Most tree guys I know and network with would tell you that turf growing under you trees is horrible. I don’t agree with this. There are definitely some potential problems. But, in my opinion, the potential benefits out-weigh the potential problems. Growing turf grass around trees can be done successfully. But, be careful.
There are three basic arguments against turf growing under trees. The first is that the turf robs all the nutrients in the soil. Ok, yes, grass chews up a LOT of nitrogen. But, if you are mulching your clippings and not bagging then most of the nutrients are staying there. And, most people are good about providing supplemental fertilizers. Just make sure the fertilizer you use doesn’t have weed killer mixed in. We call these products weed-n-feeds and they are HORRIBLE for trees.
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Not really. But, that is the foundation for this article. What are the implications if my tree falls on my neighbor’s house? There are two aspects to consider here: the law and insurance perspective.
In Texas, insurance companies typically consider falling trees to be an act of god and not a liability to any individual. The bottom line is whom-ever’s stuff gets smashed, they (or their insurance) is responsible for repairing the damage.
There is no written legal law regarding trees. Only legal precedent. The precedent is what I just discussed regarding insurance. The only loophole would be if an arborist inspected the tree, prepared a formal report determining that the tree was unsafe and needed to be removed, and then the insurance company got their hands on that report. I’ve never seen this happen and can’t image how it would ever happen.
If you have a tree on your house, the most important thing is to take pictures, call you insurance company and get the tree removed asap. It’s important to understand the law in these situations, but safety is definitely most important.
Installing an irrigation system IS the number one thing you can do to improve the overall health and beauty of your landscape. Just look at Arizona. They took the desert and made some of the most lush golf courses in the country. Irrigation is good for the trees, too. Not just the grass. But, be careful. There are some issues.
Number one. You are going to damage the tree when installing the irrigation system (for existing trees that is). Installing irrigation means digging trenches. Digging trenches means cutting roots. I would like to offer a couple pieces of advice on this topic. First of all, keep as far away from tree trunks as possible when cutting the trenches. Second, if you are going to get anywhere near a tree trunk, use an airspade first to make sure you aren’t cutting really big tree roots. And, third, fertilize the trees to help them rebound from the root damage.
The next thing you really need to watch out for if you are installing an irrigation system is the drainage. If the water has no where to go and it is constantly building up you will drown the trees. You can kill a tree by keeping the soil constantly saturated. If the ground takes more than 3 days to dry after a decent rain then you might have a problem.
The last thing is to make sure you get it set right. I wish I had some good words of advice here that everybody could use to set their system to. The reality is that all sites are different and require different settings. Ideally, longer and infrequent watering is better and should be the starting point to tweak the system. However, rocky hillsides that drain fast will need more frequent watering intervals and in some cases you will be able to turn off your system entirely during the cold season (all three weeks of it!). You really just have to have a green thumb to get this one right.
Do everything right and your irrigation system will be a huge success for you landscape. Even the native plants that are well adapted to the hot, dry summers will appreciate it.
…And I don’t like it. What is the deal here. It’s his tree but it’s hanging on my side and it’s bothering me. When a tree crosses property lines, that tree is considered shared property. Trees don’t really seem to be as concerned about property lines as we do. In fact, I’d say that on almost every property I visit, there is at least one tree that spans over a property line. Unfortunately, people don’t always have agreeable opinions about the trees. If you have a neighbor’s tree hanging over your property there are a few things you should know.
First and foremost, you have a right to maintain your property. If that tree is threatening your house, landscaping or any other identifiable asset, you have legal right to maintain the tree to protect your property.
The key word here is “maintain” the tree. If you compromise the life of the tree without just cause your neighbor will have a right to come after you.
One other important factor is that ownership of the tree is given to the person who owns the property where the trunk resides. If one of your neighbor’s trees has branches hanging on your side of fence, he can still remove the entire tree even through part of it is over yard. Trespassing is a whole different story; the tree would have to be removed with out accessing your yard unless you give permission.
If the trunk spans the property line the the tree is truly a shared tree and you both have equal ownership. Things might get ugly if you can’t both agree on a solution. There is no written law regarding trees. Only legal precedent.
Ultimately, if your intentions are wholesome and you are just trying to take care of you property, then trim away. If things are getting ugly, you should get a written recommendation from a qualified professional arborist.
I'm Keith Brown, owner of Austin Tree Experts. This is my repository of tree knowledge. I hope you find what you are looking for. Let me know if you don't.
