@$#!! Pine Needles!

[sacolton]

My neighbor has a huge pine tree that sheds needles all over my backyard. Grass can't grow unless I rake up piles of needles every weekend. I contacted a tree service company who said he could trim all the branches overhanging my fence-line, but the owner doesn't want his precious pine tree to look "lop-sided" and "afraid it would kill the tree". We tried to share the cost of having the tree cut down, but he declined.

Seriously, I'm bagging tons of his pine needles each month. My backyard is now dirt. I'm in a HOA neighborhood, so I'll have to find out what my rights are.

Any help?

[MadMonk]

Well, since he doesn't want to be reasonable, dump the needles back into his back yard. Maybe he'll begin to feel your pain.

[sacolton]

His backyard is already two feet thick of pine needles. We have a tall fence, so it would be alot of work FOR ME to dump it all over on his property.

[BBatesokc]

Had something similar come up at my parent's condo complex in OKC. They were not a direct party but live in the same complex. A pine tree was 'shedding' into a neighbor's courtyard etc, clogging up their water fountain and they tried legal action. Wanted to force the tree owner to trim or cut down the tree or pay to clean up the yard being affected. Went to small claims court. The plaintiff neighbor lost. The judge said something to effect that damage caused by the tree could in some instances be the tree owner's fault but leaves (or needles in this case) were not the tree owner's responsibility. On a side note the tree owner filed a counter claim for legal fees, etc. and was not awarded this.

[Debzkidz]

I would use all that pine straw for mulch. It works great.

[ChargerAg]

I would second the mulch idea. Maybe you could sell it on craigslist.

[hipsterdoofus]

Sounds like you should talk to a lawyer if you are that concerned about it.

[stick47]

Pine Bark Beetles will probably kill that tree in another year or two. I'd just wait it out and keep the neighborhood peace.

[so1rfan]

In real estate class they say you own your property from the center of the earth up to the sky. For example a person couldn't build a walkway from one house to another over your backyard or dig a tunnel through it. If that was an apple tree you could pick the apples from the branches that hang over your property. You could cut down the overhanging pine tree branches if you wanted but it's up to you on how much you want to hack off your neighbor.

[BBatesokc]

You'd need to ensure that you took care not to kill the tree - which belongs to the neighbor and potentially ads value to the home, etc. Too much trimming could certainly stress the tree and leave it vulnerable to disease.

Also, pine needles dont just fall straight to the ground. I'd imagine the branches not over your yard will still shed needles into the wind that will land in your yard anyway.

Lastly, I'm assuming this pine tree was there when you bought your house. I'd say that should have been a consideration back then, not now.

I personally dont mind pine trees, but would not buy a house anywhere near a home with a large cottonwood.