Huge tree, big clear up.

Sycamores do tend to grow likexweeds!
They are not native to the British Isles either.

What was there first, the tree or the house

Well my house was built 90 years ago and there is no sign of the sycamore in pictures taken 30 years ago when we moved in. It was not planted, it will be a seedling (in fact I think 2 side by side) that has been allowed to thrive. That is why the previous owner refused responsibility on the grounds he did not plant it! If it has grown to twice the size of the houses in that time I wonder what it will be like in another 30 if left to itself. In fact if I get to the point where I can not manage weeding out the seedlings, my whole garden will be a sycamore forest. Very good for the environment, not so good for the occupants.

Right I am going to go and do something else, I have completely depressed myself even thinking about the bl**dy thing!

we 'pick up' leaves with the lawn mower. much much easier. As it breaks them down, it reduced the volume massively, and as it mixes with some grass, it composts really well.

Avalon, was quite shocked to read your advice, even with the proviso. Friends of ours had a tree die on their property which has been argued over with neighbour. They got a Solicitor involved and got specialist to dig around the roots on both sides of the fence- and confirmed 'your' method had been used by neighbour. They had to pay all costs, and replace the tree with a mature specimen which cost them over £2000.

We have a 150 year old cedar tree in our suburban garden. Remnants of a arboretum planted in the garden of a mansion our houses replaced in the 1950s. We truly love trees but this is a park tree not suitable for a suburban garden. Every storm we have is a worry and cedar trees will drop branches unexpectedly in the summer. Somebody was killed at Kew in this way.
Obviously it has a TPO on it and we have spent much money on surveys and reports, even appealing as far as the Secretary of State. But the tree is “a community amenity”we were told.
Meanwhile our neighbours who had a sequoia were allowed to remove it because it was a few centimetres closer to their house than our monster is to ours.

Get a leaf blower which chops up the leaves, put in bin liners, leave ‘til next year - hey presto, leaf mulch for your beds.

Nonogran. if you offer to pay for any tree work you want her to do then she might accept your offer.

I guess you are one of the many people who unfortunately for wild life just dislike plants unless they are tidy plants..

I understand no one has a right to light but as Avalon pointed out there are a variety of ways to solve the problem.

We have an enormous protected Ash two doors down. It sheds millions of leaves in Autumn for neighbours either side to clear up. Also every couple of years it has a branch trim and a lot of the bits and pieces flying around end up in our gardens to flatten whatever is left in our flower beds. But what can you do? We all love trees, the planet loves trees and the owner of this one is so apologetic and charming and always offers to send one of her strapping sons to help with the clearing up!

I love trees but in the right place.
Perhaps the trees are in the right place but the houses are not.

I thought I was replying to the above but 'paste' had other ideas.

Trees are not the problem. It's human beings

The trees probably were in the right place but the houses are not if the trees were there first.
Although the one in our front garden was planted by the builder.

We do have a moan about the leaves each autumn but if we can't cope with that and the rest f the garden, then I think it would be time to move.

Conifers and laurels - I have no worries about them being chopped down.

quizqueen

What was there first, the tree or the house? Without trees, every air breathing creature will die. Don't moan about trees.

When there's a possibility of them damaging your foundations or property then you have a right to complain. I love trees but in the right place.

Similar problem here, very tall trees on both sides of my garden which takes light off my borders and lawn. Last year I paid to have one cut right back and had a word with the neighbour on the other side but they just seem to plant more. Last year they planted a conifer within three feet of my house together with another tree now shading my flower bed for most of the day. The amount of leaves is horrendous from everyone elses's trees on both sides. They laughed when I said it can damage the drains (which are right underneath the latest two) and my property. Although we get on very well with them it seems they're not concerned about the size of the trees right next to my fence, one must be 100ft tall and has doubled it's width. If I want to cut them back I will have to pay myself for anything overhanging my fence.

What was there first, the tree or the house? Without trees, every air breathing creature will die. Don't moan about trees.

Ah, the dreaded tulip tree! My neighbour has one that is massive, it’s far enough away from me but the leaves that fall cover my grass with their big soggy leaves.I’d take it down in a second if it was mine but next door loves his tree, mind you he doesn’t bother to clean up the leaves, says they are good for the bugs.

Would it be possible for you share the cost with your neighbour? Alternatively tell her how difficult it is for you to clear the leaves, and ask her to help - perhaps with coffee and cake afterwards

No you're not unreasonable.
A couple of years ago our next door neighbours asked us to fell the trees along our boundary. Although the trees had been planted because we were ordered to do by the local Planning Board when we built it, we complied.
We only had to look at them to see why the neighbours were worried, so we got them cut down and removed.
It cost us a lot of money which was a bit unfair, but I'm glad they've gone all the same.
Do be friendly and polite when you broach the subject (as I'm sure you will).

I split the cost of lowering a boundary hedge with my neighbour in my last house. I actually paid for the removal of a chestnut tree from my present neighbours garden.

robinia pseudoacacia is one of the worst for spreading roots. It's a shame because it's very pretty when in blossom. We once had one and the roots crept up the roof drainpipe.
OTOH some pines have very shallow roots.
Hoping that applies to our neighbour's pine which is huge and spreads over our roof. I quite like it otherwise - it seems to attract the birds.

Trees are not the problem. It's human beings

I'm inclined to agree!
???

You definitely need to speak to your town council about this, as bye-laws differ greatly depending on where you live.

Legally, I believe you are entitled to demand that the tree is cut down or at least cut to a reasonable height .

However, falling out with neighbours is never pleasant so find out exactly what you are legally entitled to demand and whether you will have to pay part of the costs.

Trees are not the problem. It's human beings

My neighbour two doors down has a massive Sycamore that he has allowed to get far too big. Right at the moment my garden has sycamore seeds all over it. Some years are worse than others but this year is particularly bad. I sweep up and pick up as much as I can in the autumn but in the spring I know I will have to crawl round every inch of my garden ensuring sycamores are not growing under other plants. Once they get established they are hell to get out. He has refused to do anything about the tree on the grounds it is too expensive but I don't know how much longer I will be able cope with the seedlings. Now his house is sold and I really hope the new owners will be more receptive. I am willing to contribute financially just for my peace of mind, but I don't see why I should go to the expense of moving just because he has allowed this thing to get too big.

Trees are not the problem. It's human beings. I suggest you move somewhere else where you'll feel more at home.

Laurels just poison the soil.

You could have the trees inspected by the Council icanhandthemback and have it pruned if some branches are found to be dangerous.

The thing is these trees may well be much older than the houses which have been built in their area. I think some near here have preservation orders.

I have the reverse problem have trees but cannot afford to maintain would like to be removed but quoted at ten thousand pounds Yes That is true do i have to sell my home as that is the only way Council i contacted for help and they said not our problem