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In most ways, palm trees are incredibly low-maintenance. They don’t need a ton of water—which is why they’re so beloved in desert regions—and they basically prune themselves. But they do need an ample supply of sunlight and to be in soil that will allow for proper drainage so that their roots don’t become waterlogged and at risk of developing illnesses.

If the plant begins to wilt, develop spots, or change color, these could all be signs that your palm tree has a disease. But a few basic treatments, like pruning and applying fungicide, will usually be more than enough to return it to perfect health.

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.

A tree branch should start to form roots in about three months. It can take about a year for a tree branch to develop roots strong enough to go in the ground. For best results, start several branches because, no matter how closely you follow instructions, they won’t all form roots. Compost any that aren’t thriving.

Your neighbor is not in a good position to know if your trees are truly dead or pose any kind of danger. That’s why hiring an arborist or tree service expert can be such an important part of the process. If the trees are still alive and don’t pose any threat, you’re in the clear (but you may want to document and photograph everything in case events turn sour down the road).

But if a tree is visibly dead and near the property line, you should remove it to be safe. If a dead tree falls on a neighbor’s property, they may have grounds to sue for negligence. If any branches on trees have died, it’s a good idea to cut them back for similar reasons.