How do you look after an oak tree?

[hidinginthegarden]

There is an oak tree at the bottom of our garden! It's huge and has obviously been there for decades if not more. It's probably 100ft high abs pretty substantial. It doesn't affect our garden much as it's a long garden and it's right on the boundary with a neighbour.
The neighbour bought the house with the tree there many years ago but has a garage and greenhouse underneath it!
Branches have fallen during the storm and smashed a couple of glass panes in the greenhouse and he's complaining that the roots are cracking through the concrete floor of the garage. He has written to the council and there's no TPO on it but they have inspected it and said it's not been well maintained!!
So, how are you meant to maintain an established oak tree? We had some dead branches cut off a couple of years ago (cost about £1500 so not insignificant maintenance) but he would like it cut down and I dread to think what that might cost! Obviously he can cut branches off that overhang but honestly it's huge and even that will be hugely expensive! So what are our options here?!

We have lots of trees and have tree surgeon out each year to maintain. With the oaks, he never prunes but just checks them visually. I guess he’d take off branches as needed? I like them being checked as could cause a lot of damage if came down. As for your neighbours garage, presumably that’s tough luck. I’d hope so. Build next to a tree snd that will happen !

The tree probably pre dates the garage. If his garage is being damaged it has insufficient foundations. My house is near our oak tree snd our foundations are 6ft for a single storey kitchen. I would bet his foundations are inadequate. Taking the tree down should be resisted.

You will be liable for any damage the tree causes if it falls over or big branches come off it damaging property. So make sure you are insured!

In addition get a tree surgeon to give you a report on the tree. Often a crown reduction will help and checking for diseases and weaknesses is very important.

Him cutting off overhanging branches would destabilise the tree and could bring the whole tree down.
I agree with Tizer you need a tree surgeon to take a good look and advise you.
You shouldn’t cut anything in nesting season.

You need a tree surgeon to look at it. You’re too late to cut it now as we’re into nesting season but they could advise on necessary works and return later in the year.

The tree predates the garage and possibly the houses. It certainly predates him and him moving there. The tree was there first so he can sod off about cutting it down.

It is ok to take down unsafe branches. Any time of year. Our neighbour’s oak had three branches down over a bridleway. They just missed our house. It’s sometimes necessary to do urgent remedial work. A tree doesn’t take precedence over life.

Yes to the tree surgeon. Thinking trees is an option they give but if you start shortening branches (Pollarding) it ends up killing the tree.

Pollarding isn’t crown reduction. It’s much more severe. It needs to be looked at to see what’s best. If it topples over it’s gone anyway!