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AIBU?

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Original poster

To Chuck weedkiller over fence ?

135 replies

incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 11:17

I recently paid £7 K to fence in my garden. Both neighbours very tight and I wanted a safe garden so I've paid the lot. I won't ever be able to afford to finance this again. The neighbour on one side is allowing her garden to go to pot and I've got thorns and weeds and branches growing over and pushing against my new lovely fence. She did not allow my fencer to cut anything back on her side which ok fine, but now it's pushing against my fence. Her garden is so absolute mess but she doesn't seem to want to do anything about it any I don't want the fence damaged. AIBU to cut back what comes on my side and Chuck weed killer over the side ...?

OP posts:
Leftbutcameback · 06/09/2021 13:11

The advice on the gardeners world website for weeds growing from underneath is to push a physical barrier down (they suggest slates). So maybe a combined approach of cutting down from the top, throwing stuff back over, and a physical barrier at the bottom. Will also be more permanent than weed killer.

Kathers92 · 06/09/2021 13:10

Salt will kill everything. I tip it on ragwort roots in my horse field to kill them off. Make sure you don't get it near any plants you want to keep

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 06/09/2021 13:08

@BeenHereForAges

I'd do it.

But I'd do it covertly.

Me too. Under cover of darkness.
Dancingonmoonlight · 06/09/2021 13:08

campion Thank you!!!

Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 13:08

@BlackTee40 in my area and for the length of border (long narrow garden) you wouldn't have been able to get it bricked for £7k. I had quotations from 4 separate fencers and this was the second cheapest !

OP posts:
Ozanj · 06/09/2021 13:07

You could throw pests like aphids onto her hedge and they should soon try to destroy it. Possible to buy them live on ebay or via garden centres

campion · 06/09/2021 13:06

Round Up Gel. It's direct contact so no spraying needed. It's a bit of a faff as you paint each plant individually, thus avoiding wider harm. It works over a couple of weeks back to the root.

Don't chuck anything over, tempting though that is.

People who think rampant and invasive mares tail, bindweed, brambles, couch grass, ground elder etc are something you should put up with are welcome to think that and keep them firmly in their own property. It's seriously antisocial to let uncontrolled weeds invade neighbouring gardens.

BlackTee40 · 06/09/2021 13:04

@incognitodorrito

I recently paid £7 K to fence in my garden. Both neighbours very tight and I wanted a safe garden so I've paid the lot. I won't ever be able to afford to finance this again. The neighbour on one side is allowing her garden to go to pot and I've got thorns and weeds and branches growing over and pushing against my new lovely fence. She did not allow my fencer to cut anything back on her side which ok fine, but now it's pushing against my fence. Her garden is so absolute mess but she doesn't seem to want to do anything about it any I don't want the fence damaged. AIBU to cut back what comes on my side and Chuck weed killer over the side ...?
I'd do it, but I'd also have had brick walls built instead of an easily damaged fence. I'd want something permanent for that sort of money.
Dancingonmoonlight · 06/09/2021 13:01

I have the same issue.

A very expensive fence is being damaged by weeds, Ivy, brambles. . I’m not going to sit back and let it happen after Ivy and weeds broke the last fence.

Our NDN’s garden is a mess and she has a loose compost heap of food scraps which attracts vermin too.

There is no talking to her.
Last year I called health authorities and even they couldn’t get through to her.

What weed killer can I use that simply touches the weeds and Ivy and kills it?

LukeEvansWife · 06/09/2021 12:58

Op is clearly determined to chuck the weedkiller so not sure why you would post here?

Leftbutcameback · 06/09/2021 12:58

The other option is to wait until she’s out, get your steps up against the fence and reach over and down with the loppers. I’ve done that recently and cleared quite a bit of ivy. She’s unlikely to even see you’ve done that and it should keep it clear for the short bit of the rest of the growing season. I wouldn’t worry about bindweed, just anything woody which can get in between the posts and slats

HeronLanyon · 06/09/2021 12:56

I was just looking at a friends fence the other day. Neighbours had it professionally built 21 years ago and it looks as good as new from her side. Other side is bursting with plants some growing up it some in trellises and some vines and some tree boughs resting on the top of it. Absolutely no sign of damage at all.
Are your neighbours plants actually triffids ? Has there been a bright meteor recently ? Can’t believe you spent that much (so not just panels I’m guessing) and it’s already being damaged.
Anyway agree yku can’t Chuck weed killer around. Boiling water sounds a better bet ?

Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:55

@Leftbutcameback

I was going to suggest boiling water too. We use it on our patio weeds and it works well. Can you get to just underneath the bottom of the fence?

For those who are surprised about the damage, we have ivy issues and it’s caused permanent damage to a very solid fence this year.

Exactly - I'm guessing those thinking of the bees world think differently if it was affecting their investments !
OP posts:
Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:54

@Popcornbetty

I'd cut the bits that came on my side and throw them back over.
It's such a mess, you wouldn't actually notice I'd chucked it back tbh
OP posts:
Leftbutcameback · 06/09/2021 12:54

I was going to suggest boiling water too. We use it on our patio weeds and it works well. Can you get to just underneath the bottom of the fence?

For those who are surprised about the damage, we have ivy issues and it’s caused permanent damage to a very solid fence this year.

Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:53

@Eustaciavile

It’s only weeds!!! Flowers by another name; wildlife needs more of them not less. I have an enormous garden, lots of mature trees and bushes, and both very wild and more structured areas, and fencing that cost a huge amount less yours (even allowing for the years that have passed) which has been up for nearly 30 years. And please don’t use weed killer, it’s catastrophic for the environment .

Will someone think of the bees 🐝

Im not here to argue the cost of contractors. I'm so pleased you have a huge garden Confused.
OP posts:
Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:52

@ChikiTIKI

Can't you slide out the fence panel and cut everything that hangs in to your garden? Or is it not that kind of fence?
It's not that kind of fence sadly
OP posts:
scoobydoo1971 · 06/09/2021 12:51

Rocksalt at the boundary, and water repeatedly...this is how I dealt with neighbours ivy and bramble issues. It is RIP for soil, so only do this if you don't want anything growing your side.

ChikiTIKI · 06/09/2021 12:50

Can't you slide out the fence panel and cut everything that hangs in to your garden? Or is it not that kind of fence?

Eustaciavile · 06/09/2021 12:48

It’s only weeds!!! Flowers by another name; wildlife needs more of them not less. I have an enormous garden, lots of mature trees and bushes, and both very wild and more structured areas, and fencing that cost a huge amount less yours (even allowing for the years that have passed) which has been up for nearly 30 years. And
please don’t use weed killer, it’s catastrophic for the environment .

Will someone think of the bees 🐝

Popcornbetty · 06/09/2021 12:34

I'd cut the bits that came on my side and throw them back over.

LukeEvansWife · 06/09/2021 12:33

And if a child visits and goes into the garden, you are happy to potentially harm them if they get near it? Then go for it Hmm

trumpisagit · 06/09/2021 12:33

weedkiller is horrible.
It will be winter soon and everything will die back.
Incidentally I bet wildlife likes her garden, even if you don't.

GemmaRuby · 06/09/2021 12:32

Erm… yes you would be unreasonable to spread toxic chemicals on someone else’s property. Imagine if someone came and did this to your front garden.

And it will be very obvious because there will be a strip of suddenly dead plants along the fence line.

seaandsandcastles · 06/09/2021 12:32

No, you absolutely cannot chuck weed killer over the fence, but I get the impression you’re just going to go ahead and do it anyway.