Advice Needed: Pine Trees

[JessTrees]

Hello Arbtalkers,

 

Could I please ask your advice? 
 

The neighbouring properties are threatening court action unless works are undertaken to crown lift these pines that are situated to the rear of our property. Their basis is due to a lack of light as well as heavy needle shed into their gardens from the low hanging branches that hang over their boundary.

 

My question is, will removal of the low hanging branches cause disease or kill the trees if the works are completed at this time of year? I would’ve preferred to hold off until Spring, but I know this is not going to be possible due to heavily increasing demands of the neighbouring homeowners.
 

Would be delighted to hear your thoughts as receiving mixed signals from contractors and ultimately the survival of the trees is most important. 
 

Thanks

[john meehan]

You would do better taking the ivy off and getting rid of a bit of the understory, light lift of the trees maybe, wouldn’t do any harm to them though.

[otter]

Crown lift won't make a great deal of difference,  also makes tall straight trees top heavy.  

Let them take court action, think they will be laughed at. 

[Mick Dempsey]

Now is fine. 

[Dan Maynard]

Surely needles will be falling off the top of the tree as well as the lower branches?

[Mick Dempsey]

I think we should just answer the question, rather than get drawn into the dispute.

 

 

[Ty Korrigan]

Is there a right to light in the U.K?

After all, this isn't a wall of leylandii.

I do some local authority work here, my biggest clients in fact

They are often assailed by petitions demanding trees be removed or cut back to within property lines.

Almost always, our intervention is to thin, lift, clean off ivy, reduce very lightly offending branches and the overall effect of our 'toilettage' is enough to satisfy all but the most rabid of complainers.

In short, by just having some light work done that can show a demonstrable difference is often enough with having to go to extremes.

 Best of luck

   Stuart

[skyhuck]

14 minutes ago, Ty Korrigan said:

Is there a right to light in the U.K?

 

No, not really. Possibly if it's so dark you're putting the lights on in the middle of the day.

[Dan Maynard]

I think we should just answer the question, rather than get drawn into the dispute.
 
 

Yeah maybe you're right, the tree question can be answered whereas the dispute is a tricky one.

[Wonky]

3 hours ago, john meehan said:

You would do better taking the ivy off and getting rid of a bit of the understory, light lift of the trees maybe, wouldn’t do any harm to them though.

This would give you a bit of a breather. It would show your trying to help, give it a bit of time frame for it to die off,  And then  if you are taken to court  it would show willingness rather than stubbornness.

[JSN]

Hi Jess - I’m confused as to why all of your posts relate to blatant local authority / housing association trees?  Are you responsible for these trees in a professional capacity?  What’s the crack?  I don’t suppose it matters either way - it just piqued my curiosity.