Neighbour asked us to trim the hedge

sevenhills

Mr.Generous said:

I can see that someone who doesn't own a hedge may not want to purchase a hedgeclipper.

I'd just cut it. If it means I have to trim my own hedge on the neighbors side so what? I'd be trimming it anyway.

It would depend on why they are asking you to cut it. I cut both sides of my hedge, although I don't know who owns the edge. My neighbour is a nurse, short and her parents have helped her with the garden in the past.

Eldi_Dos

Cannot see the benefit of a 1.4 mt hedge between properties. Given the choice I would train it up to around 2.2 mts.
If they are a good neighbour they might like the privacy and if they are not you might want the privacy a higher hedge gives.

Grenage

Legally one doesn't have to do anything.

In practice, one is a bit of a [expletive] if they don't.  Why should someone need to spend time and effort maintaining a neighbour's foliage?  Those who can't be bothered should just get a fence.

Getting on with neighbours can make or break a home; so why not just get on with it when the request is so reasonable.

TELLIT01

Maybe the previous occupant of your house did trim it back, and the neighbour doesn't have a hedge trimmer.  It's not exactly an onerous task and will start relationships with the neighbour on a positive footing if you do the trimming.  If you don't currently have the tools, tell them that.

twopenny

I've got a massive climbing rose between me and a neighbour. She is infirm, the branches and petals go over her side sometimes. I prune, deahead and even clear the fallen petals. I wanted the rose, she didn't..
I even weed her gravel occasionally while I'm there because it will stop them seeding into mine.
Ditto I try to stop any plants intruding into neighbours property by pruning. I've given the younger one permission to lop off anything her side but she doesn't. So I'll suggest I go round and 5mins will sort it.
My plants are intruding. Small time to get goodwill.
Just unfortunate I have 2 non gardening neighbours but c'la vie.

I wonder what the previous owner did? I'd have lopped it myself if it was stopping me getting in the car but perhaps it's been an ongoing problem. Good time to ask sweetly if that's the case and maybe take the hedge back so it doesn't grow into the neighbours garden.

If you want the hedge, you maintain and not let it interfer with others...... it is my two pennies worth.
A very tiny easily resolved thing for good neighbour relations

subjecttocontract

I wonder if this might be the start of them expecting you to jump every time they say 'frog' ?

plumb1_2

subjecttocontract said:

I wonder if this might be the start of them expecting you to jump every time they say 'frog' ?

I thought that was Simon says?

Brie

I have gardeners that I pay to help with stuff at ours.  So I wouldn't be paying for them to trim the neighbour's side.  But would give them the gardeners' number and say "these guys are great and will only charge you £X".

I might agree to trim their side if I was doing it if I had a proper hedge trimmer (rather than just shears).  I am very likely to ask when their car won't be there so I can do it easily and then remind them that they need to leave their bin out so I can put the trimmings from their side in their bin.  Or tell them I'll trim it but let them tidy the mess.  

Grumpy_chap

I'd just trim the hedge and foster good neighbourly relations.

casper_gutman

Personally I wouldn't be offering to trim it for them whenever (they think) it needs doing.

If I was inclined to be nice I might offer to do their side when I was cutting the rest of the hedge anyway. However, I'd offer this with the proviso that it might not happen very often (given the many jobs needing doing in the new house etc), but that I understood they were within their rights to cut it back to the boundary themselves and I would be happy for them to do so.