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You can trim just one side of the tree, especially when that side is growing near something like a power line or a home. Pros will carefully trim the tree back until it is safe from that structure. While this is common, it also needs to be done with the utmost care, as pruning or trimming away at one side of the tree may make it structurally unsound. This instance is yet another where hiring a pro is wise, especially if power lines are involved.

In general, trees should be planted no closer than 15 to 20 feet from your foundation. For larger trees with far-reaching roots like maples, oaks, or poplars, a good guide is to plant as many feet from your home as the tree’s height is expected to reach at maturity. Some trees, like elms and willows, should only be planted far from where their roots may encounter sewer or water lines.

Yes, cutting a tree's roots can cause it to fall, particularly if major support roots are severed. In extreme cases, trimming roots can affect the tree's structure and stability. Many crucial roots are located just below the soil's surface. If you make severe cuts to roots more than 2 inches in diameter, you risk impacting the tree's water flow and its ability to withstand severe winds or storms. Even cutting roots less than half an inch in diameter under or outside the tree's canopy can cut off its water supply, causing it to decline, die, and eventually topple.

Some fast-acting products can rot a tree stump in four to six weeks. Keep in mind, these products contain harsh chemicals that may prevent regrowth in the area. Other products, like fertilizer that contains lots of nitrogen, can enhance the process and rot a stump in about a year. (This is compared to the ten years it can take naturally for a stump to rot.)