I live in a condo. The conifers on the site are beginning to obstruct the view of the neighbors. Our covenant with these neighbors says trees must not exceed a height of 25 feet. Last year several of the conifers were topped and others removed. Our concern now is that we may have to either top or remove more trees. We don’t want to block the neighbors’ view but we also don’t want to destabilize the ground – we all live on a hillside. What can we do over the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years to decrease the number of conifers and replace them with other trees that will be neighbor-friendly and keep our hill stable?
The short answer is to plant shrubs and groundcovers.
The long answer is that slope stabilization is a serious concern and deserves expert advice. Get started in your research by reading the articles produced by the Washington Department of Ecology:
Slope Stabilization and Control Using Vegetation.
Your condo association may want to hire a consulting arborist and/or a civil engineer (“To locate technical experts such as experienced registered engineers specializing in geotechnical and/or drainage projects, use local telephone directories or call the Seattle or Kitsap branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for membership references.” from DOE site)
For an arborist referral try:
The Pacific Northwest chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture has information about hiring an arborist.
The International Society of Arboriculture can also help to narrow the search to your area.