Knowledgebase

falling walnuts #889671

Asked November 11, 2024, 3:34 PM EST

Perhaps more a legal question than agricultural. Our neighbor's huge walnut tree branches extend over our garage and driveway. We appreciate the shade during the summer. The falling walnuts however, break multiple slate tiles on our garage slate roof, and, seriously dent our cars parked in our driveway. What recourse do we have? Can we hire an arborist and simply cut off any branches entering our yard? We haven't yet talked to our neighbors about this, but, how much can we do without their agreement? Regards.

Baltimore County Maryland

Expert Response

A certified arborist or licensed tree expert should be familiar with what is legal or not with regards to pruning overhanging limbs crossing a property line. (As far as we're aware, it is your right to trim overhanging branches, but this should be double-checked as we are not legal experts.) An arborist should be consulted about the pruning, though, so it's performed in a way that discourages the development of wood decay that could necessitate tree removal in a future year if decay were to become advanced.

Miri

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