Do I have to cut a root on a neighbours property?

malkyh

She should cut it herself. My neighbour has a tree which overhangs my garden. It's one of those really annoying trees that drops an abundance of needles which has killed my grass and covers the kids outdoor toys. If it's windy the needles constantly blow off and if the washing is out we are constantly picking the annoying little !!!!!!s out of the clothes.

I chop off all the overhanging branches which are within my boundary, the neighbour is happy for me to do this. (although I'd be happier if she'd cut the whole sodding thing down)

Am I right in saying that I should legally throw the branches I chop back into her garden as technically they are her property? Not that I do, (and I don't think she'd really want them back).

martinthebandit

arcon5 wrote: »

Why not just do it and shut her up? Do you really need this hassle in your life?

Afterall, as petty as this neighbough seems, YOUR tree has overgrown on to HER property.

This seems like the right answer to me, after all if she cuts the root and the bramble thats coming from your garden into hers then she will be expected to do it everytime. If she gets you to do it however, then it may encourage you to cut the brambles back before they can get into her garden.

I suspect that if you did that then the issue with the root would disappear.

Although, if I was in your neighbours position, I would not have bothered asking you to do it, I would have gone straight to the weedkiller option and then sympathised with you about your dead cherry tree.

malkyh

martinthebandit wrote: »

Although, if I was in your neighbours position, I would not have bothered asking you to do it, I would have gone straight to the weedkiller option and then sympathised with you about your dead cherry tree.

A tad harsh perhaps? I'd then have to sympathise with you about your burst car tyres

Swings and roundabouts in this day and age.

Gordon_Hose

If it's just a "1 - 2cm root" and "just a bramble" then why not just go round and sort it out? Doesn't sound too much of a difficult task really.

TheSaint_2

Thanks for all your replies.

I have tried to remove all the potential offenders that the neighbour may be refering to as far as the bramble goes (there are none, but she might mean one of our plants poking through).

Some people are very strange aren't they!

I will take the advice and NOT go round to sort the root out. She can do it herself if she is that bothered. The neighbour on the other side has her moaning at him almost every week about something, so I guess me taking the harsh stance now will hopefully nip that in the bud (no pun intended!).

squeaky

One thing that occurred to me was that if you do go onto her property to clear the root - if you tread on, or disturb, any of her other plants close to that point she'll be all over you for that too. It could be never ending.

Oliver14

mikey72 wrote: »

If you don't want to cut it, let her put weedkiller on it. That'll sort it out.

SailorSam wrote: »

If she decides to put weedkiller on it that's not going to kill just the one root, you may end up losing your tree.

Gone over your head a little then;)

fozzeh

squeaky wrote: »

One thing that occurred to me was that if you do go onto her property to clear the root - if you tread on, or disturb, any of her other plants close to that point she'll be all over you for that too. It could be never ending.

I'd agree with this one. It sounds like you neighbour is a bit of a PITA.
And as said above; you do it once, you'll do it forever!

The only way I can see it of any benefit for doing it if you are both single, she is fit and you ask for a cup of sugar after you've pruned her bush.

If not, tell her to grow up.

birkee

malkyh wrote: »

She should cut it herself. My neighbour has a tree which overhangs my garden. It's one of those really annoying trees that drops an abundance of needles which has killed my grass and covers the kids outdoor toys. If it's windy the needles constantly blow off and if the washing is out we are constantly picking the annoying little !!!!!!s out of the clothes.

I chop off all the overhanging branches which are within my boundary, the neighbour is happy for me to do this. (although I'd be happier if she'd cut the whole sodding thing down)

Am I right in saying that I should legally throw the branches I chop back into her garden as technically they are her property? Not that I do, (and I don't think she'd really want them back).[/QUOTE]

I think the branches are irrelevant, but any crop from those branches must be returned. Apples, pears, cherries etc.

Know what you mean though, as they planted a conifer about 18" from the fence over the back from us. Now it has grown so big, there is a complete area of our garden in which we can't grow anything.

For all of you that support the neighbour, remember that I am just as entitled to use my garden as they are.

malkyh:
By the time you have cut off branches overlapping your garden, and cut off roots under your garden, the tree will eventually become overbalanced and fall over. In their direction of course, because that's where the weight is. :T

Planting on boundaries requires forethought and consideration!

arcon5

But if this is the first occasion op has had dealings with their neighbour, surely it would be beest to just do it?

If they then continue on to being nightmare neighboughs you can put your foot down then -- it's not like this first occasion has to set a precedance on all future issues so if they do continue you can still refuse in the future.

For the sake of two minutes work is it really worth the hassle?