My neighbor had (note the past tense) a crud I can't remember the name of the thing but it crapped white flower petals into my pool on a daily basis. I asked nicely if they would trim it back, no response, then I stated pointedly that it was causing me real problems and could they PLEASE trim it, no response. So I took my trusty hedge trimmer and evened that sucker up with my fence. The did NOT like that. Last summer same thing. Three requests and no response. Soooooo I trimmed it back again and, for some reason not known, the poor tree died soon thereafter. Pity really.