Trimming my neighbour's bush.

[911motorsport]

As per the title. It's very overgrown and a large proportion of it is hanging over my fence. It's also blocking out the sun and casting a large shadow on my ornamental lawn. In the autumn it drops spores on to my decking, which has become mottled. Am I within my rights to trim it back, or do I have to provide access and request that she does it herself?

[kiethton]

I would have thought you were ok to do it as long as the plant is not permanantly damged. I also remember reading that to follow the law entirely the clippings need to be returned.

[anonymous-user]

its polite to explain your intented actions to your neighbour before you approach the offending bush with the snippers, some will say that you dont need to but they are probably the same people who subscribe to the "broken Britain" philosophy....

[Flying Toilet]

Take them a round a nice cup of tea and have a chat with them about it.

[soad]

Is she a fittie though - we need some photos in order to judge...

[Marty Funkhouser]

You have the right to trim any overhanging branches/leaves - as has been said before though best policy is to let them know your intentions before getting the garden shears out.

[sawman]

Went through this recently, I live in a rented place and the bush from next door was making getting into the drive awkward. I do not have any garden tools currently and so I popped next door to ask if I could borrow their loppers. Luckily for me the chap next door seemed concerned that i might maim his unruly bush so he did it for me, apologising for letting things get so unruly.

So I was able to tinker under the car all afternoon instead, result!

[HereBeMonsters]

What happened to talking to the neighbours?

[JacksHereR]

HereBeMonsters said:

What happened to talking to the neighbours?

^yes, go and knock on her backdoor because her bush is a mess

[WorAl]

If it's that offensive I'd suggest taking her a good razor, some gel and just having a quiet chat with her, tell her it's not just for you, it will do wonders for her relationships too.

Must be a bit smelly too if it's that overgrown.

[911motorsport]

HereBeMonsters said:

What happened to talking to the neighbours?

We don't get on. That's why I'm checking my rights before doing anything. She previously complained when I added some trellis to stop her nosing over the fence.

[HereBeMonsters]

911motorsport said:

HereBeMonsters said:

What happened to talking to the neighbours?

We don't get on. That's why I'm checking my rights before doing anything. She previously complained when I added some trellis to stop her nosing over the fence.

OK, you didn't mention that. I'd still go round and tell her what you're doing though, if you're polite to her then things might change.

[Cara van Man]

911motorsport said:

HereBeMonsters said:

What happened to talking to the neighbours?

We don't get on. That's why I'm checking my rights before doing anything. She previously complained when I added some trellis to stop her nosing over the fence.

In that case, get yourself a JCB and smash her fence, bush and house to the ground.

[Pagey]

911motorsport said:

my neighbours bush

I did that once!!

Caused me no end of hassle afterwards

[911motorsport]

HereBeMonsters said:

911motorsport said:

HereBeMonsters said:

What happened to talking to the neighbours?

We don't get on. That's why I'm checking my rights before doing anything. She previously complained when I added some trellis to stop her nosing over the fence.

OK, you didn't mention that. I'd still go round and tell her what you're doing though, if you're polite to her then things might change.

I struggle with being polite to someone who stirs up her (middle aged) son to come round and threaten my wife because she thought she had called over the fence at her to be quiet where in fact it was the son who had kept us awake for three nights ('til 4 A.M) getting pissed and playing darts whilst she was on holiday and probably encouraged him to do it anyway.

Edited by 911motorsport on Tuesday 25th May 16:19

[danrc]

I trimmed my neighbours once because they were busy with renovations and I thought i'd be the good neighbour. I hit a sodding great pole sticking out of their hedge with my trimmer and it's now broken.

You try and do a good deed...

[Rotaree]

Aaaah.................Different subject.............Nothing to see here, move along!

[Bonnie and Clyde]

Cara van Man said:

911motorsport said:

HereBeMonsters said:

What happened to talking to the neighbours?

We don't get on. That's why I'm checking my rights before doing anything. She previously complained when I added some trellis to stop her nosing over the fence.

In that case, get yourself a JCB and smash her fence, bush and house to the ground.

[Size Nine Elm]

911motorsport said:

As per the title. It's very overgrown and a large proportion of it is hanging over my fence. It's also blocking out the sun and casting a large shadow on my ornamental lawn. In the autumn it drops spores on to my decking, which has become mottled. Am I within my rights to trim it back, or do I have to provide access and request that she does it herself?

Dear neighbour,

Without appearing to be too nosey, I have noticed that your bush has become rather overgrown, and odd strands stray ouside the boundaries normally containing them.

While I would never presume to interfere with your bush, since that would normally be your husband's job, the proximity of your bush, and its general unkempt state, has started to upset me, and it now intrudes on my hard standing. I would like to trim back your bush to a neater presentation.

Oh, your garden needs some work too.

[911motorsport]

Size Nine Elm said:

911motorsport said:

As per the title. It's very overgrown and a large proportion of it is hanging over my fence. It's also blocking out the sun and casting a large shadow on my ornamental lawn. In the autumn it drops spores on to my decking, which has become mottled. Am I within my rights to trim it back, or do I have to provide access and request that she does it herself?

Dear neighbour,

Without appearing to be too nosey, I have noticed that your bush has become rather overgrown, and odd strands stray ouside the boundaries normally containing them.

While I would never presume to interfere with your bush, since that would normally be your husband's job, the proximity of your bush, and its general unkempt state, has started to upset me, and it now intrudes on my hard standing. I would like to trim back your bush to a neater presentation.

Oh, your garden needs some work too.

That seems perfectly inoffensive; I shall probably go with this. Plus a note avoids any confrontation.