30 year old 40 foot apple cut to 6 feet

My neighbor has cut my 30 year old 40 foot apple to 6 feet. I am in a state of shock!!! Will this kill my tree?

I might kill the neighbor.  What a pair on that guy!

The tree should recover.  I would keep an eye on the cuts and make sure they are healing well.  Make sure that there is no rot appearing and if so, cut back to good wood/bark.  I would give it some extra TLC for the next couple of years making sure it has plenty of water and nutrients for regrowing.  You may want to check out http://www.arboristsite.com/

yikes!

I'm normally a "live and let live" kinda guy - and I don't know all the circumstances - but if it were *my* tree and was clearly on *my* property I'd document it with police and insist on a generous monetary replacement value for a mature apple tree in case it dies, and/or any costs associated with trying to save it - including hiring an arborist to take a look. Small claims court is also an option.

What were the circumstances that led up to this?

If the roots are okay and it was a healthy tree, hopefully with lots of care it'll bounce back for  you! good luck!

Not sure if it will "recover" from this damage however it should send out new growth from the stump. That said why did your neighbor cut it down. Was it and the canopy fully on your property or was half of it over his property and there been a bone of contention about the limbs from your tree on his side of the fence as it were? If the tree was solely on your property and not overhanging then I am certain (as long as you can prove it was him that cut it down) you can sue for the value of the tree which is significant given the size of the tree. Lord knows I don't have any real neighbors to be concerned with but one of them came on my property and cut my tree down being sued would be the least of his worries.

OMG, what is the neighbor dong cutting YOUR trees I think I'd sue for a replacement tree and damages to crop loss..

well maybe I wouldn't sue but dang !! If there are some healthy branches it MIGHT recover, but it will be a hard blow at this time of year esp