Q: We have a neighbor with an overgrown tree. We’ve tried everything to get her to trim it. She won’t do it, and it drops debris on our lawn and makes a mess of our house. What are our options? — Greg ...

Waiting until the leaves drop in fall is a rule of thumb for pruning shade trees, mainly because you can see bare limbs better, and the job is less “messy” without leaves attached to the cut branches.

The fallen leaves and cool temperatures are all signs it’s safe to prune oak trees in Michigan. Oak trees can be infected by the oak wilt fungus if they’re pruned anytime between April 15 through July ...

You can trim branches over your property line, but confirm the boundary first. You’re liable if your trimming harms the tree’s health or stability. Talk with your neighbor before cutting and follow ...

When a neighbor’s tree hangs over your property it can be a nuisance—and even cause damage. But tread carefully before you trim it. When not writing, Jeff spends his free time fixing up his old house.