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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I cut my neighbours plant

47 replies

slithytove · 25/08/2017 12:54

The ones which are growing on her side, through the trellis and down my fence. I only cut what was on my side but she says it ruins her privacy as removes the wall of greenery. I hate it. Am tempted to get a gardener in to remove everything he can from that fence which is legal.

Don't want to upset neighbour but equally I hate maintaining her plants on my side of the fence, and certainly don't want to keep them there!

Aibu to cut the lot back to the legal limit?

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Thread gallery
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Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 12:57

Photos

I cut my neighbours plant
I cut my neighbours plant
OP posts:
Gingernaut · 25/08/2017 13:03

Are they the before and after pics.

If so, YADNBU.

c3pu · 25/08/2017 13:04

Not unreasonable to trim anything that's on your side of the border.

If you inform her what you're planning on and ask her if she wants the cuttings, I think you're pretty much covered... If she kicks up a fuss and won't give you a direct answer just chuck the trimmings over the fence so you can't be accused of theft.

YANBU.

ArbitraryName · 25/08/2017 13:05

You are within your rights to cut anything that comes into your garden. If she wants privacy, she needs to grow plants that are full enough within her own garden.

Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 13:06

These are both after! I've stopped so far. The far trellis is where I started and it was all on my side.

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LIZS · 25/08/2017 13:07

Given the height of the fence I can't see how pruning your side would affect her privacy.

MrsOverTheRoad · 25/08/2017 13:07

If you cut only what's on your side, from that picture it's not going to make a lot of difference. There's only a bit on your side...

ChocolateRicecake · 25/08/2017 13:10

YANBU. The ivy will probably ruin the fence anyway if left unchecked (happened to us).

Schroedingerscatagain · 25/08/2017 13:11

If it is actually your fence in law she may not grow anything up it like ivy or attach anything to it

If the fence is hers you may cut any plant growing beyond the boundary back to the boundary line but should offer the cuttings back to your neighbour

Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 13:16

On the far end on the fence there is trellis which had a plant on my side. I've lopped that which has started the upset. There is still some but the bulk was on my side.

I cut my neighbours plant
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Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 13:19

The ivy is ruining the fence and I hate having to trim it to keep it looking nice. Interesting point about whose fence it is though, I'm not sure as we moved in after the neighbour.

She is also unhappy we removed our shed as she had Ivy growing up and over it. It helped her view but it destroyed our roof. So we want to keep that area bare as we are going to make a wee sun trap.

I cut my neighbours plant
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LIZS · 25/08/2017 13:20

The weight against the fence will damage it too.

ArbitraryName · 25/08/2017 13:20

You have made it more patchy on the trellis. But, if your neighbour wants a 'wall of greenery', she needs to grow it entirely in her garden. She can't requisition some of yours to save space in her own.

Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 13:21

She can have the cuttings lol I don't want them. There are loads all of our side!

I cut my neighbours plant
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ArbitraryName · 25/08/2017 13:22

Wait. She was annoyed that you removed your shed because it stopped her using it as a garden extension (because that's what her growing ivy over the roof would be)?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 25/08/2017 13:24

It's your fence, but don't you prefer looking at some greenery instead of having the ugly fence there?

And don't you value your privacy?

I see how you might be within your rights to cut off something, but it just looks ugly now. Still, it's your choice.

Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 13:25

Yep she was, as it spoiled her privacy. It was in the space next to the trellis. It was totally destroyed, to the point that we see no point in replacing it. We re roofed it once.
Been here 6 years and never rocked the boat so maybe it's been a shock.

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BambooWhoosh · 25/08/2017 13:26

Can you get hold of the plans of your plot? That will tell you who the fence belongs to.

Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 13:26

I've only started on the trellis side not moved down to the rest of the fence yet.

And I have barely any time to keep it maintained, it really spoils my flower beds. Plus I want to be able to paint the fence and keep the new patio insect light where possible.

I'm not asking her to take it down, but I would prefer she trains it to keep it on her side.

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123bananas · 25/08/2017 13:28

I wish my neighbour had just done that. Instead she poisioned my plant. If she had just told me it was encroaching on her side I would have trimmed it myself. You are perfectly within your rights to trim anything that comes over your boundary.

SilverySurfer · 25/08/2017 13:30

You are totally within your rights to chop off any plant material which grows over your side of the fence. But there is a daft law that you must then offer your NDN the cuttings. Put a note through her door asking if she would like the cuttings to let you know by (say a week) and if you don't hear from her you will dispose of the cuttings.

onalongsabbatical · 25/08/2017 13:30

She's the unreasonable one. You've been careful to only remove anything in your own garden. She objected to you taking down your own shed because her plant grew over it! Oh, my...
She needs a few lessons in neighbourly etiquette, IMHO.

Benedikte2 · 25/08/2017 13:32

Can you ask your neighbours on the other side about the fences? If the fence between your 2 properties is theirs the odds are the other fence(between you and difficult neighbour) is yours because that's the way it's usually organised in this country. (Jointly owned in NZ)
I hate ivy with a passion as it is so hard to get rid off, grows from a tiny portion that's broken of main plant, ruins fences and brickwork and is highly allergenic and attracts wasps.
Try painting the ivy leaves with systemic poison.

justbinthefeckinbyebyebox · 25/08/2017 13:35

Agree with ChocolateRicecake, ivy will pull the fence apart
and really ruin her privacy then!
Who's fence is it, and will she pay if it is yours?!?

Original poster
slithytove · 25/08/2017 13:36

I offered her them. She doesn't want them.

Don't want to poison it if it will harm her side.

Here is the other side which I like! Easy to keep painted and maintained, unlike Ivy fence. I don't think it's ugly.

Will check deeds.

I cut my neighbours plant
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