General Chat

Brenda, I was concerned about that, too... I had quite a lot of professional advice, as the tree had become enormous in just 3 years...

I was told that because willows are so thirsty, they drain the moisture out of the soil... when they have been killed, they die off slowly... they really need to be treated for a couple of years.... the tree roots stop absorbing moisture, as the roots are decomposing... so the soil levels remain pretty static as a result.. the worst ones for what you are talking about are trees with huge thick root systems, like oak and chestnut... and even then not as badly as people suspect!! Most trees don't actually damage pipework by growing into them.. but by sucking all the moisture out.. that moisture is replaced gradually, at a similar rate to decomposition, in all bar the hugest and sturdiest of trees.

Phew....... my tree surgeon friends have been brilliant with their info... I also have five oaks and two horse chestnuts on the boundaries of my property (not belonging to me, to the local authority) so I have asked loads of questions of them, lol!!

Love

Daff xxx

Having just read about the roots, I forgot to add that when a new house was built the other side of ours, the builder was very worried about the willow and sunk the foundations even deeper as a precaution for the future.
Brenda

Yes, Hayley ...... I am on your side, you are doing nothing wrong.....what the others have said is true......you can lop the branches on your side as long as you give them back, and don't damage the tree.....

my in-laws had a peculiar neighbour.....they went away for a holiday and came back to telephone poles spaced down the boundary and these maturing trees planted in a hedge....and as they grew and spread it cout out half their sunlight.....

the lady died last year, but FiL had to get a hedge cutter to keep it under control.....the new neighbours got the trees out with a lot of effort and now we have put up a chain link fencing, although I wanted OH to put up a fence......another irritation of mine, why don't men listen..... the result is a lovely sunny garden after many years....

Thanks everyone.....It is 16ft from our nearest outta buliding .....and 32 ft from the drains and house.....

As our house were bulit by the council about 50 years ago and both own them now....I assume the council planted them...

OK.. hubby is setting pc back up for me as we speak (hadn't brought it back down since the flood warning last weekend, lol)

The willow will grow absolutely massive... and the old thing about spread of roots on a tree are equal to the spread of branches above ground just isn't so with the willow, you can double the extent of the root system, easily! And it WILL seek out a water source.. a slight leak anywhere, and whoosh... in it goes!! It has to be well away from underground pipes as well.... TW is right I think, and 60ft is the distance, but an expert would usually suggest extending that for the willow.

No new buildings can be put up within 20 metere ( I think) of an established tree.. (that might be 20 feet, but I'll check it, although I am sure it is metres)
Love

Daff xxxxx

We have the same problem with our nextdoor neighbours - the willow tree was planted to celebrate the birth of their daughter about forty years ago, it was never pruned back and blocked the light out of our house at the back. When our neighbours died the house was sold to a very young couple who did get the willow lopped right back to just a trunk two years ago, it has since regrown very quickly, our son who is in insurance said we could have problems if the willow was cut right down as the roots dying back could cause serious subsidence to our house - its a no win situation as the living roots could be causing as much damage. Willows should not be planted in small gardens!!!!!!!!!!!

I do believe as previously said, you can cut back overhanging branches and "offer" them back to their owner, we used to cut and throw back over the fence. In gales we used to get whole branches!!!!!
Brenda

Hayley,
As everyone else has said, you can cut it down your side.
I have the opposite problem. Many years ago I bought and planted a dwarf caenthus my side of the dividing fence. The darn thing is now 12 ft wide and about 12 ft high, and covers most of my garden, and quite a bit of next doors. Every year I prune it quiite savagely. Did my side, went to do the bit next door - she wouldn't let me do it, as she thought it wouldn't flower.
Well, she'll find out this year that it flowers better on new shoots, and the old twigs tend to drop off!!

maggie

Sally I really do think I have been more than reasonable over this....and have always tried to find a happy medium to keep everyone happy but its not to be...maybe she thinks she can rant and I am scared but she an't never seen a a Hayley hissy fit but I fear she maybe about too...

I was on the opposite end Hayley.....the first we knew we had a problem was when our next door neighbour asked OH if it was possible for a tree surgeon to come into our garden to lop some of the branches overhanging his, and interfering with the growth of his trees.....

....OH said that it was OK......but then I thought about it, and as it was our tree causing problems I said we would pay for a tree surgeon to get rid of the branches.....this we did, but we waited until November when the sap in the tree had died down so it did not harm the growth.......result two happy neighbours....

*way too scared to ask about falling leaves* LOL

Poor Hayley..................I hope it gets sorted out soon, it's not pleasant to have problems with neighbours.

xx

Daft I would be most grateful if you will...thank you...

TW was saying yesterday that they have to be 60 foot away from your house.....it isnt...

Dont get me started on the mess it causes in Autum.....I think she has took the p*** out of my good nature...

go see your local planning office,,,,,,,,,,,,,she can be made to remove any branches regaldless of height that overhang into your property, under the property laws,,,,,,,,,,and if your lucky she can be made to remove all together or reduce it to a more reasonable height,,,,,,,

Oh Hayley.. I had the opposite problem.. a willow self-seeded in my garden while I was renting the property out... every time we sent in a tree surgeon to kill it my neighbour stopped them... even though it is within 8 feet of his house wall.. a couple of months ago I eventually had it chopped down, and things have been really bad with neighbour since.

The willow is the only tree that will actually seek water during a drought... it is very destructive, root wise, and it also grows at an alarming rate, and will throw new shoots up from any roots that are left.. the stump will need to be treated for a good couple of years to finally kill it... and I think you may find that you have a good case if it is growing within range of walls, buildings and underground pipes.

I'll go and dig out the stuff I've got.. am on my lappy, not my pc, so haven't got the web links available on favourites on this one.

Good luck... and you may need to get the advice of a proper registered tree surgeon.. have a look and see if your local authority has one they use in their conservation programme.. I think they all have to have one now, but not too sure on that.. mine does!! lol Then use him/her.

Love

Daff.... who is still wondering how you can be *jolly* and *cross* all at the same time, lol!!

Found this

"Legally you may trim back the branches and roots as far as the boundary but you may be held liable at law if your cutting back kills the rest of the tree or bush"

Go for it....................shall we all come round with our saws an seca....err.......secret.......errr sharp things for cutting twigs? LOL

xx

Our house back on the a valley its lovely and peaceful we are not over look by other house at all....in our road ....her garden is the only one left with trees init.....I understand about money being an issue and have offered to foot the bill as I said...also she has done well out of me for 2 fences......but the only money I shall be folking is the £500.00 + legal fees.....all I intend to get back....

Kirsty................we have done.....and she banged on our door yesterday saying she doesnt want a row BUT we are never going to touch that tree again......I can assure her and am going to do...correct no we an't but its coming down..AT YOUR COST...

Good luck with this Hayley, you have shown a lot of patience with this woman. I can't repeat what I would have done with the branches on this tree, it wouldn't be very nice.

Karen x

As it hangs over your property, I'm sure that you have the legal right to cut any overhanging bits off.......................but you must return them to her.

So cut it back and throw the branches over her fence:))

We did that once.......................neighbours weren't thrilled, but ended up cutting down the whole tree.

I wish people would think about the mature size before they plant trees and shrubs!

xx

lol thanks Kirsty.....but its lovely today as the sun is shinning in my garden the first time in years..and because she stopped them halfway through....the trees look a bloody mess. I forgot to say that she has another tree I dont know what that is we had crowned as a favour to her which doesnt bother us...

We have lived in our house for the past 11 yrs and have throughout them years turned it in a home we can be proud of.

One side we have great neigbours and on the other not bad but just one thing has always annoyed me. Her hughed willow tree. We have have asked if she will cut it down and we have offered to pay for it. Nope she wont have it.

Evertime we have buliding work done on the house or garden I have always warned her it my be noisey or dusty but please tell me if there is a problem etc..

About 4 years ago this tree was really begining to be a problem so again we asked she said " no but you may cut it down some and back to keep it out fo your garden,.and you will have to foot the bill." so we did ....half way through she began ranting and told them to stop so they did. Of course as its a willow tree it panic grew more and more limbs and flushed out like it was on a mission.

My washing line is in the centre of the garden and last summer I have having to move or trim branches just to hang my washng out as it was touching the line. There is also the light and the fact I can't grow any flowers in my garden as there is no sunlight. Enough was enough again I asked but this time was ready to fight it in court.

To my suprize she agreed to cut the most of it down but just to live the truck than over hangs her garden and cut the other trucks down to about 6 ft to it will easier to control. Yesterday as I left for work and the tree surgeon's arrived supervised by myOH. I have great plans for garden this year.

When I arrived home last night I was gutted that the tree was,nt down as much as it should of been. My OH began to tell me again she stopped them half way through.

Well this time the gloves are off. I am not paying every year to prune her tree. I have decided its coming out and this time we will not be footng the bill. By the summer it will be as bigger than ever.

so glad I have got that off my chest.. lol