ADVERTISING: ADVERTORIAL - Vegetation management on property lines

Despite having already written this week’s article in advance, I ran into yet another neighbor, trees and property line issue this past Monday that prompted me to change my topic for this week.

Let’s start with some disclaimers. First, I am an arborist, not a real estate attorney. Second, property lines should never be assumed. When in doubt, get a new survey. You might ask for a “single line” or “property line” survey. Lastly, good neighbor relations are worth every effort of good communication.

When it comes to neighboring trees/shrubs/hedges near a property line, Idaho follows common law principals. There are no statewide statutes that directly address root or branch pruning. The way I like to express it to customers with this issue is, there is an invisible line at the property, extending up into the air and down into the ground. If a branch or root extends into another property, it becomes that neighbor's root or branch. You can prune the branch or root back to the property line if (and this is a big if) it does not adversely affect the tree's health, stability and, in some cases, aesthetics. 

As you can see, this leaves some tricky gray areas that again are most easily settled with good relations and communication. Usually, there is a mutual compromise where both reasonable parties can come away with a win. Two key words there are "usually" and "reasonable." Frankly, I would prefer that those who are unreasonable lose my business card and just call an attorney (literally shaking my head with traumatic memories as I type that).

As arborists, our specialty in this situation is to give science-based insight and clarity about what would be best for the tree's heath while meeting reasonable objectives. That often takes meeting with both parties, acknowledging the challenges, communication and compromise.

Yes, there are many situations of egregious misconduct on both sides of this issue, from the tree owner unwilling to admit his trees are rooting all through his neighbor’s lawn, to “midnight pruning” done in return that is clearly trespassing. I have even seen herbicide damage done to a whole row of a neighbor’s trees to gain a lake view! It can get ugly real fast and it is very sad to see. There is a real popular book out there that addresses these situations, and it goes something like, “Love the guy next door like you love yourself.”

I’ll leave it at that (mic drop).

As always, for further tree related questions, quotes or consultations, give us a call today, 208-762-5800!

For more information on Grace Tree Service, check out our website at gracetreeservice.com.