Can I cut my neighbor's tree branches that hang over my property?

[beppington]

Your diagram confuses me. The large oak that overlaps your property seems to be quite a distance from your potential house site. Why would you want to trim the oak at all? Big trees are not usually treated as hedges that neatly define a boundary line. Our suburban neighborhoods would look pretty weird if all the overlapping trees were close cropped on one side.

Its branches hang down so low I can't get my tractor to the fence to mow the fence-line in that area, which I want to do. I also want to replace that old 4-barbed-wire fence & the branches will be in the way for that, too.

 

[IslandTractor]

Its branches hang down so low I can't get my tractor to the fence to mow the fence-line in that area, which I want to do. I also want to replace that old 4-barbed-wire fence & the branches will be in the way for that, too.

Got it. So you will be trimming just to about 9 or 10 feet above ground rather than taking out everything on your side of the line.

 

[Depmandog]

You certainly have a "thing" with neighbors!! You are friendly with this one, stop by and tell what you have planned and get his blessing - not that you need it IMHO, but it's the right thing to do.

 

[beppington]

Got it. So you will be trimming just to about 9 or 10 feet above ground rather than taking out everything on your side of the line.

Yeah, that's the idea. Maybe 12 or 14 just to avoid needing to do it again soon.

 

[beppington]

You certainly have a "thing" with neighbors!! You are friendly with this one, stop by and tell what you have planned and get his blessing - not that you need it IMHO, but it's the right thing to do.

Don't I, tho! :laughing: I will do that.

BTW I mentioned the dogs to this neighbor, & he had no idea the dogs have direct access to him! The only thing between the dogs & him are 2 old 4-barbed-wire fences (which you may recall, do not hold the dogs at all, they drag their bellies & go right under) & about 700' of distance (so apparently they don't ever just go wandering ... hopefully). He was not happy to learn of them.