TREE CUTTING has become a veritable pastime on the North Shore in recent years. Ha ery Haggard, a North Shore landscape architect, found himself involved in 2 dispute when trees were cut illicitly on boulevard prop- erty near his home. Recent civil suits have seen offenders receive hefty fines in the $100,000 range for cutting trees on other people’s property without permission. So: or siting appropriate species in the initial stages. Love thy neighbor's | me tree problems could be avoided by carefully choosing trees as well... LOVE THY neighbor can be hard enough sometimes, but love thy neighbor’s trees can be downright challenging. - What can you do if the mighty Douglas fir next door screens out your view, or the nearby horse chestnut tree is dropping its prickly gifts on your lawn? First, avoid the urge to slip out at night in camou- flage and hack away at the offen- | ding limbs. If trees on someone’s private property are infringing on your property or view, consult with the property owner. Make sure prop- erty lines are correctly marked. Hl- licit tree work could lead to a nasty civil suit (and fines as high as $100,000), thereby threatening any possibility of a neighborly rela- tionship with the people next door. Clearly define the problem, with the advice of a professional, if court claiming a tree on his neighbor’s property was hazardous and should be cut back, and that it also was blocking his view. Hag- gard, appearing on behalf of the resident who wanted to retain the tree, ‘‘testified that no more than 30 per cent of the foliage should be taken from the tree. This guy (the neighbor) wanted 50 per cent taken.’’ {In the end, when it was determined that the tree was not in fact a hazard, the property owner with the tree made a concession to the neighbor up the hill by topping and limbing the tree. ‘‘He (the a **.. a@ tree which protects you from a northern wind may offer up to 20 per cent energy savings, as well as providing soil stability and natural drainage.’’ possible. Is it one of maintenance (dropping fruit, leaves or needles), safety, light levels, or esthetics? Local landscape architect Harry Haggard advises that before alter- ing any tree homeowners should consider whether such action is re- ally necessary. ‘“‘Have you lived in the house for more than six months? Through all four seasons? Is the tree protecting you from wind in winter or sun in summer?” he suggests you ask yourself. He says that a: 2e which pro- tects you from 2 aorthern wind may offer up to 20 per cent energy savings, as well as providing soil stability and natural drainage. A tree can also be ‘30 to 50 feet of little apartments for creatures,” quips Haggard. If your needs are valid, contact the neighbor and try to reach an agreement, possibly offering to pay part of the cost. Invite the neighbor over to view the problem from your perspective — have a professional present. Haggard was involved as an ex- pert witness in a civil court case in which one resident took another to neighbor) got enough view that he was happy,”’ says Haggard. Haggard believes the recent tree cutting trend on the North Shore is primarily to open up views. ‘‘Peo- ple can get $10,000 more for a house if it has a view,’’ he says. But chain-saw wielding residents and developers should keep in mind that trees do not have to be felled — they can be pruned to achieve a view window. Recent practices are to avoid topping, but if you must, Haggard suggests you slant the cut and seal it with a stain. '‘It siiould be done at a 45-degree slope so that water runs off quickly, and try for a southern exposure on the slope so the water dries easily."’ If oxygen penetrates the cut, the tree will quickly deteriorate. Haggard advises to prune so that your cuts are smooth against the trunk or limb and to ‘‘let a tree grow the way it wants to.’’ He strongly advises people not to fell their own trees — it is very dan- gerous and requires skill and expe- rience — and not to tie things such as rope or chain around a tree. If it cuts into the cambium (living) layer, it could damage and even kill the tree. Although they generally grow in desirable locations, some native species do pose problems. Western Hemlock, for instance, ‘‘tends to blow down in areas where it’s wet- ter than they’d like. The root system is not as strong as a cedar or fir,’ Haggard notes. The hemlock is more prone to disease such as cankers and mistletoe, and the wood is more brittle. The alder, says Haggard, “deserves a bad rap for its ag- gressive root system which can push its way up through sidewalks and driveways. That is why they are never used near a street.’’ But Haggard hesitates to call any tree ‘*bad.”’ He says he gratefully rakes up the many leaves dropped by an alder in his own yard. The cottonwood, a river basin tree, is another tree with an ag- gressive root system but one en- joyed by many for its silvery leaves. Problems with introduced species are usually a result of poor planning. ‘‘The weeping willow gets a bad name because it seeks water in drainpipes and the roots grow and fill the void, and they do get to a fairly good size,’’ says Haggard. Other introduced trees such as horse chestnut and oak leave ground litter which can clog lawnmowers (or, conversely, at- tract birds and animals). If more time were spent con- sidering the suitable tree to plant in a yard, much radical tree work and many neighborly disputes would be eliminated. For a useful guide (oriented to providing view corridors} consult the West Vancouver Tree Book, published by the municipality of West Vancouver. It provides a list of trees and shrubs which will not grow beyond 35 feet, and offers planting advice such as preferred location, tree shape, time of bloom and color. Another useful guide is Trees: Concerns and Solutions, a brochure put out by North and West Vancouver districts, or con- sult a garden or landscape profes- sional. Next week: What to do about problem trees on municipal prop- erty. SQUAMISH NEWS photo Neil Lucente. A ~ Syluan ... a beautiful blend of unique ‘IW. Happy Easter to all our 17 - Friday, April 13, 1990 - North Shore News " SHARPENING is where young - . SERVICING | families raise SN Of Fee children N ‘TOOLS in their own Be oe homes as Fad udeertaing be Lynn Valiey..Cycles. 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