Neighbor's Saguaro just blew down into my driveway. Who's responsible?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I don't know how to deal with this. Came home last night after pretty rough wind and rain storm and this is what we found in our driveway. Property line is about where the shadow ends near the base of the cactus.

This neighbor is my buddy, so I'm sure it will be fine. But in case it turns to calling a service that wants a few hundred $$, who is on the hook for this and for what percentage?

KFC911 · 07-20-2013, 07:31 AM

That's a prickly situation! Just like a tree that falls...each is responsible for the portion on their own property I would assume.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Well, there's no damage and it'd be silly to cut the thing at the propertly line, as long as a pro is gonna have to come out and haul it away. First place I just called wanted $450 to deal with it. He said it might be better to call a landscaper for one this small.

vonsmog · 07-20-2013, 07:36 AM

tie a rope to the end of it and drag it into the road, then it becomes the towns problem. They send a truck out and clean it up. At least that is what would happen here.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I don't think the neighbors would like that. And I doubt the HOA is gonna help either. But they might. Pretty sure this was the neighbor's cactus, as he did have a pro come out and shore it up once and also had a flood light on it.

livi · 07-20-2013, 07:38 AM

Work together. Take out the wood chopper and make Tequila out of it! Garden party time!

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-20-2013, 07:38 AM

How to deal with this:

Step 1: Help neighbor cut it up and leave for trash pick-up. If trash won't pick it up, drive out to the desert and leave it there.

Step 2: Get on with life.

KFC911 · 07-20-2013, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonsmog

tie a rope to the end of it and drag it into the road, then it becomes the towns problem. They send a truck out and clean it up. At least that is what would happen here.

Same here..."garbage day", they pick up stuff like that too...worth a shot!

Dantilla · 07-20-2013, 07:39 AM

I would just cut it up, toss the chunks into the back of my pick-up, and haul it away.
Don't care who's responsible, just take care of it. This keeps neighbors as good buddys.

KFC911 · 07-20-2013, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

How to deal with this:

Step 1: Help neighbor cut it up and leave for trash pick-up.....

Were it a tree, I'd have already sawed it up instead of posting...whaddaya do with a cactus...chainsaw also?

Danimal16 · 07-20-2013, 07:41 AM

Argue with Neighbor and send this thread to PARF.

Sorry I lack control this morning. I will seek appropriate help? punishment???

Zeke · 07-20-2013, 07:42 AM

His insurance will cover the removal since it's over the line. Can those cactus be replanted by taking each arm and putting in a container or the ground? If so, I'd be doing that and selling off the 'problem'.

BReif61 · 07-20-2013, 07:43 AM

Are cacti any more difficult than a tree to cut apart? Seems like 15 minutes with a chainsaw would fix that problem.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-20-2013, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danimal16

argue with neighbor and send this thread to parf.

sorry i lack control this morning. I will seek appropriate help? Punishment???

lol!

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-20-2013, 07:48 AM

Aren't they just giant sponges? A hatchet would probably make short work of it in 10 minutes.

KFC911 · 07-20-2013, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danimal16

Argue with Neighbor and send this thread to PARF.

Sorry I lack control this morning. I will seek appropriate help? punishment???

It's Bush's fault, and you're banned to PARF for a spell!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

His insurance will cover the removal since it's over the line. ....

My experience is with trees, and I'm sure policies vary, but neither one's insuramce would cover this around here. Certainly not his insurance covering your portion. It must land on a structure for ins. to cover...YMMV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BReif61

Are cacti any more difficult than a tree to cut apart? Seems like 15 minutes with a chainsaw would fix that problem.

And that includes the beer with the neighbor afterwards

rsNINESOOPER · 07-20-2013, 07:50 AM

list the remains on craigslist and someone will come take it away for free. Large cactus are valuable, I would urge your neighbor to call a competent landscaper about standing a portion of it back up or replanting a couple of the arms. Maybe someone can replant an arm for the opportunity to haul the rest away.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-20-2013, 07:51 AM

Some a-holes park their cacti anywhere.

herr_oberst · 07-20-2013, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

Can those cactus be replanted by taking each arm and putting in a container or the ground? If so, I'd be doing that and selling off the 'problem'.

This. Why waste a good cactus?

(hint - wear protective clothing!)

ossiblue · 07-20-2013, 07:59 AM

If the cactus can be replanted with good chance of survival, I see two options. First, if you neighbor wants to keep it, give him a hand and replant it and help him secure it from further damage until it re-roots. Second, if he doesn't want it, call a landscaper and ask them if they want it for free. Again, if it can be replanted with a good chance of success, it is something a landscaper might jump at to take off you neighbor's hands.

If there is little chance it can be saved, cutting it up is the best option, IMO, following Zeke's suggestion of potting some cuttings for future use/sale. Aren't saguaro fairly expensive to purchase from a nursery or landscaper?