A long legal fight between two California neighbours over invasive tree roots has ended in state court, with a judge ordering the complete removal of a boundary hedge after years of failed attempts to reach a solution. The Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One, upheld a lower court ruling that ordered the property owner to remove the remaining 19 ficus trees along the shared property line. The roots had continued to spread despite an earlier out-of-court settlement. The dispute began over a row of 38 ficus trees planted along the boundary between two neighbouring homes in Southern California. The fast-growing trees, often used to create privacy screens, developed large underground root systems that spread into the neighbouring yard. The roots damaged landscaping and threatened nearby structures.
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