Are there any city ordances about tree planting that might help you? The rules can differ from town to town. Where I live, I'm told there is a city ordance against planting a tree closer than 10' from the neighbors property line. Many people are unaware of this rule or they ignore it, but in the case of a dispute it can be enforced. As far as roots growing into your yard, here it's O.K. to remove these. Otherwise, planting or construction on your own property would be impossible! However, dousing the 'foreign' root with poison that will travel back to the tree in someone else's yard and kill it is not allowed. My only experience with willows is with the globe willow: huge canopy with far reaching agressive roots searching out water sources. We lost many roses and other bushes to a scary onslaught of feeder roots coming from the neighbor's gobe willow (at least 15' from the property line). Trial and error to find tough bushes that could withstand root competition and planting some roses in protective root bags or pots was our solution. Besides the trunk eventually crossing the line, there will be many branches hanging on your side, and a formidable root system extending beyond. (Here, you have the right to cut branches hanging over your property too.) If the willow stays, it may affect your landscaping plans. Who knows, you may even end up liking it. Good luck!

does it.. in any way.. threaten your house??? one might suspect that is the base issue.. should anything ever need be done.. and it sure wouldnt hurt to ID the tree ... as that is very important to the issue above ... an oak might sit there for another 100 years ... a poplar might fall on your house tomorrow.. if you sneeze wrong.. post a pic of the tree .. the trunk.. and a leaf.. and these guys will give you an ID ... beyond that... as noted previously .. this is a local LEGAL issue.. not a tree issue .. and in that regard.. what they said good luck ken

Mee Too, We paid $200 to have the property line remarked and extra pins added. I have left the wooden stakes up. The trees are planted about 6 inches from the line. We suggested he move the ones directly on the line ( before we had the lines remarked). He moved them 6 inches back! The trees are only about 2-3 feet tall and are already crossing over our line and crowding our Leylands which we planted 5 feet into our line. I pulled out the trees he planted amongst our leylands. Every Sat, I hear the chain saw. He originally built in the woods but apparently decided he no longer wants the trees near his house. Our house is about 400 feet away and even with all the summer leaves we now look directly into his garage. I am sure this winter with all the leaves gone we will see the whole house. (sigh) OT, I used to post quite often on this forum but after 8 months in our house we still are having a time even getting our builder to complete the 30 day punch list. We still are having problems with getiing our scratched windows replaced. ( another long thread-along time ago when the window washers hired by our builder scratched 16 windows). We have a failing paint issue on our exterior wrought iron-minor hardiplank issues-electrical issues- air infiltration issues- carpet issues etc. I am so sick of waiting on contractors who do not show up. I have 4 months left on the one year warrenty and now have to begin a more aggressive approach. If these items are not repaired within the one year mark, I am retaining an attorney and filing a complaint with our state licensing board. Sorry for the vent LSST

Interesting enough, all the anti-neighbor folks assume there must be some city ordinance to prevent offended neighbors from trimming limbs hanging over their property. There seldom is and the police have other matters with which to deal. The police don't handle that. At least not in towns in this area (my own, family's or where rental property is located). It's the Town Code Enforcer who handles it. That's what they get paid to do. My mother's town has strict tree codes (well, they're ultra strict about everything.) If a property owner's tree is overhanging a fence or property line, it can be trimmed back by neighbor providing it is: in danger of touching a building or wires, impeding growth of neighbor's own landscaping, or has potential to do some kind of structural damage on neighbor's premises (fence, buildings, etc.) However, neighbor cannot trim tree in such a way that it will bring on disease, poor growth habit or death. If in doubt, contact the code enforcer for an inspection. I'd suggest you look into that angle, chinchette. If you walk into your town hall, you should freely be given a copy of the code/ordinance that addresses your situation.