Homeowner fights back after neighbors butcher his 100-year-old tree, take the firewood, and leave him with the bill: 'I'm worried about the life of the tree now'

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Sep 29, 2026 9:45 AM EDT

How would you react if your 100-year-old tree was suddenly cut down?

Nature has to be respected… and even more so when we are talking about a tree that is 100 years old. This neighbors' dispute goes beyond some common drama: we're talking about a very large and important tree that was cut down for some unwanted branches. Let me give you some background information.

A man was about to feed their toddler when they realized that their neighbor was looking at her tree with an arborist. He knew this because the neighbor has always been very communicative, and there were times in the past when any trimming of any tree was discussed and asked in advance. The man didn't think much of it until a bit later, when he opened his door to let his cat in.

The woman asked if they could cut some of the branches because of the leaves, and he had to move a lot of his furniture to make room for the people. A few moments later, the tree was almost completely cut off. He panicked and yelled at them that they didn't have permission to do that. But besides the anger, he was scared about the tree's life, since now it seemed like it was very damaged. But the worst part is that the neighbors kept all the firewood they got from the tree and didn't share a single bit.

After doing some research on what to do after this incident, the homeowner has to pay for a private arborist to do an assessment of the damage that the tree suffered if he wants to fight back. That can cost hundreds of dollars he was not anticipating spending.

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  • 01
    Frustrated homeowner faces unexpected costs and assessments after neighbors cut branches from his century-old tree.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Frustrated homeowner faces unexpected costs and assessments after neighbors cut branches from his century-old tree.

    Models pictured are not representative.

  • 02
    Neighbors cut large portion of my 100 year old tree without asking
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  • 03
    My neighbors are usually very communicative. I was feeding my toddler lunch and noticed that they were outside about to cut trees (the neighbor has a brother who is an arborist and her husband works with them). I saw
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  • 04
    them throw a line in my tree and opened my window and asked if they were cutting my tree. They said no another one. Later I opened my door to let my cat in and the wife said yes they were cutting my tree but only a couple
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  • 05
    small branches for the leaves over her house, which they weren't over her house but her yard. She has said in the past she hates the leaves and has already tried to cut off a lot before. Anyway I had
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  • 06
    no idea and had to move all my furniture while holding my toddler. Then they started cutting off a very large branch up to the trunk, which was nowhere close to their house. I told them they did not ask to do that and asking
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  • 07
    as they are already about to cut is not asking. I felt outnumbered and also had a 2 year old and there wasn't anything I could do. I yelled at them that I didn't agree to this and they stopped midway and the tree also looks horrible now. I'm worried about the life of
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  • 08
    the tree now. The city and city forestry said I need to get a tree risk assessment from a private licensed arborist and if needed get an appraisal if it needs to be removed. The law in the state im
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  • 09
    in states that people can self help and trim if it hangs in their yard and is a danger to their property. It was not over her property. How do we make this right? They also
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  • 10
    had a nice pile of firewood of my tree in their yard and im really disappointed.
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    Edit: I really appreciate all of the perspectives and advice, even things I maybe dont want to hear. I have decided I am going to draft up a letter stating my boundaries, keep they need to get my written consent in writing next time, and
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    that I want compensation for the tree risk assessments I need to do now. The city and forestry suggested I get the appraisals. I also found out that the arborist who did the work, who the homeowner is related to, is nor licensed, nor is his business. I am
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  • 13
    going to ask for the cost of the wood lost as well (as firewood, it was a ton of wood). I'm trying to come up with a reasonable number that isnt on the high end, but I want to find an agreement where I don't need to get at attorney.
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  • 14
    Lumberjack uses a chainsaw to cut a huge part of a century-old tree.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Lumberjack uses a chainsaw to cut a huge part of a century-old tree.

    Stock photography for depiction only.

  • 15
    redditreader_aitafan The "arborist" should have known that was illegal. They trespassed to illegally cut your tree.
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  • 16
    bowhunter533 They also owe you the living value of the tree. An old growth tree is extremely valuable. I'm not very nice to people who destroy my things, I would attack hard, the good neighbor relationship has already been destroyed by them.
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  • 17
    serjsomi If it overhangs their property, they can cut it as long as it doesn't k | the tree
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  • 18
    fredrickdgl how about a photo, it may explsin better than the inconsise wording
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  • 19
    cajunjoel I think we have established that your neighbor trespassed. What you do with that is up to you.
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  • 20
    Mrspbh Did you call the cops? Thats trespassing if they had to reach into your property to cut that limb. If nothing else Id ask to trespass all 3 of them from your property as they obviously dont care to respect you or your boundaries.
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  • 21
    Homeowner reviews paperwork after neighbors cut a large portion of his 100-year-old tree.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Homeowner reviews paperwork after neighbors cut a large portion of his 100-year-old tree.

    Representative only.

  • 22
    Huge-Kangaroo-5024 Check your county ordinances where I live they can legally cut anything that overhangs their property as long as it doesn't do threatening life-threatening damage to the tree
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  • 23
    Familiar-Egg1146 In my state, if the branch hangs over your yard you can cut it. I just spent quite a lot trimming back branches from my neighbor's trees. I've also spent a lot over the years having limbs that fell from the trees into my yard cut up and hauled away.
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  • 24
    Cultural_Money930 "Isn't on the high end" Go high. Make them regret it or they'll try this or something else in the future.
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  • 25
    Forcell|4565 A tree that old can be worth more than the house if they kit or cause it to need to be removed. Get a lawyer involved.
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  • I'm really concerned about the tree's health… I really hope it can grow back, since it's a very old tree and has lived on the property for decades. But besides the tree, how can people be so entitled? They decided to cut down a huge tree without permission and didn't think twice about the damage they were causing. That's why writing that letter is crucial to put a final period on this issue. However, although the homeowner might get the revenge they want, there's no real guarantee that the tree is going to survive, and that's very sad.

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