Cutting climbing plants on boundary walls

MalMonroe

Yes they have left a mess but they have offered to clear it up. I'd let them - but with you acting as project manager!

I think all those plants will grow back nicely - they look in a bit of a state now but many plants are very resilient. Our neighbourhood gardener decimated our fuchsia bushes (as we thought) last autumn - they looked like dead twigs for a few months. But in spring this year, they bloomed larger than ever. 

I don't think this is anything worth falling out with your neighbour about. She did what she thought best at the time, having only the best intentions. Nobody can fault her for wanting to be safe. And she did contact you while you were away, which not everyone would have done.

It really isn't worth getting in a state about, I don't think. No real harm was done and the neighbour did contact you at the time of what she thought was an emergency. I don't see that there's anything you can do about it.

Dare I quote Frozen? Is it overdone?  I have to - let it go. People are more important than plants at the end of the day and if you can maintain a good relationship with your neighbour, you'll both benefit in the long run. 

TELLIT01

Eldi_Dos said:

I am led to belief the normal practise is to cut back over growing plants and return material to side of boundary plants came from, but it would have been nice if you had been there to tidy up as need be.

Commonly held but erroneous belief.  Anything originating on the neighbour's side should be offered back, but if they won't take it it becomes your responsibility to dispose of correctly.  If you throw the cut material back over without the neighbour's agreement is it flytipping.

Edited to correct to 'without'.  Thanks to those who spotted the non deliberate mistake.

DanDare999

TELLIT01 said:

Eldi_Dos said:

I am led to belief the normal practise is to cut back over growing plants and return material to side of boundary plants came from, but it would have been nice if you had been there to tidy up as need be.

Commonly held but erroneous belief.  Anything originating on the neighbour's side should be offered back, but if they won't take it it becomes your responsibility to dispose of correctly.  If you throw the cut material back over with the neighbour's agreement is it flytipping.

Without is flytipping. 

Eldi_Dos

TELLIT01 said:

Eldi_Dos said:

I am led to belief the normal practise is to cut back over growing plants and return material to side of boundary plants came from, but it would have been nice if you had been there to tidy up as need be.

Commonly held but erroneous belief.  Anything originating on the neighbour's side should be offered back, but if they won't take it it becomes your responsibility to dispose of correctly.  If you throw the cut material back over with the neighbour's agreement is it flytipping.

What you say about the legalities may or may not be true, but it is not a erroneous belief as it is a normal or common practise,as proved by OP's experience.

Mojisola

kahocking said:

I would be very grateful if anyone is able to give me any help. 
The end of our garden borders with the side wall of a neighbouring property.  A few years ago, when the neighbours converted the property into flats, they ran gas pipes around the side of the property.  In our garden, there is a trellis next to the wall and there are climbing plants.  Over the years the plants have grown and in some places become attached to the gas pipes. 
 
I am a keen gardener and to return home and find this situation I find very upsetting.  How can someone do this to someone else's garden, when a little patience could have avoided this all together?

Until the plants were removed and the pipes checked, the neighbour couldn't have known that there wasn't a gas leak.
It's a shame your plants had grown above your trellis, across your neighbour's access and then used the neighbour's wall as a support - you really shouldn't have allowed this to happen.

Woolsery

The photos were obviously taken years apart. Maybe in the past your clematis was able to scramble through the cypress trees, but now they've been removed, it's far too vigorous to be a sensible proposition for someone disinclined to keep it in check. The fence looks like it's on its way out anyway, so in your position, with the changes on the other side, I'd re-think the planting and whatever defines the boundary.

kahocking

The 'before' pic was taken in June this year.

Woolsery

kahocking said:

The 'before' pic was taken in June this year.

Then the cypresses did a fine job of hiding the state of the fence and probably protected it. I'm not blaming you for using the trees as support, but now they're gone a re-think is probably required.

Apodemus

Woolsery said:

kahocking said:

The 'before' pic was taken in June this year.

Then the cypresses did a fine job of hiding the state of the fence and probably protected it. I'm not blaming you for using the trees as support, but now they're gone a re-think is probably required.

Cypresses? Zooming in on each of the pics, I'm struggling to find any cypresses!   ...or any space where a cypress would fit!   



Once all the debris is removed, it won't look nearly as bad and it will probably grow back in no time, giving a chance for it to be kept in check once it reaches the top of the trellis.

Woolsery

Apodemus said:

Woolsery said:

kahocking said:

The 'before' pic was taken in June this year.

Then the cypresses did a fine job of hiding the state of the fence and probably protected it. I'm not blaming you for using the trees as support, but now they're gone a re-think is probably required.

Cypresses? Zooming in on each of the pics, I'm struggling to find any cypresses!   ...or any space where a cypress would fit!   

I'll swear they were there at 08.30!  Obviously, I shouldn't take powerful hallucinogenics, like Earl Grey, so early in the morning!