Neighbours growing plants on fence

The fence was falling down and ruining our garden,it always fell out way,in storms whatever. DH "asked" if he could replace the fence (like they're going to say no!) we removed it,took it to the tip and replaced it...he dug out the brambles that he could. That's the only way to deal with them permanently. Oh, I forgot to add,thick ivy to all the blasted weeds coming over!

@Nannyfannybanny I think I see your thinking.
Let the neighbours fence fall down , don't erect another and this will leave better access to chop down near the roots .
This is good advice.
Speaking as someone who stands on a step ladder to lean over a fence to chop ( and reinvigorate) the brambles from next door.

If you put up a second fence inside your boundary line, and the brambles (plus bindweed and dandelions in our case) they grow from the bottom,you cannot reach to remove them..trust me,we tried everything for several years! Brambles are like roses, they love to be pruned, they grow back even stronger. Never found a single weed killer that worked.

Put up a fence inside your boundary line then you can chop back anything that grows onto it.

We had the same issue.fence belonged to neighbours. Brambles so big the burst the fence,so had stems of 5 inch diameter..cut them yearly!!! Obviously, never dealt with 80 foot long fence with brambles 2 MTRS high! Solicitor said put a fence inside theirs on our land. That wouldn't work because of trees, and then their broken fence and brambles would have ruined our new fence. We ended up paying for it,as it's THEIR fence,you can't stop them planting or doing anything else with it unfortunately.

It'll slow down brambles, but it's unlikely to stop 'em permanently. You have to keep at 'em. 'Tis a permanent war...

gazes into middle distance

Can you get a new fence which will mean cutting it right back. Then while it’s being installed, do some gardening and “accidentally” put some heavy duty weed killer in the soil around the fence area?

You'd think so, but brambles are sneaky so-and-so's - they'll send out suckers and shoots and go under...

I made the mistake of planting one bramble plant some years ago. I now spend a great deal of time dealing with its offspring. The damned thing even got into the greenhouse.

You could put concrete posts in and then those vertical boarded fence panels. These slot in easily, the panels are easily replaced and are pretty tough compared to standard lap fencing. Then just once a year lift them out and cut the brambles back.

Both my neighbours grow ivy on their side of the fence (I'm the middle detached of three detached cottages) and I spend a bit of time every other weekend during the spring and summer trimming it back. It's fine. Annoying, but it doesn't take long. It is damaging the fences unfortunately, but they are both great neighbours otherwise so it's not a hill I'm going to die on. Just keep on top of cutting it back.

Just keep pruning the brambles back on your side every week or two. Vigilance is the only thing that works (although the plants will respond by getting spikier)

They can grow whatever they like in their garden, and some people like a wild brambly type garden. It’s good for wildlife.

You can put a second fence a few inches in from the collapsing one but the brambles will still encroach. It’s what they do.

I don't think there's much you can do unfortunately. My neighbour is similar; ivy, brambles and bindweed constantly growing over, the ivy has taken the paintwork off my wall and chokes my plants if I don't keep on top of it. They abandoned a section of their garden which backs on to ours. They've done nothing to keep it under control during the last decade I've lived here and it's now starting to grow over our 6 foot fence. I trim back what I can, but the fence is getting pushed over every few months.

I think I'm going to keep the fence and plant a hedge in front of it. I expect eventually the weeds will choke the hedge if they continue to leave it as a wasteland, but I'm not sure what else I can try.

Put a fence your side to hide it

Oh dear. The weedkiller you used for the weeds on your side of the fence has accidentally got on the weeds on their side.

Even if you fit your own fence on your own land, it's pointless leaving a one foot gap. Brambles will quickly bridge that gap and come through your fence. Keep chopping back the brambles and anything else they grow as and when it comes through onto your side.

You can't stop your neighbours from growing what they like on their own property. All you can do is cut it back so it's not on your side - there are very few exceptions, and brambles aren't one.

If you want a new fence, go ahead and install one on your property.

If it's encroaching on your property, trim it back. Look on it not as maintaining their plant, but protecting your property.

Sadly they're not obliged to have a fence- they can have a hedge, or chicken wire, or even just bits of string between posts.

If you want a fence, you can put one on your land. Doesn't have to be a foot in- trim back any encroaching stems/twigs, and erect your own fence within a couple of inches of the boundary (ensuring posts are entirely on your side.)

I'm sorry to say this but if it's brambles a foot gap will soon be breached.

Have you invited them over to your side to trim it?

I don't see why you would need to build your fence a foot away from theirs. If you built a fence closer to theirs and their brambles started growing on to your fence on your property you are legally entitled to cut the stems that overhang onto your property back. So long as you aren't reducing height or damaging roots.