I've got a tree problem too...

I own a cabin in a remote area. Heavily wooded. There is only 1 neighbor.

A recent storm knocked over a large tree from my property. No damage. The tree, however, never hit the ground. It got hung up in other trees, and now sits at a 45* angle hanging over my neighbor's property (not his house- just trees and his well).

He is concerned it could come down and do damage or hurt someone, and wants me to remove it. I don't disagree, but can't afford to remove it.

I don't think I can file an insurance claim. So far, no damage.

What would GRM do?

You will need an arborist with a crane or a bucket lift at least.
Hard to say without seeing it.
It will probably need to be cut in pieces small enough to steer from the ground with a rope or lower safely.

Maybe if the tree has some value there might be a local guy who'll take it down for the free lumber value. Maybe. I'll assume any firewood value is low in a remote area as there are probably plenty of trees.

They call those widow makers for a reason, so whatever you do, be careful.

I've had my best luck with a tractor and a chain and dragging it out of the neighboring trees. If you don't have access to a tractor, you may be able to rent one. That or rent a tow behind boom lift and block it down to manageable size. Just understand that it can decide to head for the ground at any time and don't set up under it.

I'm pretty good at cutting trees. I understand the process well. This one is beyond me (which is why I can't afford it).

My question wasn't a technical one. It is a financial/ liability one. My understanding is that insurance won't pay if there is no damage, and if there is damage, it would end up being HIS insurance, not mine.

The tree WAS mine, and the base still is, but the top has crossed into his airspace.

Is that right?

It makes me wonder if we have to wait until there is actual damage, then have the insurance companies pay. If so, that kinda sucks.

In reply to SVreX:

Ahh.

In that case, you got me.

This seems relevant.

http://blog.autohomeboat.com/2013/01/31/5-scenarios-on-windstorm-damage-coverage-on-home-and-auto-insurance/

"If a tree falls on the forest, and no one is hurt...yet, can you afford the insurance premiums when it finally lands on someone?"

I don't think you can afford to NOT take it down.

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Well, I understand the point.

The weird part is that if the tree falls and causes damage, it won't be my insurance company that pays for it. It will be the neighbor's.

So (just being an internet jerk for a moment), it doesn't actually make sense for me to pay for it at all.

SVreX wrote: In reply to Streetwiseguy So (just being an internet jerk for a moment), it doesn't actually make sense for me to pay for it at all.

Yep. You probably know all of the following. Anecdotal justification begins now:

Just last week, the neighbor's HUGE maple tree fell directly on my mom's garage. Estimated weight 15,000 lbs. Mom's insurance is largely liable. There is a good chance they will duke it out with the neighbor's insurance. My sister in law's car was parked in the garage at the time-her auto insurance is responsible for it.

To the point, the tree guy got a crane to hoist this HUGE tree off Mom's garage. He said he would not remove the stump-its on the neighbor's property, and Mom's insurance was footing the bill. He also suspected the signs of rot and water damage he found would be ammo for Mom's insurance to go after the neighbor's insurance.

Now, I'd recommend just talking to your neighbor, as a start. If the tree falls all the way down, what will be hurt? His well? Might be his problem. A good neighbor would try to help, but maybe explaining to him that it is kind of on him will get you where you need to be. Tough call, but as always, avoid admitting fault.

Is a tree falling in the forest anything at all like a tree falling in the city, from a legal standpoint? You didn't put the thing there. I'd like to think its one of the risks assumed when one chooses to live in the woods.

The neighborly thing to do is to work together, and maybe check both lots for other trouble, too.

I know you guys like pictures, so here you go...There is a Toyota Avalon under that door, which came out surprisingly well.

In reply to wheelsmithy:

Dang, pulled up the rootball and everything. Was this after a few days of rain?

I will guess a falling tree causing the neighbors damage could be a neighbor insurance claim.

But, in this case, when the tree went leaning (and did not completely fall or damage) I'll bet that when it does finally fall and damage it will become your issue of negligence for not having acted "timely" once notified or aware.

EastCoastMojo wrote: In reply to wheelsmithy: Dang, pulled up the rootball and everything. Was this after a few days of rain?

Yep. much rain, high winds. The rotten roots were no help. One week before, the neighbor said "I need to take that tree down, its going to fall on your garage."

SVreX wrote: The weird part is that if the tree falls and causes damage, it won't be my insurance company that pays for it. It will be the neighbor's.

Yep, When our neighbor's tree fell over I called our insurance agent to see if they would cover removing the tree. Her first question was "Did it damage any part of the house?". When I said "I don't think so" she told me to go out and look again and call her back. I did find a couple dents in and a couple screws pulled out of the awning over the door. Nothing I would have bothered with but I called back and told her.

Response was "Fine there is damage to the house I will have someone call you today." Got a call from the adjuster in a couple hours. They paid to get the tree removed and for a new awning!

Ironically at this very moment I'm sending payment to my tree guy for the work done this week. (He texts me a bill; how hip are we?)

Sorry, nothing more to add.

Do either of you have old cars you'd like to replace that you could get more from the insurance on than selling on Craigslist?

as for the original poster.. got a 4x4 and a long rope that you can just give the tree a yank to pull it free of the neighboring trees? A "dead fall" like that will get you killed if you try to cut it down

Tough one. You have my sympathy.

I've heard it is important to "notify" a neighbor in advance if you believe their tree might fall and damage your property - if the tree is visibly dead and likely to fall, for example.

But it seems like the tree already fell. I think..

I do wonder if you can protect yourself (legally) right now by taking a photo to "time stamp" the suspended tree.. before it does any damage. Since it's already fallen.

I will watch this one with curiosity.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/nutherjrfan/061911_mr_20t_20chainsaw_20massacre2.0.jpg

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See that scraggly looking maple just the other side of the fence? Topped out somewhere north of 85', plenty or reach to take out the neighbor's house whose driveway I'm standing in. Two nights before, it dropped a leader on my property that took out part of my dog run. No storms, no wind, just "WHAM!", dogs barking, and a 40-plus foot chunk of tree limb on the ground as thick as my torso (44" chest).

I called in the pros, blanched at the price, called another set of pros, nearly went into shock at THAT quote, bit the bullet and got it done. It was a lot of money, but the nightmare of that thing possibly killing someone was far worse. Trunk of that one was rotten inside; the one just out of frame to the left was taller, leaning over my own domicile, and just about as bad with very little signs. Both were pulled down; took two days and a crew of six with heavy equipment. I could have a great start on a Locost for the price, but I slept better after those things were a pile of woodchips...

This one is not for amateurs.

Got a disposable chainsaw? A pivot contraption and a long rope to get your soon to be smushed chainsaw to chop down the little vertical tree by the bench should get the whole thing closer to the ground. Please take video.

Last time I did a leaner I chained up to the stump end and then pulled till everything was on the ground.

I had a tree problem today. Now I have a firewood problem. Took four trees down in my front yard today. All about 60 feet tall. Landed them all perfectly. Limed them and had the kids load the truck with the lims. Dumped those out back in the forest. Took four trips. Cut everything in to logs that are ready for splitting. I ran out of energy so now I have a yard full of logs.