Although this tree belongs to the house on the left, the branches over the neighbor's house can be pruned by that home's owner.Yes. It is legal to prune anything on your side of the property line. But — you are not allowed to kill or harm the tree by doing so. Hire a reputable tree service that will prune the tree appropriately. Here are some guidelines:
- Proper pruning techniques should be used so that ugly stubs aren’t left in the tree.
- Don’t allow over-pruning! Current general recommendations are to remove no more than 15% of the tree’s leaves in one year.
- Cut only dead wood or branches that are close to the roof. A clearance of 10 feet is sufficient.
- The person who prunes the tree should not climb it with leg spikes.