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Original poster

Tree saga

120 replies

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 15:44

i have a tree in my back garden which admittedly has grown tall, I just can’t keep on top of it, but it doesn’t really bother me, I planted it years ago, my neighbours are complaining it is sat against their fence and want it chopping down, they have offered to do it, but I feel it’s my responsibility and how would they dispose of it all anyway? I have received a quote £200 which I was expecting it to be more to be honest, I just feel reluctant to pay it as the tree doesn’t really bother me, am I being unreasonable to ask them to pay half? As they want it chopping down not me, the thing is I have messaged her now saying I will just sort it out, I was a bit annoyed at the time as we had a bit of an argument about it last night, please help.

OP posts:
DorsetMermaid · 10/08/2026 17:59

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:01

I could but I think it’s just going to keep growing, and I can’t keep on top of it.

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If you cut the branches touching the fence right back to the wood i.e. so that there is no greenery on those branches, it will not grown back.

Conifers like yours do not grow again from the brown wood. It will be a one off job.

Womanofcustard · 10/08/2026 17:57

I’m not sure if £200 will cover stump removal as well, OP you need to check what the the quote covers.
It’s a Leyllandii - needs to come down. Then you can plant something more wildlife-friendly!

RelievedNoYouTubeMum · 10/08/2026 17:56

Doesnt answer your question OP, but last year a new build estate was completed near where I live. Each house had lovely little trees and shrubs planted around the front of the houses. A year later they are all massive, over crowding the doors, blocking the light and some are almost as tall as the second floor windows. these trees grow super fast and tall. Pay to chop it down and dont plant another. Your LL will probably ask you to remove it if they knew anyway.

Happyjoe · 10/08/2026 17:49

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 17:42

Bird nesting season ends at rhe end of rhe month and most activity is done by end of July the surgeons will know if there is a nest in there.

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If they care!
Sometimes birds will have more when in hot hot summers. Was only asking the OP to be careful and wait if she can. A few weeks won't damage a fence much further.

FruAashild · 10/08/2026 17:47

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:15

The fence wasn’t there when I planted it.

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Who put the fence up and is it in the correct position?

But another vote for getting it removed (including the stump). Then you can plant something deciduous and preferably with blossom and fruit. Looks like you have a farily small garden so check how big a tree will grow - this depends on root stock - so you can get one the appropriate size. You could have something that will espalier or fan over the fence which requires work but is very contained. If you got e.g. the apple Katy you'd have a good crop of early eaters. Perfect if you have kids. Or a Victoria plum which are massive croppers and can be eaten or cooked. Or you can get apple family trees which have 3 varieties on one root stock so you can harvest for longer.

BlueDillieDillie · 10/08/2026 17:45

If it were me, I would get rid of it. If the neighbour contributed that's a bonus.
Replace it with something better than a leyleandii or whatever it is. Plant a couple of fruit trees in the garden away from the fence.

tommyhoundmum · 10/08/2026 17:44

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 15:57

Think it’s just pushing against their fence

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Just get a tree surgeon to prune it right back and remove the branches. I was expecting a huge tree towering above but it's more like a large bush.Later in the year is better after the growth of this year. It is not necessary to remove it entirely and it must give a bit of privacy.

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 17:42

Happyjoe · 10/08/2026 17:41

One more thing, can you wait for another month or two? Just in case nesting birds.

Bird nesting season ends at rhe end of rhe month and most activity is done by end of July the surgeons will know if there is a nest in there.

Happyjoe · 10/08/2026 17:41

One more thing, can you wait for another month or two? Just in case nesting birds.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:18

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:14

Trolling? No I just wanted advice

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The advice then is: get your secateurs out and trim it or spend the £200 to have it chopped down and plant something else. Your choice.

Mymagicroundabout · 10/08/2026 17:17

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 17:15

No it won’t, that will keep growing at a huge rate.

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I say it's manageable, so there !

Original poster
pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:15

FOJN · 10/08/2026 17:14

As you haven't kept on top of it you might find it's barely more than a brown trunk with dead twigs if you trim back as much as it needs and conifers do not regrow from dead wood. I think you need to just pay the £200 and get rid of it. Planting trees next to a neighbours fence is a bit rude tbh.

The fence wasn’t there when I planted it.

OP posts:
Viperregency · 10/08/2026 17:15

Mymagicroundabout · 10/08/2026 17:12

Oh for goodness sake, that's just a Leylandi. It doesn't need cutting down, just a short-back-and-sides will sort it !

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No it won’t, that will keep growing at a huge rate.

TheOctopus · 10/08/2026 17:15

£200 is a good price to remove that tree. I paid more last year just for pruning and I don't live in an expensive area. It's not a very nice tree, adds nothing to your garden and will only grow much, much bigger.

Original poster
pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:14

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:09

What ladder? The fence is 6ft tall - you stand BEHIND it and cut a few of the branches that are touching the fence? It’s a 60min job FFS. It doesn’t require a bloody tree surgeon just a pair of sharp secateurs.

AM now thinking you are absolutely trolling.

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Trolling? No I just wanted advice

OP posts:
FOJN · 10/08/2026 17:14

As you haven't kept on top of it you might find it's barely more than a brown trunk with dead twigs if you trim back as much as it needs and conifers do not regrow from dead wood. I think you need to just pay the £200 and get rid of it. Planting trees next to a neighbours fence is a bit rude tbh.

Delphiniumandlupins · 10/08/2026 17:14

I think that's a decent price as it includes removal (check if it includes taking out the stump) but you could get a couple more quotes to compare. Pruning it away from the fence, to prevent damage, would probably leave you with ugly brown branches and they won't grow back. You could ask your neighbours to contribute, but maybe 1/3?

Mymagicroundabout · 10/08/2026 17:12

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 15:56

Here it is

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Oh for goodness sake, that's just a Leylandi. It doesn't need cutting down, just a short-back-and-sides will sort it !

Anonomoso · 10/08/2026 17:12

Has your LL actually seem or mentioned the tree?

I'm surprised they didn't comment on it as it's a conifer.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:11

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 17:07

It’s also not a shrub,

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I didn’t mean to say that it was a shrub - more that it was presently ‘shrub-shaped’ having not gained sufficient height to have a discernible trunk, only branches pressing against the neighbours fence!!

Gowlett · 10/08/2026 17:11

I just had to click on this because… Tree. Saga. What’s going to happen next?!?!

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:09

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:04

There’s no way I’m risking falling off my ladder, I wouldn’t be able to reach the tall bits that are against their fence.

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What ladder? The fence is 6ft tall - you stand BEHIND it and cut a few of the branches that are touching the fence? It’s a 60min job FFS. It doesn’t require a bloody tree surgeon just a pair of sharp secateurs.

AM now thinking you are absolutely trolling.

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 17:07

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:01

Honestly - it really isn't. Most of the trees in my garden are 15-30ft… as are the neighbours. It’s a shrub at this stage. Just trim it so that it’s not pushing against the fence. They have no rights over the height, not even a ‘right to light in a habitable room’ under planning regs as it’s a slow growing tree in an outside garden space. Just trim it so that it doesn’t damage their fence. I’ve seen hedges that are taller.

ETA - only proviso is that LL has some say. If they aren’t happy do as another PP suggested - take it out and plant a buddleia or something.

Edited
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It’s also not a shrub,

VividDeer · 10/08/2026 17:06

Get rid. You don't want that tree in your garden

Original poster
pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:04

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:01

Honestly - it really isn't. Most of the trees in my garden are 15-30ft… as are the neighbours. It’s a shrub at this stage. Just trim it so that it’s not pushing against the fence. They have no rights over the height, not even a ‘right to light in a habitable room’ under planning regs as it’s a slow growing tree in an outside garden space. Just trim it so that it doesn’t damage their fence. I’ve seen hedges that are taller.

ETA - only proviso is that LL has some say. If they aren’t happy do as another PP suggested - take it out and plant a buddleia or something.

Edited
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There’s no way I’m risking falling off my ladder, I wouldn’t be able to reach the tall bits that are against their fence.

OP posts:
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