Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

AIBY to put neighbour's rose clippings in her bin

74 replies

SouthDownsSunshine · 08/08/2016 10:58

Neighbour has a huge rambling rose that falls over (a lot) into our garden.

Today I finally got around to cutting back a lot that falls on our side. I respectfully left some on our side so as to give us both privacy (the fence is low).

There was lots of clippings. About a foot worth once in the garden bin. I've got time off work this week and I've got lots more gardening to do so I'll be filling up my bin with my own garden waste before bin collection.

I thought, easy, put it in her bin. (She adds her recycling and normal rubbish to our bins on collection mornings, which we're happy with.)

She has just put it all back into my garden bin.

Who's being unreasonable?

OP posts:

fizzyyes · 08/08/2016 12:52

Really Dame is it not the done thing?
We're very rural with no near neighbours and often burn hedge trimmings.

BreconBeBuggered · 08/08/2016 13:03

The point about offering clippings may be laboured but it's still possible to get confused. My NDN pruned one of his trees overhanging our hedge, but left the branches on our side for us to dispose of . The overhang wasn't bothering us and he only pruned that part of the tree, so fuck only knows what was going on in his head.
In proper British fashion, neither of us said a word to the other party.

Rockingaround · 08/08/2016 13:22

I'd be annoyed if you "pruned" it as it's completely the wrong time of year to cut back a climbing rose. That being said, if I'd have done it is pop round with a cuppa and just say "I'm so sorry, I dint think it would be a bother putting the cuttings in your bin, I should've asked, I've just got loads more work to do back there, I'm off work this week ... Etc, how are things with you?"

SoupDragon · 08/08/2016 13:22

Get a garden shredder. It is amazing how much you can fit in a standard garden bin if you shred everything. Mine has been so jam packed it's almost impossible to move.

Rockingaround · 08/08/2016 13:23

Ps we're completely urban and we burn hedge cuttings and anything else too!

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 08/08/2016 13:31

I'm amazed that you didn't speak to her before putting the trimmings in her bin. I know that they are legally hers to dispose of, but a conversation about it wouldn't go amiss. If it's the wrong time to prune roses (not a gardener here) I'd speak to her about the best time to do it and explain the issue with the window.

We did have an issue where a neighbour came round and asked whether we minded him coming into our garden to cut back HIS bushes - fine I said, until I went outside to see mountains of trimmings all over my garden, as he'd left them exactly as they fell

SerenDippitee · 08/08/2016 14:03

I know that they are legally hers to dispose of

No. OP has the right to prune the overhanging branches under common law and must offer the cuttings to the neighbour, but disposal is not the neighbour's responsibility. If she doesn't want them then she doesn't have to dispose of them.

seren I don't see anything passive aggressive in her putting rubbish in our bins normally, so surprised it could be taken this way. I thought it as just a sensible thing to do

But presumably there was a conversation before she started doing this - she didn't just start putting stuff in your bin...or did she?

SpecialAgentFreyPie · 08/08/2016 14:16

I wouldn't get into it with her, but I'd tell her very politely and in a sickly sweet manner that you don't appreciate her putting things in your bins and you'd like her to stop - no mention of rosegate. Just that you 'have more rubbish and need them' or some kind of nonsense excuse if you feel you need one. She'll get the point!

Fuck that, why should she get to use your bins and you can't use hers? I'd be putting my foot down on that one. She's either neighbourly or she isn't. She cannot have it both ways.

Original poster

SouthDownsSunshine · 08/08/2016 14:19

I'm a gardener bit I don't get the whole 'it's the wrong time of year' argument. It's never the right time of year for her rose to be all over my garden. If she wants it pruned at the right time of year she should either get a trellis and train it along that, or do it at the right time of year herself.

OP posts:

Original poster

SouthDownsSunshine · 08/08/2016 14:20

I'm going to get her a conciliatory box of chocs or similar, whilst holding my line that I thought she wouldn't mind as it was her rosebush and we never quibble about her using our bins.

OP posts:

AvonCallingBarksdale · 08/08/2016 14:23

her bush her clippings juvenile sense of humour misses point of thread
Not sure either of you is being unreasonable. Just have a chat.

PersianCatLady · 08/08/2016 14:41

My neighbour pays the annual £45 for the garden bin, however she tells me that I can use it whenever I like as my Dad mows the grass.

She also allows an older couple from round the corner to give us their lawn cuttings rather than them having to go to the tip.

The point I am trying to make is that even when the bin is full to the brim I can push it down (usually by getting into the bin and stamping on it) so that it compressed and only comes half way up the bin and then I can put more in it.

theredjellybean · 08/08/2016 15:06

i typed very carefully as could see the potential for de-railing thread with comments about legally trimming neighbours bushes...but sniggering nevertheless

Original poster

SouthDownsSunshine · 08/08/2016 16:00

Well I went around with a lovely bunch of yellow roses as a peace offering, and an apology. Wish I hadn't bothered, she was proper miserable, way out of proportion. When she's less grumpy I'll ask her to come up with an alternative solution for next year.

OP posts:

feralcat19 · 08/08/2016 16:02

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I heard that legally you are entitled to cut a neighbour's plant if it comes into your garden but technically the clippings are theirs and have to be returned to them.

Yep - that's true.

SoupDragon · 08/08/2016 16:42

No it isn't true.

They only have to be offered back. The "owner" doesn't have to accept them.

2kids2dogsnosense · 08/08/2016 16:48

casualobserver is right - they are HER clippings. You don't have the right to dispose of them.

blueskywithclouds · 08/08/2016 16:50

My neighbours have 5fruit trees over hanging my garden. They are poorly looked after, never ever pruned. They were so bad that when we first moved in they overhung our garden by about 3metres. I asked them if I could trim them, hoping they would say "of course and throw the branches over" but not once have they ever said they want the branches. It took about 3bonfires to get rid. Every year I have to put up with trimming back and filling my bin. I'd never chuck them over without their permission or use their bin though. They are nice people and neighbourly relations mean a lot.

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 08/08/2016 17:01

OP if she was grumpy after you took her flowers, I wouldn't worry too much next time. Put a lock on your bin - or a booby trap 😈 And prune away to your hearts content!

MsJamieFraser · 08/08/2016 17:13

All of this could of been avoided, if you have a garden and that needs maintenance then get a brown bin.

Original poster

SouthDownsSunshine · 08/08/2016 17:18

We both have brown bins!

OP posts:

IWouldLikeToSeeTheseMangoes · 08/08/2016 20:01

Oh god i thought this said NOSE clippings at first. Apologies bit tired! Anyway YANBU she sounds very petty and un-neighbourly.

amammabear · 08/08/2016 23:56

Reminds me of a place I lived once where a neighbour (down the road, not even next door!) Used to keep filling up our bins a couple of days before collection. I knew who it was but couldn't prove it... Until one day he'd left some mail at the top of the stuff he put in! That was it, I returned a nice big pile to him... Well, his doorstep anyway... Funnily enough, hew never did it again!

TheMaddHugger · 09/08/2016 02:58

OK, What Did she want done?
You have a right to your own Yard/Garden surely
Or is she miffed you pruned at all ?

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread