Is a elderflower tree/bush a weed ? And would it both you if your neighbours overhang your garden ?

[Lardlizard]

In some ways I don’t mind it as it’s nicer seeing a bit of green where it is
But I’m wondering if A it’s a weed and b will it frow our of control and 30ft high

I know we can cut down the bits that over hang, but I’m wondering should I ask him to trim it or remove it

And I have even thought about putting some weed killer on it, I’ve only thought about this though not done it

Like so the flowers turn into seeds or something

Yes love, flowers often turn into seeds. It's, you know, plant reproduction!

Yeah, so if I chuck branches over then it may spread

It’s only Just starting to flower

I did see that about making fritters with the flowers or making cordial with the flowers

They spread everywhere somehow by their roots. We have...maybe 30 in our garden? I hate them but have given up on getting rid of them. The ones in the hedge I just trim and treat like part of the hedge...the rest I chop down but they just come back. We have a few actual trees but the rest are bushes. Actually we probably have closer to 50 in our .8 acre garden. They really are a pest.

We had one at the bottom of our garden when I was at primary school. Great for climbing and my dad made loads of elderberry wine.

And I have yet to find any way to make the berries palatable.

The cordial is so easy to make, the smell is truly heavenly.

It's a wonderful drink.

Elderflower champagne is delicious!

If you want to trim it, wait until after the flowers have turned into berries. Now isn't the time.
Lucky you, I love elderflower

You can also make pontack sauce with the berries- it’s like Worcestershire sauce.

Please don't put weed killer on the garden as it stays in the soil and poisons wildlife.

I hope it doesn’t start spreading to my garden, I personally Think its nicer to look at than a wall, but it could be something so much nicer there
Something evergreen that doesn’t look a bit weedy !!
Also I very much doubt they deliberately planted it, going by the ahem state of their garden !

Ok thanks for the advice about when to trim it

There have also been some studies confirming that elderberry is full of antioxidants and has anti viral properties (too early to say about THAT one); and has decreased the duration of 'flu.

I didn't think a tree could be a weed. They can grow very large though.

More of a bush maybe than a tree

Didn’t know that about antiviral though

The problem is that neighbours like very different things when it comes to gardens. Next door is paved, with cane furniture and a parasol. The only plants are in pots. Ours is a total contrast - overgrown, with a small patch of grass and shade from a lilac tree. We get the butterflies and the bees. I'm sure they dislike ours as much as we dislike theirs.

There used to be loads of them on a bit of waste ground near where I live,then the council came along and chopped them all down.😭 I thought they looked lovely. When I mentioned this to my brother (who has a degree in horticulture)) he shrugged and said 'They're just weeds'.

I must admit I kind of agree with your brother
I’m sure it’s grown by accident somehow
I’m sure they haven’t planted it

We have one in the very back corner of our garden (a large, well established tree - tbh I didn’t even know it was in our garden for ages as it’s so far in the corner!), it hasn’t ever spread. It does need a trim back as our neighbour’s garden is being shaded by it now but we have declined to do it until nesting season is over as their are birds nesting in it. She’s not thrilled but she’ll have to wait.

My neighbours have one right next to our fence and it has grown huge and now overhangs into our garden. We want to replace the trellis that is fixed to our fence so will have to cut a lot of the tree back, I know we are entitled to leave the trimmings in their garden but they have been tidying their garden as the house is up for sale. They are not the friendliest of people, have never spoken to us in the five years we have lived here and I'm wondering if they will kick off but there is going to be such a lot of trimmings and I don't want to fill my green bin with their rubbish.

Has anyone had neighbours that have objected to their trimmings being left in the tree owners garden.

Never had a problem when I’ve chucked them back over the fence