Neighbours untamed hedge and trees

Sammyd159

Davesnave said:

If you buy a pole saw, the sort of hedge maintenance you're doing will be easier and you can do it from the ground. Don't forget a helmet/visor. I was in A&E recently after 'forgetting' mine.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/outdoor-gardening/long-reach/cat8010006

Oh dear! 

Sammyd159

Apodemus said:

Davesnave said:

If you buy a pole saw, the sort of hedge maintenance you're doing will be easier and you can do it from the ground. Don't forget a helmet/visor. I was in A&E recently after 'forgetting' mine.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/outdoor-gardening/long-reach/cat8010006

Sorry to hear that - I had a lucky escape when a cut branch came vertically down on me, cut-end first.  Even with a helmet on it was quite a blow, without it, I am pretty sure it would have penetrated my skull.

You guys are not selling this to me   

Davesnave

Sammyd159 said:

Apodemus said:

Davesnave said:

If you buy a pole saw, the sort of hedge maintenance you're doing will be easier and you can do it from the ground. Don't forget a helmet/visor. I was in A&E recently after 'forgetting' mine.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/outdoor-gardening/long-reach/cat8010006

Sorry to hear that - I had a lucky escape when a cut branch came vertically down on me, cut-end first.  Even with a helmet on it was quite a blow, without it, I am pretty sure it would have penetrated my skull.

You guys are not selling this to me   

It's a pole saw you need more than a trimmer, but  I use both. They're perfectly safe if you use the correct PPE. That's my point; over 10 years of no accidents, but then I was sloppy.

Apodemus

Davesnave said:  
Tore a hole in the outer skin of my eye, fortunately missing  anything important. Not very nice , but a good reminder not to be sloppy with basic protection.  

Ouch! But also a good reminder that even the small stuff can cause the damage.  I’m off to swap my Crocs for my safety boots!

Mistral001

Sammyd159 said:

Mistral001 said:

Sammyd159 said:

Mistral001 said:

Sammyd159 said:

Mistral001 said:

I would give your neighbour time to cut back the trees rather than escalating the problem.  I would give them at least a year or maybe even two years in fact from the time you made the request. 

I asked her in January if we could cut them back, she said leave it with her until back off her holidays in Feb but never heard back from her. Should I wait until winter and ask again do you think?

If you asked her in February, then legally she had only about a  month in which to cut back the trees because of the bird nesting season.  So she probably is not being so tardy as you think. 

The reason I asked her when I did, was because I hoped she would agree to it so I could have the tree feller do them at the same time as mine.  

I see.  Has she actually refused to give you her permission and if she has, for what reason if any?

She hasn't said.  She came around in January and looked and agreed to consider it.  I tried her a few times after her holidays and there wasn't anyone home so I left her a note which she never replied to. As I had her son in law around to grind the stumps out and he also was of the opinion the trees were overgrown, I asked him to approach her thinking his professional opinion and as a family member it would carry some weight.  He said she has said no, but to be honest he also said he doesn't want to get into any more neighbourly disputes with her about trees so I don't know if he even asked her, apparently the other homes bordering hers have had tree problems with her too.
I have never lived next door to anyone who doesn't look after their home before.  This is new to me, particurlarly as it's a very expensive street. 

Ah, "the note"!

A note seems to cause more problems than it solves.  There was a similar case a few weeks ago on this forum where  "a note"  was involved. 

A note can inflame many people.  It is like when you share a flat and one flatmate leaves note complaining about something another flatmate has done or hasn't done.  It can illicit many responses but rarely compliance.  The usual response is to totally ignore it.  I suggest you see the owner of the property next door face to face as soon as you can.

Phil4432

Sammyd159 said:

Mickey666 said:

That’s fine.  If the fence is yours and on your land then you have a perfect right to cut any vegetation above it so that replacement panels can be fitted.
I find it hard to believe the trees grow so fast that you have to cut them back every week.  Maybe initially, but once they have all been cut back to the fence line then once per year should be enough.

These sorts of situations are difficult.  I’m sure you’re stressed out by it all but have some sympathy for how your neighbour feels as well.  She may really like her trees as they are and you may be causing her as much stress as you are feeling.  Is it really not possible to just ‘let it go’ and be a bit more chilled about it?  As you say, you have a wonderful view over the river, you live in a nice area and - to be fair - the trees were there when you decided to move in.  You don’t want to be one of those people who move into a new area and then start trying to change it just to suit you, do you?  If the trees really are such a big issue (which is fine if that’s how you really feel) then why move there?  If it’s because everything else suited you (which is also fine) then it’s not so much to compromise Is it?

I hear you, and yes there are always worse things to worry about.  when I moved in the hedge was just over the height of the fence. If you look at the photo you can see how much it has grown this year.She had the sides trimmed recently but didn't touch the top. I can only cut what comes over to me, so I'm cutting off random branches when really if it had a good cut across the top that would be it for a while.  I don't mean that I am cutting a branch and the same branch is growing back tall in a week, I mean that I cut off what I can and then the bits I can't cut grow bigger to the point I can cut them as they start leaning over. Can you see what I mean from the photo? Do you think I should just carry on randomly trimming the odd branch of the hedge or is it pointless, should I just let it grow? I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle with it.

To me, that is a green barrier providing privacy.  

I'm guessing you like gardens to be well trimmed and maintained, fair enough I see your point.  So you decide to hit her with solicitors letters, report her to the council.  You win, and then that hedge is cut down to 6 ft.  The hedge that has some 2-3 feet branches on the canal get cut also.  There isn't anything you can do about her trees, unless they are right next to your house and the roots a potential subsidence issue.   

For that 6ft hedge and trimming of a 3ft branch, you potentially lose thousands of pounds on the value of your home and you have a very unpleasant situation with your neighbour and her family.  This is the worst parts of neighbour disputes.

Are these cons worth the pros?  Not in the slightest.  I'm saying again, if you have no neighbors barking dogs, loud parties, feral kids smashing up your garden with footballs, you are blessed.  Don't think being in an expensive neighborhood rules out a 2hr barking session at 3am, or people being anti social.    Living next to quiet old ladies, is great.  The only thing you have to tolerate, is a few foot of extra bush and your life is at peace. 

And if she's elderly, how long will she be around for?  Just let her be.

Falafels

I doubt her trees would come under high hedge legislation - that's usually reserved for things like leylandii, which form a totally impenetrable barrier. Also, nobody is obliged to keep their boundary in good condition; while their neighbours may not like it, there's nothing they can do about it legally; she may well enjoy the birds and other wildlife which undoubtedly flourish in that environment. Unless her trees are damaging your property you don't really have any comeback.

(I moved into a new house a few years back, and the next door neighbour asked me to cut down a flowering cherry in my front garden because she didn't like the leaves blowing into her garden in the autumn. I politely ignored.)

The other thing to watch out for is that, while you are legally entitled to cut off anything which grows over your boundary, if you lean over and cut anything off from her side of the fence without her permission - that's trespass and it's an offence.

These are all the kind of issues which will be covered in the excellent gardenlaw.co.uk website, and I recommend it.

If I were you, I'd replace the knackered old fence with something more appealing, trim the overhanging branches so they're aesthetically pleasing rather than the eyesore created by trimming in a strict vertical line - and RELAX!

kdotdotdotdot

Agree with everyone telling you to relax.  It seems you have very different standards for what an 'acceptable' hedge should look like than your neighbour, and you're never going to resolve that.  She's happy with the more natural look, you seem to think they should be manicured.  

From the photos you've posted, the trees aren't ugly and aren't harming your garden.  You most certainly knew they were there when you bought the house as they didn't just pop up over the fence this spring.  

Rather than clipping random branches off your side every weekend, I'd get someone in to trim everything vertically so that nothing's growing over your fence.  This will need to be done several times a year because the foliage will grow back again, eventually.  Or do so yourself if you're confident with trimmers.  

As others have said, she's already given you her decision - whether you like it or not.  You knew the situation when you bought the house and are now obsessing about it.  Get your side trimmed to your satisfaction and let it go.