On May 7, 4:35*pm, James Hunt wrote:
A mature horse chestnut about 20m high lies between my neighbours and
my garden, splitting our boundary fence.

He wants it cut down so he gets more sun in his garden, we want it
left as is - we've compromised on pruning the top 30% and removing as
much as possible from their side of the tree, sharing the costs.

We've been emphatic throughout that we want the work done properly to
ensure the best chance that the tree survives the work.

They've brought somebody round to look at the tree to give them a
quote. His business card included tree lopping and tree pruning, but
also other more general jobs, so he's doesn't seem a specialist tree
surgeon.

He has told our neighbours that he can start work next week. However,
I thought that it was a bad idea to do major work on horse chestnuts
this early in the year on account of them being especially sappy at
this time which tended to exacerbate bug infections post tree
maintenance.

Can anyone confirm whether that's correct? If so, it sounds like the
man who has quoted our neighbours is either unknowledgeable about tree
work, or unscrupulous as to the health of the tree.

Thanks.

Tree Preservation Orders. You need to find out if there is one.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/docume.../tposguide.pdf