That needs to go but good luck finding someone to tangle with it.

Of course the neighbors would want to keep it. They get all the benefits: shade, privacy, with none of the costs or responsibility. If the branch falls you are responsible – especially since you have already admitted you thought it was dangerous.
A crew can get in there with a cherry picker and either prune it way back or remove it. Have them cut the larger pieces to length so you can use it in your stove. This will cost you a little more but it is worth it if you can’t do the job yourself. Maple makes great firewood.

I would also get your home insurance people involved. After all, they would have to pay for the damage if the branch collapsed on the neighbor’s house.

Ask them to do a risk assessment – (get it in writing) – and ask if they would recommend measures to trim the tree and thereby reduce the insurance risk.

Then, assuming they recommend tree trimming or removal, follow their advice.

Thanks for all your input and ideas.

@Adirondackwannabe The way that the trunk forks is what alarms me the most as well as the way that half of the tree is leaning off with great weight toward my neighbors house. This tree not getting any smaller and I think that as it gets larger it is not if it will split but when.

Other than the its lack of structural integrity his tree appears very healthy.

I know of a certified arborist who can handle this tree and save me money by letting me do the the grunt clean-up work. Nevertheless this is going to cost me a big pile of money. If the tree expert concludes that the tree is a hazard and must be removed then I’ll be tactful, use good communication with my neighbors and homeowner association and do the right thing. It is growing on our property. It is my responsibility. I’m taking charge now before its too late.

@LuckyGuy I’ll make sure that I salvage as much as possible for firewood.

OK, but assuming you want to save the tree, how about just cutting the trunk that leans toward the neighbor’s house? It also doesn’t seem very tall to me. It’s more like a giant bush. And bushes can be trimmed. You don’t have to cut it at ground level either. Cut it half way up if you want.

I vote for the professional opinion and then, modest tactics if applicable.
I too do not like to see trees felled unless there is a significant risk of damage or injury. Let us know what the arborist says. Bear in mind too that a 2nd opinion might be in order, arborists want to make money and will often mislead you in the risk factors to line their own pockets.

@snowberry The base isn’t the only problem with the tree. It’s a mass of hazards waiting to happen. Look at the upper branches that are visible. See the forks? Those are called weak crotch angles. Next time you have a storm look at the limbs that come down. They’ll almost always all be at forks like that. I love trees but I’d get rid of this one.

The tree branches are touching the neighbor’s house. I’ll bet they make quite an annoying racket when the wind blows. Do you think there’s a chance the neighbor is only saying they don’t want it cut so they won’t have to pay for it?

@snowberry Giant bush? More like a monster giant bush on steroids! The house in the picture is two stories tall. The top of the tree is likely over 100 feet and the trunk is 8½ feet around. If this tree was simply trimmed way down to the point where the risk of damage and injury are minimal then it would look more like a monstrosity than a tree. Also “it” would require regular professional trimmings for the rest of it’s life and who’s going to pay for that?

@Adirondackwannabe Good eye! You see what is scaring the hell out of me.

@LuckyGuy You may be right. My neighbors may have changed their tune. I hope so. But such is their love for trees that a tree fell down in their front yard but clung to life about 5 years ago and they never removed it. In my opinion it looks like a big mess. It was several years ago that my neighbors told me not to trim the tree in question (even the branches that stretched across their deck). They watched me very closely as I trimmed some of the branches that interfered with me mowing my own lawn. They didn’t want me to touch the tree.

I’m hoping that the Arborist will contact me today. I’ll be sure to let you know the the tree expert says.

@all Oh, sorry, I thought that was a one story house. My bad.

@snowberry Don’t sweat it. It’s hard to read the scale of the pics unless you have a frame of reference. We’ll let you slide this time.

@Adirondackwannabe Whew! I thought I was in for it there! Thanks! LOL

FYI: A certified arborist examined the Big Leaf Maple tree in question this morning (10–28-14). He said that as the tree gets bigger it’s not if but when the tree splits. And it will hit my next door neighbor’s house but not totally destroy it. It will likely totally take out the back deck and only do roof, siding and window damage. I was given 3 good options:
1.Totally remove the tree. ($1500)
2. Remove half of the tree that is leaning toward my neighbor’s house. ($900)
3. Remove 3 of the biggest problem branches. ($450)
I asked about putting a big cable on the tree, but I was told that that tree would require several cables. And of course that would not solve the problem of the tree all over the house.
I talked to my neighbor last night and he agreed that at least some trimming was needed. I don’t want any bad feelings with my neighbors and I hope that they’ll be reasonable when I explain that more than just trimming is needed.

Thanks for the update. It’s a real Charlie Brown tree. You might get someone cheaper that wants the firewood, but they might also drop it on the house. Might be cheaper to pay the full thing up front.

Go with the pro. Those are reasonable charges for a tree of that size and location. The branches are over the house.
I am one of those guys who’d take down a tree for a neighbor if they gave me the wood. However, I would not touch that one. It needs someone with a bucket/cherry picker who will go up to the top and start delimbing and dropping sections. They must also have the control to not drop the pieces on the house. I can take down a tree and most of the time have it land where I want it. (The word “most” is important in that sentence.)
If you remove the half over the neighbor’s house will that increase the risk of having the tree fall on your house?
You’ll make the right decision.

@gondwanalon

Sooo…..you remove the tree at your cost and have your neighbors buy some nice replacement trees that will add privacy and beauty between the houses. How ‘bout that as a win/win?
Do you have a fireplace or wood stove? That tree will probably out in a cord of wood for you too. :-)

From she who has been out gathering oak branches for kindling all morning on the property here. haha
Maple is a hardwood right? I bet it would be good firewood.

@Coloma Maple makes great firewood. It is dense and splits beautifully. It looks nice too.

@LuckyGuy I thought it might, not many Maples out west here, mostly varieties of Oaks and Pines. We do have a big Silver Maple on the property here, it is a very pretty tree.

@Coloma Maple is beautiful wood, as is Black Walnut. Have you seen that?

@Adirondackwannabe Oh yes, tons of Black Walnuts here too. Lots of Walnut ranches for commercial harvesting. Madrone is another common tree here, nice tree for wood too, have you ever seen a Madrone? www.arbutusarts.com/madrone-tree.html

Oh wow, that’s a beautiful tree. Peeps are going to think I’m a tree hugger.

@Adirondackwannabe Haha..being a tree hugger is great, we should conserve trees whenever possible. Much worse things one could be called. lol

Guilty as charged. Laughs. I love trees.

^^^ That’s how I am going to die, driving along and exclaiming ” Look at that beautiful treeee…..over the cliff I go. lol

Your neighbors are crazy. That tree can do a lot of damage to their house if it never split or fell!