Would this tree in my neighbour’s garden put you off viewing my house?

[FamilyOfAliens]

It’s in the garden of the neighbour at the back, not in my garden, but because it’s so huge it does cast shade in my garden for 1-2 hours a day.

I’ve estimated it’s about 50ft high.

I’ve spoken to the neighbour who is lovely, but not in a position to have it reduced. It’s been there since we moved here 15 years ago, but obviously it’s got way taller and it just keeps growing. It doesn't affect anything although nothing much grows at that end of the garden. It does gives us some privacy as the neighbour’s children have a tree house which would otherwise overlook our garden.

My friend contacted the water board, worried about drains, they made the neighbour remove the hedge adjoining the property, it was damaging the drains. Might be worth a phone call to them.

Thank you, fourquenelles. I’ll get on to them today.

So many useful comments here - thank you all!

£800 + VAT to reduce it by 50% (and he said it would look awful for a while)

Your tree surgeon should know better - if you reduce a leylandii of this size it will ALWAYS looks shit. Leylandii do not regrow from brown wood.

I wouldn’t spend it any money on it if you’re moving house. It won’t bother a lot of people.

@FamilyOfAliens

Definitely would not put me off. It's far enough away from my house, and doesn't seem to be casting a lot of shade on your garden or house.

I LOVE trees though, and as long as they are enough distance away from the house (so if they are 35 feet high, preferably 35 feet from the house,) I would be cool with it.

You're gonna get mixed views OP, but some people will be OK with it. This thread proves that. It's littered with varied opinions.

£1000 btw, seems verrrrry high. My neighbour recently had THREE silver birch taken down (all 30-35 foot high,) and the guy only charged her £500 for all 3, to take away all the tree cuttings/branches etc and everything...

This one tree should NOT be more than £500 IMO.

Wouldn't bother me - I like privacy and anything that blocks the surrounding houses is perfect for me.

My idiot next door neighbour burned down all our trees last year so I no longer have privacy and I honestly don't understand how people enjoy the open view onto houses/other gardens etc

I mean it's far enough away from YOUR house - not mine!!!

Had a row of 18 leylandii (close together, not quite so tall), garden ended at an angle) at the bottom of my garden when we bought it. Paid 1400 just outside London a couple of years ago to have them, a large ornamental cherry (oversized for garden), and a small ornamental cherry taken down (not stumps removed, just taken to a stump in the ground, and all logs removed). It took the lads less than a day, they were like a swarm of ants (I did have easy access for them though)

Transformed my and my neighbours gardens, and the light streaming through the kitchen window was glorious.

Seriously? we had 2 trees removed and 2 pruned last year for around £600, also SE

The laurel can be trimmed now. If you finish it with secateurs and not hedge trimmers then it will look good straight away.

I mean trim and not hack back by several feet. That would look fine in a year or so.

The choisya and magnolia can be trimmed again now ( if necessary ) as they have finished flowering .

I’d not touch the birch as it’s easy to destroy the form if you don’t know what you are doing.

You can also cut back the escallonia once it’s flowered.

Your tree surgeon should know better - if you reduce a leylandii of this size it will ALWAYS looks shit.

Yes, that’s what he said. I think because he knew I’d had my smaller trees reduced and although they looked a bit bare initially, right now they look lovely. But he wanted to warn me that the same wouldn’t happen with the leylandii if it was reduced and I appreciated his honesty.

I would always get at least three quotes anyway. I just asked this firm because they were in the area.

I think if the tree were not there, you would be delighted by how much your garden opens up, if you see what I mean.

Thank you M0RVEN.

The silver birch and magnolia were reduced last autumn and the magnolia is in flower again at the moment.

But I will definitely tackle the laurel and the choisya.

I love trees too BTW and have planted over 20 in my garden since taking down the Leylandii hedge next door. Its just they are trees suitable for the size of garden I have and not a forest/ country park.

This is a solution open to those of you who bemoan your neighbours cutting down a tree. Often people like trees but want others to spend the money and sacrifice the space so they can look at them for free.

@FamilyOfAliens Gosh , what kind of magnolia is it ? I didn’t know there were any that flower in August in the UK!!

Every days a school day on MN.

To be fair, because of where the trees are, it involves four gardens, so they would have to make sure everything near the trees in those four gardens is protected, and they may even have to do some of the work from other gardens than mine.

I am starting to lean towards seeing what prospective buyers say before making a final decision, as the comments on here are quite mixed.

M0RVEN

I just took this photo! I’m not sure it’s anything special. The flowers are white tinged with pink and it’s not flowering as much as the first time.

Could it not be something you mention to buyers that YOU can remove it for them?

Yes it would. It is too big, not even attractive.

Offer to pay to have it reduced in size, or chopped down. If chopped, replace it on your side with a nice tree.

Could it not be something you mention to buyers that YOU can remove it for them?

Yes, I’m thinking that might the best way forward.

It pisses me off when neighbours let their trees get out of control. Two of my neighbours have massive trees which are taking the light out of my small garden. One is leaning and not safe at all, I'm going to go around there tonight and ask them to sort it out.

2 trees! Yes would definitely put me off.

The roots to those grow 3x more than its height. Since it’s 50m + that means they extend 150m or more from the tree trunk. I would be more worried about any damage they would do.

You’ve got me worried now, user!

The good thing is that the man who installed the fence was able to put a concrete post right where the roots are (it was tricky but doable), so maybe the roots are long but not causing any damage.

Actually, just re-read your post. It’s 50ft high, not 50m!