Hi! I have a mature Arbutus tree (I would say it is 35 years old). For the last 5 years, my neighbor has complained about its droppings in his yard. I have done my best to have my gardener keep it pruned to my side of the yard. About 2.5 years ago, the complaint escalated to the tree was now causing the retaining wall between the two yards to bow. I had a certified arborist out and he said that the tree was no longer growing and was not a hazard to the retaining wall. Today, I got a phone call from the neightbor again asking me to look at the retaining wall. On my side,the fence and what I can see of the retaining wall on my side are perfect. (Their side has about a 5 foot retaining wall below the fence and was bowed 2.5 years ago when I looked at it). Please advise the following: 1. What type of root system does this tree have given that it is 35' tall? 2. Is it likely that the tree roots are causing damage to the retaining wall which I estimate to be about 40 years old (the tree is planted about 1 foot from the fence)? 3. Whom should I contact, if necessary, to be ensured that the tree is a hazard to the retaining wall? Thank you for providing such a great forum for having these issues discussed! I really don't want to remove the tree unless it is a hazard to the retaining wall.
Regardless of whether the tree is bowing out the retaining wall, I would tell him to take a hike! A 35 year old Arbutus is a magnificent tree that does not deserve to be cut down due to an ignorant neighbor. Tell him to make his retaining wall accomodate your tree... A small semi circle would surfice and even provide some visual interest in his yard vs a straight wall.
I don't know how far the roots go. It seems to me the strongest voice you can provide for your arguments is the certified arborist and maybe a second opinion from another arborist. Maybe the arborist can talk to your neighbor as well or write up a report (you might need that later anyway if anything legal happens.) If there is damage to the retaining wall, maybe the neighbor could be convinced to tolerate the tree if you help with the repair (or covered the cost of it, if the tree actually seems to be the cause).
