"Ann" wrote in message
...
"Doug Kanter" expounded:

Would it bother you if your neighbor across the street parked an old car
on
his lawn, left it there to rust for 5 years, and for whatever reason,
there
was absolutely no way you could block the view using plants, fence, etc?

When I bought my house the next door neighbors basically had a
junkyard in their backyard. Dead washers, dryers, three rusting tin
sheds, a couple junk trucks, all kinds of tires, etc. Oh well. I
loved my house. They've moved on, new people live there now, they've
cleaned it up, life goes on. It's amazing what you can live with when
it really doesn't affect your basic life functions, like eating,
drinking, etc. Of course I'd rather not look at junk, but I'm not
paying their taxes or their mortgage. It's basically none of my
business.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

Well....sounds like it's all a matter of individual opinion, then.

"Doug Kanter" expounded:

Well....sounds like it's all a matter of individual opinion, then.

Yes, it is. My opinion is I mind my own business (I'm not telling you
to mind yours, I'm just saying what I feel, and how I live). I've
said throughout this thread I wouldn't live in a managed area, that
seems to drive some people to hysterics. So what? So I don't want to
live like that. Others do. Whatever.

This all started over cutting down trees. I live in a semi-rural
area, there just aren't bylaws against cutting down trees. Maybe
someday there will be, when more and more people build up the area.
I'll be gone to Maine by then.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

"Ann" wrote in message
...
"Doug Kanter" expounded:

Well....sounds like it's all a matter of individual opinion, then.

Yes, it is. My opinion is I mind my own business (I'm not telling you
to mind yours, I'm just saying what I feel, and how I live). I've
said throughout this thread I wouldn't live in a managed area, that
seems to drive some people to hysterics. So what? So I don't want to
live like that. Others do. Whatever.

Well, I think it's clear that if someone wants to cut down a tree because
they want more sun, or they just hate raking, that's one thing. But, cutting
one down because you THINK it's diseased, when in fact it's totally normal
and healthy - that's just plain stupid. Since most people want to see some
indication of expertise before they accept advise, I think it's a good idea
for townships to offer that advise.

What if the permit is free, but requires a 5 minute look at the tree and a 5
minute talk with the property owner, just to be sure they're not cutting it
down for stupid reasons? Would that be OK with you?

"Doug Kanter" expounded:

What if the permit is free, but requires a 5 minute look at the tree and a 5
minute talk with the property owner, just to be sure they're not cutting it
down for stupid reasons? Would that be OK with you?

I guess I just don't see the need (and money has nothing to do with
it). Then again, I wouldn't cut down a beautiful tree for no reason
at all. And I wouldn't cut one down that a neighbor loved (we're
pretty close around here, and many of us are gardeners, or they've
become one living near one ) ) I see lots being cleared around
here and will notice a beautiful oak, and feel bad that it's going to
be cut down to make way for some McMansion. Every once in awhile I'll
notice a tree being left, purposely, it gives me hope someone who
cares is moving onto that lot.

I think Presley has it right. If you live in a metropolitan area,
where trees are a bonus, a premium, then rules are needed II guess) -
there's a brawl going on right now in Boston over a guy who wants to
take down a Norway Maple that the neighbors all love - but it's
wreaking havoc with sewer lines, and he wants to redo his backyard and
gain a parking space. I can't find the reference right now, but he's
the former heahorticultural society or somesuch, he's hardly a slash
and burn guy, and he wants to plant two trees to replace what he's
removing. I think the outcome is in his favor, but it's escalated to
the point where the Boston Globe is covering it. Ok, he's affecting
the aesthetics of lots of people. But out here, we're not.

--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

"Ann" wrote in message
...
"Doug Kanter" expounded:

What if the permit is free, but requires a 5 minute look at the tree and a
5
minute talk with the property owner, just to be sure they're not cutting
it
down for stupid reasons? Would that be OK with you?

I guess I just don't see the need (and money has nothing to do with
it). Then again, I wouldn't cut down a beautiful tree for no reason
at all. And I wouldn't cut one down that a neighbor loved (we're
pretty close around here, and many of us are gardeners, or they've
become one living near one ) ) I see lots being cleared around
here and will notice a beautiful oak, and feel bad that it's going to
be cut down to make way for some McMansion. Every once in awhile I'll
notice a tree being left, purposely, it gives me hope someone who
cares is moving onto that lot.

I think Presley has it right. If you live in a metropolitan area,
where trees are a bonus, a premium, then rules are needed II guess) -
there's a brawl going on right now in Boston over a guy who wants to
take down a Norway Maple that the neighbors all love - but it's
wreaking havoc with sewer lines, and he wants to redo his backyard and
gain a parking space. I can't find the reference right now, but he's
the former heahorticultural society or somesuch, he's hardly a slash
and burn guy, and he wants to plant two trees to replace what he's
removing. I think the outcome is in his favor, but it's escalated to
the point where the Boston Globe is covering it. Ok, he's affecting
the aesthetics of lots of people. But out here, we're not.

I understand "out here". A friend of mine has 200+ acres "out there". His
nearest neighbor is 5 minutes away at walking speed. What he does with his
trees affects (pretty much) nobody. But, in a neighborhood like mine, with
1/8 and 1/4 acre lots, that's not always the case.

I think part of the issue here, at least for me, is that I've had direct
experience with a couple of neighbors who are intensely ignorant. I hate to
see a tree or plant ruined out of ignorance.

"Ann" wrote in message
...
"Doug Kanter" expounded:

What if the permit is free, but requires a 5 minute look at the tree and a
5
minute talk with the property owner, just to be sure they're not cutting
it
down for stupid reasons? Would that be OK with you?

I guess I just don't see the need (and money has nothing to do with
it). Then again, I wouldn't cut down a beautiful tree for no reason
at all. And I wouldn't cut one down that a neighbor loved (we're
pretty close around here, and many of us are gardeners, or they've
become one living near one ) ) I see lots being cleared around
here and will notice a beautiful oak, and feel bad that it's going to
be cut down to make way for some McMansion. Every once in awhile I'll
notice a tree being left, purposely, it gives me hope someone who
cares is moving onto that lot.

Hey...I just noticed...you said "McMansion". You don't like developers who
build homes that are as ugly as a fat persons butt in hideous pink sweat
pants two sizes too small? Would it please you to have some sort of
architectural review process before someone could build one of those nasty
homes and clear cut everything in sight?

"Doug Kanter" expounded:

Hey...I just noticed...you said "McMansion". You don't like developers who
build homes that are as ugly as a fat persons butt in hideous pink sweat
pants two sizes too small? Would it please you to have some sort of
architectural review process before someone could build one of those nasty
homes and clear cut everything in sight?

Oh, I can't see controlling it any better than what some of the towns
around here are doing, which is at least one acre zoning (although now
some towns have gone to two) with limits on how much land can be eaten
up by foundation - but that's control I really don't like. The
teardowns are pretty sad, too, a perfectly lovely cape over on Powder
Point in Duxbury (we call it Deluxebury) was moved to make room for a
huge palace (that no doubt will block the view of someone who already
lives there).....More people, more rules.

But see, one of my evil dreams is to buy a house on Main Street in
Hingham, paint it orange and black, with a nice loud Harley parked in
the tin shed out front - the apoplexic fits thrown would be worth the
price of admission ;-
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

Trees never wreak havoc on sewers. The piping has to be compromised first
for tree roots to get in -- roots cannot break their way into sewers. More
likely the dude wants the space for a parking space and is using the
sewer/root argument to back up his claim, IMHO and just surmising.

Suzy O


"Ann" wrote in message
...
"Doug Kanter" expounded:

What if the permit is free, but requires a 5 minute look at the tree and a
5
minute talk with the property owner, just to be sure they're not cutting
it
down for stupid reasons? Would that be OK with you?

I guess I just don't see the need (and money has nothing to do with
it). Then again, I wouldn't cut down a beautiful tree for no reason
at all. And I wouldn't cut one down that a neighbor loved (we're
pretty close around here, and many of us are gardeners, or they've
become one living near one ) ) I see lots being cleared around
here and will notice a beautiful oak, and feel bad that it's going to
be cut down to make way for some McMansion. Every once in awhile I'll
notice a tree being left, purposely, it gives me hope someone who
cares is moving onto that lot.

I think Presley has it right. If you live in a metropolitan area,
where trees are a bonus, a premium, then rules are needed II guess) -
there's a brawl going on right now in Boston over a guy who wants to
take down a Norway Maple that the neighbors all love - but it's
wreaking havoc with sewer lines, and he wants to redo his backyard and
gain a parking space. I can't find the reference right now, but he's
the former heahorticultural society or somesuch, he's hardly a slash
and burn guy, and he wants to plant two trees to replace what he's
removing. I think the outcome is in his favor, but it's escalated to
the point where the Boston Globe is covering it. Ok, he's affecting
the aesthetics of lots of people. But out here, we're not.

--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

"Suzy O" wrote in message
...
Trees never wreak havoc on sewers. The piping has to be compromised first
for tree roots to get in -- roots cannot break their way into sewers.
More
likely the dude wants the space for a parking space and is using the
sewer/root argument to back up his claim, IMHO and just surmising.

Suzy O



In older houses (like mine) many sewers are plumbed with 2ft clay tiles, one
end has a bell shape and the male end fits in the bell.....tree roots can
readily penetrate this type of drain line.....luckily the neighbors Popular
tree decided to croak and no longer plugs my line annually although said
tree just dropped a rather large branch on another neighbors roof (Big
tree)......the sweet lady whom originally planted the trees (since deceased)
in 1966 had not idea such little twigs could get so big....Rod

Yes, sewer piping has to be compromised for tree roots to get in. The City
of Durham, NC has some interesting info and offers another solution besides
snaking or augering the roots out:
"Tree roots are opportunistic. While they will not crack a sound sewer
service or water line, they will exploit cracks or failures in the lines.
The best defense against having tree roots in lines is to make sure that
your lines are in good condition and that they're not cracked. If you
suspect that tree roots are growing into your sewer line, you can have the
roots cut out using a process called "rodding". You can also flush Copper
Sulfate down the toilet two to three times per year to prevent roots from
growing into sewer lines. Copper Sulfate is an inexpensive chemical that can
be purchased at most hardware stores."

BTW, I've heard that copper sulfate is quite effective.

Suzy O
"Rod & Betty Jo" wrote in message
...

"Suzy O" wrote in message
...
Trees never wreak havoc on sewers. The piping has to be compromised
first
for tree roots to get in -- roots cannot break their way into sewers.
More
likely the dude wants the space for a parking space and is using the
sewer/root argument to back up his claim, IMHO and just surmising.

Suzy O



In older houses (like mine) many sewers are plumbed with 2ft clay tiles,
one
end has a bell shape and the male end fits in the bell.....tree roots can
readily penetrate this type of drain line.....luckily the neighbors
Popular
tree decided to croak and no longer plugs my line annually although said
tree just dropped a rather large branch on another neighbors roof (Big
tree)......the sweet lady whom originally planted the trees (since
deceased)
in 1966 had not idea such little twigs could get so big....Rod