I just found out that my neighbor planted a row of giant arborvitae along our shared fence, which is about 7 feet tall. The trees span around 80 feet of the fence—he set them back 2 feet from the fence line and spaced them about 5 feet apart. Right now, they're just about 3 feet tall. He mentioned that these trees might cause damage to the fence in a few years due to their roots and size. However, the fence was already there when we bought our house five years ago, and he seems uncertain about the property lines, though they are clear. I'm worried about the potential damage these trees might cause to the fence. How serious is this situation?
4 Answers
You could consider getting a property survey done and inform your neighbor that you'd like to trim the trees back to the property line. A letter from a lawyer might also help if things escalate.
Unless you have this conversation documented, it might get tricky in the future if the trees do cause damage. If he claims ignorance, they'd only be responsible for a portion of the fence's value. If the trees are planted too close to the line, there might not be much you can do other than perhaps think about getting some pest control in!
You might actually end up fine! Just keep an eye on them and make sure they stay on your neighbor's side of the fence. If you manage to keep them trimmed, they could provide some great privacy for years to come!
Those trees are planted close enough that they might not grow too tall—likely around 8 to 10 feet at most. Plus, since they need light, the parts near the fence might not fill in as much. So, the risk to your fence might be lower than you think! If you stay proactive with trimming them, it could even turn into a nice privacy hedge for you!
I've got deer in my area, so I’m hoping they'll manage the trees before they grow too much. But I'll definitely keep those pest ideas in mind!