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AIBU?

To be FURIOUS that the new neighbours have chopped down our entire rose bush?!

86 replies

itstimeforchange · 13/04/2017 13:35

Their garden backs onto ours and they have been tidying up the garden since moving in recently. I have just seen that they have cut down the entire wild rose bush at the bottom of our garden!! There is a (pathetic) wire fence and a few stalks are probably on their side, but they have clearly crossed the line literally and figuratively and chopped down the whole thing, most of which is at our side of two small concrete posts, so not even any excuse about knowing where the border is would work here. It was my favourite plant in the whole garden. I can't go round to speak to them right now as I have to go out, but I am so upset

OP posts:

Report

Iris65 · 13/04/2017 14:25

Twingler I used to live near a similar couple. It was hilarious during the Autumn and Winter because we had lots of mixed deciduous trees and they would rush out to hoover up any stray leaves - no matter how few - that blew onto their front lawn. It kept them busy and took their mind off all the other problems with blades of grass peeking between the paving tiles on their drive and birds doing their business. 😂🌳🌳🐧🐦🐧🐦

Allthebestnamesareused · 13/04/2017 14:25

Actually when trimming overhanging branches etc you ARE NOT supposed to throw them back you are supposed to offer them to the owner but if they do not want them it is down to you to dispose of those cuttings.

TheMysteriousJackelope · 13/04/2017 14:34

Tell your neighbors that you want to show them where the boundary line is between your properties. My mother had this with her neighbors. There was a scrawny little wire fence that marked the boundary. My parents planted a leylandii hedge on their a couple of feet on their side of the boundary and maintained it so it didn't cross over. That was fine with the first few neighbors, but then a couple moved in who chopped the hedge right back (without permission) and put up a fence 18" over the boundary marked by the wire fence. Their fence is now on my parents' land and jammed up against the trunks of the hedge. My mother was annoyed about the whole thing and I did point out that she could have just had the fence pulled down as it was on her land. She didn't at the time and now new, nice people have moved in who she doesn't want to annoy, so now she has permanently lost part of her yard.

Make sure their fence doesn't end up on your land or you'll have a war on your hands that could become very unpleasant.

glumbumm · 13/04/2017 14:35

WTF!

Do you have a photo of it OP?

PlayOnWurtz · 13/04/2017 14:39

As everyone else said it will come back. Unless they dig the roots up roses love being cut back hard. Although it is the wrong time of year for it it won't kill it off

hmcAsWas · 13/04/2017 14:47

I'm glad that you are not going to speak to them right now - you are too upset and might lose it. Cool your jets for a day or so until you feel quite calm and them go and explain that you are unhappy that they have done this. You presumably want it to remain amicable so whilst you must say something so they know not to do it again (when its grown back as NotMyPenguin says it will), best to be friendly but firm about it

LateDad · 13/04/2017 14:52

If it's any consolation, the whole operation will have cost blood and pain: those wild roses are tough!

And yes it will come back again!

Revenant · 13/04/2017 14:55

Do you think they may be planning to put the fence forward of the boundaries? Was the rose the only thing blocking them from doing this?

Hereward1332 · 13/04/2017 14:55

Photograph the wire fence that is there now. If they are planning on installing a new fence, it's likely that the rosebush has been pruned in preparation for some new fence posts. Get a record of where the boundary is now.

notangelinajolie · 13/04/2017 15:02

OP don't worry too much about the rose at this stage - wild roses don't die easily and it should come grow back with a vengeance.

But beware!!!! I am going to sound like a raging mad woman but this really happened to me. I spotted my neighbours preparing the ground for putting in a new fence, which was fine by me as the old one was falling to bits. However, they nicked about a foot of our garden at the same time.

If I were you I'd go and buy a couple of shrubs and put them right on the border. Or if you don't want the expence of buying plants you could move something from another part of the garden. A rockery or or a big water but filled with water would do it. Anything that will stop them from putting the fence on your side. You need to protect your land or you could end up loosing some of it like I did.

AcrossthePond55 · 13/04/2017 15:05

I'm with Hereward. You need to know where your boundary is AND you need to 'meet' with your neighbours at that boundary so that you all know exactly where this fence is supposed to go.

My DH cut back a beautiful wild rose bush on our property. It grew back even more beautiful than before.

TeacupsAndDaffodils · 13/04/2017 15:10

I think they were being spiteful because you asked them to stop burning their waste in the garden. Is it not illegal to burn that type of stuff? It's awful for the environment.

PussCatTheGoldfish · 13/04/2017 15:12

We have rear neighbours like this.

Hedge and wire fence is the boundary. They started thinning the hedge and told us they were putting a fence up. On our side of the boundary. In our garden . We explained the issue but they didn't 'get' it. In the end DH put a fence up on our side as we were sick of their thinned hedge not giving us privacy. Argh. Neighbours!

Sorry, rant over . I hope your rose grows back OP .

terrylene · 13/04/2017 15:34

Yes - I would extensively photograph and map boundary - look up deeds etc if they are planning on building a fence. Cutting your plant down without talking to you does not bode well.

AcrossthePond55 · 13/04/2017 16:09

Teacups where I live it's not illegal to burn garden waste but it must be completely dry clippings. Burning green waste create horrendous smoke and just smolders for hours. Dry waste flames up and burns cleanly and quickly.

Jeaniusly · 13/04/2017 16:09

The rose will grow back. I wouldn't have an argument or a row, just leave it be and get a proper fence up!

I am sure it was not intentional. These things can escalate into almighty battles, so I would just get a cup of tea and order that fence.

Once the fence is up it will not happen again. Over to you.

itstimeforchange · 13/04/2017 17:20

I've just got back and gone out to have another look. The first photo shows just how massive a space this thing filled! Almost the whole back border. It was quite thin but filled the whole space from the wooden post on the left to the fir on the right.

I've had a closer look at the border now that it's so visible and it appears that one lot of stems are almost entirely on our land as I thought (see 2nd pic) but the stems in the background look like they're half and half if you draw a line between the posts. So they could've legally cut that, but why they needed to cut further I've no idea.

What I don't quite get is that in one place they appear to have left the green shoots...but this is prob the only place they were a tiny bit over the border into their land.. This does at least make it look more like it was intended as pruning rather than ruthless cutting.

To be FURIOUS that the new neighbours have chopped down our entire rose bush?!

To be FURIOUS that the new neighbours have chopped down our entire rose bush?!

OP posts:

Jeaniusly · 13/04/2017 19:28

This does at least make it look more like it was intended as pruning rather than ruthless cutting.

That's the spirit!

Those roses will come back with a huge bang. Pruning is great for re growth.

Hope it all works out without any ill feeling.

AnoiseAnnoysanOyster · 13/04/2017 20:08

It really will grow back. We cut ours back every year and it always grows back again. They are hard to kill. Still, they shouldn't have done it.

Jeaniusly · 13/04/2017 20:19

YNAPF stat!

(You Need A Proper Fence)..... Best do it.

itstimeforchange · 13/04/2017 22:34

I believe you all when you say it'll grow back... any idea how long that'll take? Hate the open space It'll be slightly better with a fence there but regardless of type I far prefer a living border!

Also re. the fence, I am keeping a sharp eye on where they intend to put it. The concrete posts are still there though, so unless they try to put it our side of the posts (please no... I really don't want to get into that kind of fight) there'll be no land dispute at least.

I went round to have a chat with them earlier but they weren't there and TBH it looked quite empty. No lights on now either. Perhaps they haven't even moved it yet. By the time I manage to speak to them I'll be far too nice...

OP posts:

Jeaniusly · 13/04/2017 22:47

Tenderly saying this,

I think the fence is your responsibility now, and will pay back in spades for you.

Do it!

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LatteLady · 13/04/2017 22:48

It will be back in a couple of months, you will have a good display over the summer.

EffinElle · 13/04/2017 22:50

Send them a bill!

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 13/04/2017 22:59

Do you have a before photo of Rose Bush?
I thought the left photo was "before" but now I realise it's not.

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