The weeping willows I'm familiar with get big and do so fairly quickly. Thinking about how my neighbor's grows, something like a 30x30 spread if in full sun seems reasonable in a decade.

Their trunks seem maybe a little thicker than average for a tree of their height.....Eighteen inches from center.....that would have to be a pretty large one I'd guess for the trunk to get on your property.

If the willow is north of your spruces I bet it would be a few years before it casts any significant shadow on them.

Here is a link that might be useful: One form of weeping willow fact sheet

Can't we all just get along? It sounds like you were trying to screen out the neighbors with the spruces and they retailated with the willow. I assume this is your standard weeping willow. If the wind and elements don't tear it apart (this tree has weak wood) as it grows up, it WILL get huge in time. The trunk will easily pass over the property line and a big portion of the canopy will too. It won't damage the spruces directly. However, it may cast shade in the direction of the spruces which will slow their growth and give them a sparse look.

My parents have weeping wilows and their trunks are 16 feet in diameter. I really think it's very rude to plant something so big that close to a property line. Not only are they messy and cause pipe damage, but I'm going to have to deal with the mess. Because the way the wind blows most of the time, all leaves and twigs are going to be on my property. The branches are already hanging over to my lot. Does anyone think that they'll steal the water from my spruces?

You don't tell us where the tree is in relation to the spruce.

If your utility corridor is on the property line, your neighbors are either not too bright and/or trying to annoy you. If it is, you should ask them to move it.

If it is not, and there is no fence and no solar access corridor and no viewplane, they planted a tree where they wanted. If you are upset they didn't consult you about what to do on their property, your job is to take cookies over there and tell them how you feel.

If they don't care, then you are secure in the knowledge that they planted a tree on their property that will likely outcompete the spruce.

Happens all the time.

Dan

"My parents have weeping wilows and their trunks are 16 feet in diameter."

Someone measured something wrong! That would be an overwhelming world record.

"I really think it's very rude to plant something so big that close to a property line."

Either very rude or very naive. You know your neighbors better than the rest of us. Are they mean and nasty or carefree and stupid?

"Does anyone think that they'll steal the water from my spruces?"

I think it's very possible that the willow could use up water and soil resources that your spruces need, but shading them out would be an even bigger concern unless, as toronado said, the willow is north of your trees. Then your trees would have a few more years before the shade becomes a problem. You could temporarily hold of the roots with a root barrier at the property line, but that would just delay one of apparently many problems.

Well to fill everyone in. Their tree was put in first. My spruces are not to shield them out, my neighbors are on the side of me, these trees are parallel to each other, mine being to the northwest of theirs, and in the back corner between us. My trees are 12 feet from the line because of the utility wires that are there. We have told them in the past where the property ended, but they never listened, so we had them marked to show them. It doesn't look like they're going to move it, and I just feel like this tree is going to ended up being my tree as well as there's. And I have spoken to the utility companies and we will be liable for anything this tree does in the future, being the trunks grows onto our property. I'm upset, because the tree that they planted is so close and potentially a liability to me. I don't care what they do in their yard, but do it with common curiosity. Now I have to worry about my trees and a potenial tree that I don't want. Willows are such a large mess of a tree and should never be planted in a yard without a lake or pond in it.

I've heard that deer and rabbits would sometimes girdle willows.....hmmm

I could be wrong, but I really don't think you could ever be held liable for damage done to utilities by that tree. If you have the right to refuse the utility company access to maintain the tree and chose to do so, that would be different, but it's usually up to the utility company to maintain cutbacks along utility lines.

Sorry, 16 feet around. Yes liable for sewer.

I'd send them a certified letter (keep a copy) expressing my concern for their line and asking them to remove the tree ASAP. That should eliminate any further liability on your part.

Thanks for all the advice. For the sake of my trees and the fact that I had the common decency to plant my trees a fair distance, I really am going to have to do something? Thanks again.

There is nothing you can do except deal with it. It is not your property. You can't compel them to do anything. It is their property.

Whoever at the utility company told you it is your problem didn't know what they were talking about. The tree will get mangled when the utility prunes anyway. . When the tree is larger, you likely have the right to prune up from your side of the property line. But not over.

BTW, 12' isn't that far for spruce. But by the time it becomes a problem, it will be a moot point.

Dan

Dan, I agree with your conclusion regarding the person's comments about the utility liabilities, but for different reasons. The utility is not going to prune trees for sewer lines!

Also, I'm curious what you meant by your last sentence and why?

The OP didn't mention (I think, hard to tell) that tree was near sewer - overhead utilities are the issue. By the time the spruces grow too close to the utility lines - ~30 -40 years - either the property will not be occupied, or we won't be using these overhead utility lines to take power from centralized plants to boxes with people in them.

Dan

OP: "Yes liable for sewer."

I can't tell what that is, Brandon, with all the ping-ponging back and forth and disconnected phrases.

Dan

I figured it was power/phone lines too, at first. But then Dawn said it was the sewer pipes that were of concern.

I'm not so sure Brandon, as we see.

So. Dawn. Why is sewer the issue if there is only cable and phone in the area.

Next, tell the neighbor since the tree is so close to your property you are sure it will intrude on your property, so you are going to prune the roots back every year, and gosh I hope that doesn't harm the tree, but golly the trunk is going to grow into your yard, and what is one to do I mean really, can you imagine that tree in my yard, oh, the thought of it in my yard, it's dreadful, and prunin' the tree up from the property line, gosh I declare! that doesn't sound too good for the tree, but oh, the branches on our property!. Bring out your best Scarlett imitation.

At any rate, in my profession(s) we see this all the time. Maybe not the part on how the fact pattern played out, but this is totally typical. Often the tree meets some mysterious demise that no one can figure out.

Dan

you can legally do anything to the parts of the tree that are on your property... you can prune every single branch that overhangs your property if you can access the branches without crossing the property line... if the trunk gets onto your property, you could drill a hole into the trunk and put roundup into the hole if you wanted.

Just saying...

That last post definitely made me laugh!...mostly because its true, lol.

"you can legally do anything to the parts of the tree that are on your property... you can prune every single branch that overhangs your property if you can access the branches without crossing the property line... if the trunk gets onto your property, you could drill a hole into the trunk and put roundup into the hole if you wanted."

This is legally incorrect in almost all, if not all, states. Most states will allow you to trim the limbs (and even the roots) as long as you don't kill the tree or cause it to fall. If any state allows you to kill a jointly owned tree, it would be the exception.

Thats why I said "mostly", I don't know the legalities of pouring roud-up down a hole you drilled in the trunk...still pretty funny.

You certainly can cut any branch, root, trunk that crosses on your property...if that tree fails you assume no legal responsbility. I'm speaking on behalf of MKE county in WI.

In my portion of Washington State, Brandon's last post is correct. I have three fully mature maples that my neighbor planted almost right on the property line. There is a 4' high chain link (common) fence between our lots. Two of the three trees have the chain link imbedded in the trunks by a couple of inches. The fence is obviously starting to pull out of the ground. To top that off these trees are exact 4" from my cement drive way, which is cracked straight across in three different places and being lifted. So far one section has lifted a little over an inch and another just under an inch. Their is nothing I can do. I can limb straight up my property line as long as the limbing doesn't kill the trees. I can't touch the huge roots I see going under my driveway because if I do and the tree dies, I'm liable. Oh, BTW, drilling inch size holes in large roots and filling with Brush killer doesn't do a darn thing. I would definitely try to get this resolved before it becomes a huge issue like mine is.

Best of luck to you.

Alexis

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!

To clarify:

You can NOT legally do "anything" to the parts of the tree that overhand or underlie your property. Yoiu can prune and root prune the parts that are on your property, as long as you do not harm the integrity of the tree.

In addition, their tree cannot "steal" your water, unless perhaps you have water rights.

Why not install a durable fence and root barrier along the property line near the tree? Say, concrete 3 feet deep and 5 feet high, or however high your code permits. With a 2 foot high planter on your side. Plant ivy. Trim your side every year.

Or, why not give it a rest until the problem actually occurs? You have hoiw many years before the willow's trunk grows 36 inches in diameter so as to reach your property line? 36? 50? 60? 80?

Or, go see a lawyer and see if some firm negotiations can help you.

I'm curious -- how did the bad blood between you and your neighbors get started? Why didn't you build a fence when it first started? You know what they say -- "Good fences make good neighbors."

Rain2Fall

Instead of going to such extreme lengths just google your villiage, town or city.

Call them up and ask how far a large shade tree should be planted from the lot line. As someone mentioned their are typically ordinances that outline restrictions.

My villiage ordinance is 10ft from the property line. So no one can plant a freaking willow 18" from my property line...if someone does, they can deal with the village.