Neighbours worker is putting a fence up and has just cut a huge root without asking permission.
Hes digging holes in the garden for the posts but theyre very much on my side of the boundary, currently trying to find the balance to calmly discuss this with him.
by Different-Courage665
8 Comments
It’s not going to be very happy. What tree is it?
Main thing is to assume the neighbours don’t know and notify them promptly as you would want to know if someone you hired was vandalising their garden.
Trees can be surprisingly resilient or they can be whimsically dramatic. You’ll need to wait and see but im not an expert.
I suggest:
>hiya, im sure you arent aware so i want to bring your attention to the damage thats been done to my tree by the guy doing work in your garden. Im unsure what the outcome will be but i want to make sure hes not going to hack any more of my plants or damage my property.”
Best thing to do is wait and see, honestly it could go either way trees are funny like that can survive wounds you wouldn’t expect or can fall like a drop of a hate, its not the main root but an offshoot so if the tree is healthy and managed to save up enough energy over the year it should be fine
At this stage, stake the tree to allow it time to establish the missing root.
I don’t know which way your most prevalent wind blows, but as winter is on its way, it could get blown over.
My neighbour did exactly this to his tree, cut through a large root, and his blew over, The tree didn’t survive !
The tree will almost certainly survive, but that root was probably doing a lot of the anchoring work, so the tree won’t be anywhere near as stable against the wind as it once was.
I would highlight the issue with the contractor and the neighbour as soon as possible. If the tree fails to leaf in spring or it fails due to lack of anchorage at any point, then you should claim through the neighbours house insurance. The neighbour can then claim off the contractor for negligence.
They have a right to cut back to the boundary but not to the extent where it causes the failure of the tree. You could get a consulting arborists opinion ( 💷) to support a claim and value in the tree.
Apart from damage to the tree (which you do need to mention to your neighbour – and the worker!) you need to act fast about where the holes are being dug.
The fence must be built entirely on your neighbor’s property if it’s their fence and not on the boundary line. If it’s on the boundary line they need to have your agreement – and you should keep written evidence of any agreement.
At least it’s happened in winter, I feel as it’s dormant now it has a better chance of recovery