We have a large old norway maple that sits just inside our property line. The neighbor put up a fence right against the tree, chopping off a root so his fence would fit where he wanted it. He is doing lots of landscaping and has had a back hoe scrape off about a foot or so of topsoil all along the property line to 15 or 20 feet into his property, exposing some of our tree's roots and breaking some. The backhoe went back and forth over the roots many times during the scraping process. They plan to put new topsoil all over and plant grass. Then plant some kind of evergreen trees here and there along the fence.

We are very concerned that he has damaged the roots of our norway maple. From what I understand those roots are not deep, usually running along the surface. His chopping off one root, and running over the others, worry me deeply.

Do you think he could have badly damaged the roots that lay on his side of the property line? We talked to them asking if they would please not put topsoil over the tree roots now, but to put a good layer of mulch there instead. And it has to be treated with several tree root medicines and watered well. We said we will do it at out expense. We haven't heard anything back from them for 3 days. It's not looking good.

Might our gorgeous old tree perish because of their actions? Can you recommend anything we can do to help the tree survive?

Thank you

Katmama

USDA list the Norway Maple as an invasive species. If it is like other maples I know you probably couldn't kill it with dynamite.

See;
http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_pla...rway-maple.pdf

Take note of the efforts necessary to keep under control.

Yes, he is correct, it takes a lot of effort to kill a Norway maple. Nothing will grow under a mature Norway as well ! Damaging the visible roots or covering the roots up will not make a bit of difference.

In the US anyway, trees on borders fall under state laws, but many cities and towns have additional ordinances of their own.
Generally, unless laws state otherwise, he has the right to scrape his land and any roots there, and even chop off branches that hang over the border.
And I agree about Norway maples!

Many thanks to all 3 who answered my question about norway maple roots being violated by neighbor. I feel better hearing that it takes a lot to kill a norway maple. It's at the southwest corner of our house and therefore it definitely provides significant shade... we call it our air-conditioning unit. I can't imagine it not being there. Thanks again!and re property rights... yes I understand they have the right to do whatever on their side of the line. However the branch they cut from the trunk was attached to the trunk a good 5 feet on our side. Had they cut only the offending section that reached over the property line that would've been OK. *sigh* one would think that common courtesy would have been used to let us know what they planned to do. Sadly they didn't do that, and we have lost significant shade. I urge anyone reading this to be the good guy and let a neighbor know when you plan to do something that can impact him.and LOL we have a katrillion baby maple trees in every flower garden and under every bush. Indeed it's a prolific tree.thanks again!

Whoever planted that tree should have done 30' inside the lot line. However, most maple just flew there and lit

To keep this unneighborly neighbor from doing this again, send a short letter saying that future actions of theirs over the property line will result in legal action. Take pictures of everything along their border.