How to remove tree branch 20 ft up!?

I am really curious as to why a single branch would be encroaching your house, from a birch tree and it is 20ft off the ground.

Would love to see a photo of the scene.

And what is wrong with paying a tree surgeon - they would probably have it all finished in 20 mins including any clear up.
 
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And?

People fall off things all the time, are you saying all tree surgery should be stopped?

I regularly climb ladders at work.

The chap I mentioned admitted that he should have been strapped in so he couldn't fall. But, he decided it was just a small branch that needed quickly lopping so he nipped up without being strapped in...

What YOU do is completely your choice.
 
Send a small boy up with a chainsaw, that is after all what small boys are for, it was a mistake when they stopped them going up chimneys, look at the unemployment.

:lol:

Stand under the branch and throw heavy, sharp things at it? :thinking:
 
Best not to stand directly under the branch while doing that!
 
The chap I mentioned admitted that he should have been strapped in so he couldn't fall. But, he decided it was just a small branch that needed quickly lopping so he nipped up without being strapped in...

What YOU do is completely your choice.

I have no sympathy for him. It is people like him that makes my insurance so high.
 
Best not to stand directly under the branch while doing that!

But how else are you supposed to catch them when they come back down?

Disclaimer: Do not try cutting a branch by throwing heavy, sharp... actually, if you really think it's a good idea, fill your boots! :D
 
It's your neighbours responsibility, end of. Our neighbour, every 2-3 years get a tree surgeon in to trim back the branches that over hang ours and others gardens. Your neighbour should be offering to do the same, at his expense...... Have a word with him and sort it.

Not quite so, you can't insist he prunes his tree, but you can remove any branches overhanging your property. You also have to offer him any branches you remove !
 
Birch trees grow fast (and are pretty) but are not a long-lived tree.
Depending on the situation a good option with them can be to coppice - i.e. cut off near ground level, and let them grow up again as a more bushy multi-trunked tree, better for screening. Regrowth will be very fast as a large root is supporting it.
Coppicing shold be done before leaves are open though.
They make good firewood logs which could be a 'negotiating tool'!

Trees near houses need careful management, and the best plan is to keep on top of things rather than wait until damage is occurring.
 
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Your original post says that the said tree is close to your house so it begs the question how close is it to your neighbour's house? Are any branches overhanging his house? If so it might be the easiest option to have the whole thing cut down.
 
Whatever you do, don't be like this guy . . .

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Ian, that is the exact situation I found my brother in a good few years ago, after getting his attention and asking him to think it through, the penny dropped before the branch did ;)
 
It's your neighbours responsibility, end of..

not so - he has no obligation to prune the tree.

If you can demonstrate that the branch is causing you significant damage, nuisance, or loss (note that this is very hard to do unless the tree is actually touching your property - leaf fall and light don't qualify) then he might be required to by order of a court.

If his tree or branches from it fall on your property it is his responsibility to clear them up and make good any damage - but there is no compulsion at all for him to prune off a small branch which is currently safe and not causing any harm.

That said as has been noted you can legally prune it back to the boundary (not to the trunk) without his permission so long as you return the wood - if relations with your neighbour arent great it would definitely be best to get a professional to do the pruning - roping it down is a terible idea as healthy thing do not break easily, and if you break it past the boundary or worse tear it off at the trunk you would then become liable for damaging his property.
 
bow saw gaffer taped to a long pole (ps DONT STAND UNDER THE SAID BRANCH AS YOUR CUTTING IT) AND MIND SHOUT timberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
 
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