To be annoyed by this tree

[justalittlelemondrizzle]

We bought this house at the end of last summer. Nice big sunny W facing garden. Everything was fine till last month when the neighbours huge tree (I'd say double the height of the houses) started to get its leaves back. I lose the sun off my garden from 3 - 6 every day. My gaden is cold and dark because of it while all the neighbours including tree owners gardens and houses are basking in sun. This is the time the dc's will be playing in the garden after school, time we would have bbqs etc. We've tried to cut some back but it's so thick and tall we can't do anymore ourselves.
As well as this in October when it loses all its leaves you basically cannot see my garden by the sheer amount that fall. Really don't know what to do. We don't really speak to the neighbours. How much sun does everyone else get. Aibu?

Er, just speak to the neighbours.

Or sneakily cut it down in the middle of the night, but they might know it's you!

Ammonia sulphate.

Pay someone to cut a bit more back?

I don't think you can realistically expect the neighbours to get rid of their tree just because you're moved in.

And tbh, if the weather is warm enough for a BBQ, not having the sun on the garden isn't going to make it too cold to be out there/play out there.

*You've moved in

I would say it is useful to have some shade. Nobody is going to have full sun in their garden all day.

Navy you can if the branches are overhanging your garden.

I wasn't suggesting she pays someone to jump over the fence with a chainsaw

You can if the branches overhang your own property, and you offer the neighbour the cut branches back.

But yes, I agree the OP should at least start by speaking to her neighbours.

Speak to your neighbour but to remember that the tree was there long before you were.

I'd speak to the neighbours but you are within your rights to cut anything overhanging your side of the boundary. We have similar issues with a neighbours tree which dropped berries all over our garden and subsequently killed every plant in that area

I've got a similar problem with a tree in our own garden, at the front. We bought in the winter so discovered in the summer that it blocks light from the front rooms. However the damned thing is protected so we can't get rid of it. Plus DH and the rest of the street seem to love it.

Talk to your neighbour, they might be able to prune it back a bit but it too might be a problem to get rid of.

Also, if it's that big, don't try poisoning it. You might end up with heave damaging your foundations.

If it's that big a tree and it's not a leylandii (I'm assuming not as it is "getting its leaves back") then be careful pruning it as it might be under a tree protection order.

Neighbours are very unapproachable. The tree is huge its half over mine and half over theirs. Absolutely huge. Behind our house is fields so were not shaded by anything else. In march/April we had sun from 11 - it went dark. So as it stands now were getting 4 hours of sun (mainly when no one is in)
I'm not being horribe but I get the impression if I do mention it to neighbours they won't care. Their gardens are a disgrace. I'd be willing to go halves to remove the tree completely but very much doubt they'll oblige.
Does anyone know how much it will cost to have half a tree cut back? Anyone had this done recently

Having our tree pruned and thinned out cost about £450.

To give you an idea

We don't speak to our neighbours next door but one very often, but they're pleasant enough. They have a chuffing great conifer in their garden.
When we had some tree work done in our garden they popped round and paid for the tree surgeons to lop a good 2m off the top of their tree while they were in the area.
Another time they were in our garden for a BBQ and realised that the overhang of the tree covered almost the entire width of our NDNs garden, so not long after they had all the branches removed from the tree on his side. Both mine and NDNs garden are much lighter now, but we have a very funny looking tree!

Perhaps invite your neighbours to a BBQ and hope that they notice the shade?

I like how the angle of the pic and the glint of light makes the tree look like it really has evil intent :o

I think if they don't give a crap about their garden then that could be a good thing. You could offer to pay to have it trimmed down. Just ask them, or write a letter if you're scared. Invite them for a coffee to discuss it. It might be fine.

I'm thinking a great deal of it Navy. I think the only way to to have it removed but I don't think that's going to happen so I think the only option is to have my half chopped back. Which will give us a v funny looking tree as mentioned by catlaydee

YABU - you bought the house knowing there was a huge tree. It's not unreasonable to assume it's going to have leaves on it during the summer and it would be easy enough to work out what area would be covered by it in full bloom. Clue: where there are branches there will be leaves.

Add to that the screaming snobbery *"their gardens are a disgrace" is being horrible OP, so maybe they're not the unapproachable ones... Perhaps it's you? Maybe the like the privacy it affords... I can imagine with a nosy cow judging their gardens as disgraceful it would be a necessity so you don't judge their washing on the line too.

Find it strange that you were surprised when the tree grew leaves in the summer and then shed them in the autumn. Basic stuff. It looks like a lovely tree - either enjoy it or move house. Check for trees next time.