Update: Kansas Homeowner begs Neighbor to "do the right thing" by cutting down her Oak Tree: '[The tree] would 100% hit my house should it break.'

Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor

Jun 9, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

This homeowner is pleading with their neighbor to take down their tree, before that tree takes down someone's house.

Part of being a responsible homeowner is taking care of all of your property. The grass needs to be mowed, the driveway shouldn't have any holes in it, the walkways need to be walkable, and your trees should be certifiably safe.

No homeowner ever wants to remove their trees, but sometimes it's not up to them. There are times where the power company will have to come in and shave off a few branches if the tree is interfering with the power lines. That's not a big deal.

If the tree is considered "dangerous," though? That's a whole other story.

There are times like this, where a tree cannot remain in place at all. It simply must be removed, before it's too late, as this neighborhood found out after watching the real-life consequences.

via Rifki Kurniawan

Woman looks anxiously at her neighbor's dangerous tree that could drop branches at any moment, in a representation by a model.
What can I do about my neighbor’s dangerous tree?

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Here's the main crack in the tree...

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...And here's how it eventually broke off.

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It sure does look ominous up there!
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via Serghey Savchuk

Large oak tree with sweeping branches, a hazard to the neighborhood it's been growing in, in a representative photograph.
The neighbor was treating this issue as if it had nothing to do with her.
I believe cutting down a tree can cost thousands, so it's no surprise that the neighbor wasn't especially eager to get this done. It's just one of those not-so-enjoyable parts of home ownership! You're going to spend a lot of money on things you don't want to. It's a shame that it costs so much, because that high of a price tag can be prohibitive to someone who has tons of other expenses.
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Here's a larger update. Karma has come for the neighbor.

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via Getty Images

Neighbors spending time with friends in their backyard, with their oak trees visible in the background, as shown in a depiction by 3 models.
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This is unfortunate, but it could've been so much worse

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Out of all the poor outcomes, this might've been the best one. No one got injured, and although the garage is in rough shape, it seems like the living quarters of the house are okay. No doubt this will be a pricey lesson for the neighbor.
See, this is what happens when you ignore a problem! It just turns into an even bigger headache

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This is a widespread worry for homeowners

via Fickle_Grapefruit938

You never know when a strong storm can take down your trees, and you certainly can't predict which direction they'll fall. Trees are beautiful, but their aesthetic values aren't always worth all the worry they can cause for homeowners.
via Fickle_Grapefruit938
via Accomplished-Emu-591