To think we should be allowed to pull up our NDN’s stupid tree!!

[QueenofmyPrinces]

I live in a crescent and there are about 5 of us who have gardens that all kind of back on to one another.

In one of these gardens is a huge tree that is a total PITA! It’s at the end of their garden and some of it hangs over in to ours.

All winter our entire decking area and the lawn of our garden are COVERED in dead leaves that fall from the stupid tree that we have to go and rake up every day, and then every summer our entire garden is covered in bloody annoying soggy blossom petals and stuff which makes it looks awful and so messy.

We’ve had to buy one of those leaf blower/hoover type things because it’s the only way we can keep on top of it and we can’t actually play out in our garden with the toddler/baby until we’ve hoovered up all the crap that falls from their tree.

Last summer we looked in to our rights and as a result we hacked off all the branches that overhang our garden but it doesn’t solve anything because the other 90% of the tree still exists and its leaves and soggy blossom bits are still blown all over our decking/lawn every bloody day.

I can’t even explain how pissed off I am by it and every year the problem just gets worse as the tree gets bigger and bigger.

A few of the other surrounding neighbours have voiced their anger too because their gardens suffer that same way ours does and two of the neighbours gardens are practically in the shade all day because the big tree blocks the sunlight out.

AIBU to think that surely there’s something more we can do? Can a house owner be forced to have a massive tree removed if it impacts on everyone else?

I think i might have missed the point of the thread, but I really want a Kwanzaa cherry tree now!

simonbridges

As I had said a few times on here, the tree does not have any effect really on the sunlight/shading of my own garden, I’m referring to the gardens of two other neighbors who have told me that the big tree practically blocks out all the sun to theirs.

gingham - that link pretty much sums it up, thanks for including it in the thread.

I think you should try pulling up the tree. From the sound of the size of it, you'll also pull up all of your gardens and probably the foundations of your houses too.

It sounds beautiful! Like having a wedding in the garden every day.

Next time you move home, make sure no neighbours have trees or bushes.

That's an ENORMOUS tree, nolongerblue, if it blocks out the sun!!

Blocking out sun for plants, yes, but the placement of the gardens vs movement of the sun to completely block out all sunlight in gardens for the entire summer? That's a magically gifted tree or incredibly small gardens.

I have a row of the dreaded ornamental cherry trees along our driveway, I keep hoping for enough blossoms to heap into pink piles but there aren't with 4 trees. They don't provide privacy from front neighbors, or block out sun.

The sun rises in the East and sets in the West and is straight up at noon-3. So, it's hyperbole to say it's blocking 3 homes' gardens.

As I had said a few times on here, the tree does not have any effect really on the sunlight/shading of my own garden, I’m referring to the gardens of two other neighbors who have told me that the big tree practically blocks out all the sun to theirs.

So why are you taking on your NDN problems for?

Trees should be grown for the size of garden. Enormous trees which stop anything else growing are useless for wildlife and the soil. Some trees which are imports will eventually destroy local species. Ask the council for advice.

Enormous trees which stop anything else growing are useless for wildlife How do you work that one out, then?

I think you should stop giving the poor tenants 'the backlash', there is nothing they can do about it!! The landlord is likely slow to fix other problems with the house too so the last thing they need is your whinging too.

I think you should stop giving the poor tenants 'the backlash'

I don’t, I spoke to them once last year and that was only because I thought they were the owners of the house, which is when I leant they were in fact renting the house. I haven’t spoken to them about the tree since. I’m not sure where I’ve implied I harass them in some way?

Although I have only spoken to them once I know that my other neighbours have spoken to them on more than occasion, particularly the ones where their gardens are in the shade. Whether they think the tenants are able to do something about the tree I don’t know? The tenants have repeatedly told them the same thing they told me, which is they have no rights to do anything to the tree, but the other neighbours aren’t satisfied by this and keep pushing the issue.

steamtrain - I’m not taking on my NDN’s problems. I was just explaining their particular reason for finding the tree a nuisance.

I’ve woken up this morning to my lawn even pinker then it was yesterday - the blossom is just everywhere and due to some light rain overnight it’s now all soggy and stuck to everything. Yesterday I could have admitted that as annoying as it is, the blossom is pretty, but this morning it just looks like wet, brown and dead petals all over my lawn.

Am I the only one who thinks fallen blossom looks pretty over a garden?! Prettier when still intact, but I think all the tiny petals look sweet scattered everywhere...

Also, there are plenty worse things a baby could put in its mouth! Just stick the baby on a picnic blanket?

The article linked to says that while there is a lot of blossom and it's a pain to clear it up because of the high volume it only lasts for about a week. The OP has a small garden so I can't imagine it really takes that long to blow the blossom / leaves into a heap and then bag and dispose them. My last garden had 14 fruit trees, pines down one side and two or three very large trees on the other side. It took me a good few hours to sweep up all the leaves but I only had to do it two or three times each autumn and once after the snow cleared in the spring. I can't imagine that the OP really has to clear her garden every day through the spring, summer, autumn and winter (not sure why she needs to do anything in winter at all to be honest). It also seems a bit surprising that it is blocking out so much light as cherry trees aren't usually very dense. Regardless the neighbour isn't under any obligation to cut it back, it's probably full grown by now and doesn't need maintenance unless it's been damaged or has pests or disease. I'd imagine the only chance you and the neighbours have is to ask the owner (not the tenants it's really not their concern) if they would consent to have a tree surgeon thin it out which they may do provided you cover the cost and it doesn't inconvenience them.

Also, there are plenty worse things a baby could put in its mouth! Just stick the baby on a picnic blanket?

He can crawl.

When I sit in my garden I want to be able to just relax and watch my children play - not have to be chasing the baby round and taking pink petals out his mouth every 2 seconds. It honestly puts me off going outside because it’s such a pain in the arse following him round and taking it off him.

poor you! to be so annoyed by something that most other people find so beautiful. I've five cherry blossom trees in my street at the moment and i'm loving the pink snow drifts everywhere. I especially like it when the wind catches it and causes a blossom tornado!

Are you still maintaining that it lasts for months OP, or have we established that you were exaggerating for emphasis because of the scale of your annoyance at this 2 week phenomena?

Are you prone to exaggeration? or does your baby really eat petals every 2 seconds? I'm trying to imagine a baby eating petals and you pulling them out every two seconds. You'd barely have time to pull them out before he put more in. that's literally all you'd be doing. Under the massive tree. For months on end.

Poor you!

There are lots of thing about this tree that people say don’t ‘fit’ the description of tree they think it is and that’s fair enough but I can confirm that:

1. It is about 25ft high and 20ft wide.

2. The blossom/flowers are there for months so they are falling for months.

3. It is a very dense tree, it completely blocks out being able to see the houses behind it.

If people want to think I’m over exaggerating or lying and that they know the characteristics of the tree that I have known for 10 years then I can’t argue with them about it anymore. The tree is what it is and no amount of trying to discount my description is going to change that as much as I wish it could

And it’s great that you find the blossom all lovely floating down upon your street, I’m sure I would too, but it’s not in my street, it’s in my garden.

You'd barely have time to pull them out before he put more in

That’s exactly how it is because the petals are everywhere!! The grass is covered in them so yes, I’d be pulling one out of his left hand whilst he’s putting one in his mouth using his right hand. He gets annoyed and fed up and so do I - it gets very annoying very quickly

Post a pic of tree and flower and I might be able to ID it. Agree size and prolonged flowering not very cherry-like.

yes, take a picture of the tree!

Is it a crape myrtle tree? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagerstroemia apparently the flowers on those last for months?

or any of these? www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus/galleries/72157624329571110/?rb=1

“It completely blocks out being able to see the houses behind it”

Isn’t that a good - nay, excellent - thing? . I love that I can’t see the neighbours! No yoo-hooing across the fence here. It’s funny how some people choose to live in a green area, but are hell bent on making their own little patch of town.

fact It’s a Cherry blossom tree, they do not “flower for months” they flower in spring, I have 6 in my garden a lot bigger than yours.

By lobbing odd limbs off uneavenly you’ve inadvertently caused a situation which will encourage exponential growth and probably doubly fuck you later on.

You are being ridiculous, put your child in a play pen. Eating blossom will not hurt him at all. Honestly, I’m so glad I don’t have neighbours, what a dripping fucker.

I hope the tree has a TPO on it, just because

I do love these comments about just 'pull up' a tree. It's not a small weed fgs!
Tree needs to be felled. Wood needs to be either stacked or removed as part of felling fee. Stump needs to be ground out (either tree guy or stumpsaway), mess of stump grinding needs to be raked away. It's quite a messy old job. If you don't like the blossoms etc, prepare yourself for a shed load of chippings etc and elbow grease tidying up post-chop.