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If you don’t cut down a dead, dying, or diseased tree, it can become a nesting place for pests like mosquitos, bees, beetles, wasps, fly larvae, and more. Some pests will live in the tree, while others will feed off the decaying wood. Unhealthy trees are also more likely to fall over, potentially injuring people and causing damage to your property.

Yes, the same rules discussed above apply to your neighbor: They can trim one of your trees as long as they’re only cutting the portion that extends into their property. Your neighbor is not allowed to access your property without permission, nor can they cut past the property line. 

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.

The best plan of action for an unhealthy or unsafe tree will depend on its condition. An arborist can recommend whether trimming or removal is the right call for your tree. Preventive tree trimming can keep trees safe and healthy, so make regular tree trimming a part of your yard maintenance plan.