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 4

Original poster

Can neighbours attach plants to your fence?

96 replies

Crackers321 · 12/07/2020 08:26

Attached to the fence with what looks like thick plastic washing line. It’s my fence I fully own it. CF to not ask first?

OP posts:

NotShiny · 12/07/2020 10:55

Are you sure what they have put up isnt removable? I've attached a metal trellis onto nails with a clematis growing up it. I can just lift the whole thing off to paint my side.

Binny36 · 12/07/2020 10:58

Reading back that sounds harsh! My point is there are bad things happening all the time but it doesn’t mean the OP should not be bothered if it’s something she is bothered about.

LEELULUMPKIN · 12/07/2020 11:05

I've just had all new fencing put in and my neighbour has promptly secured her washing line on it.

I couldn't care less and hope she does grow plants as fences are ugly and do very little for wildlife.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/07/2020 11:13

Usually that’s a shared boundary though so surely any fence should be jointly paid for? Maybe, in a perfect world. But my new fence, which is all my responsibility, is out of necessity right on the shared boundary. Small courtyard gardens in an ancient split property. The fence looks like a shared one, we don't want to lose any space, but is in fact mine!

Crocky · 12/07/2020 11:18

We have shared boundaries. I have a jasmine growing on one fence. It’s been there for years. Last year the neighbours wanted to replace the fence panels. We cut the jasmine back, laid it down and sorted the fences out then put trellis back up and lifted the jasmine back up. I was a bit worried it would be damaged but it’s growing beautifully again. No drama at all.

MitziK · 12/07/2020 11:47

@viques

My evil neighbour has just has a new fence put up, I'm calling it Donald because it's orange and ugly, I think if I even breathe heavily on it she will rip me limb from limb. I am hoping Donald fades down in time............

You could try putting in some 2" x 1" treated poles and running wires/chicken wire along to grow some climbing plants up them?

Xenia · 12/07/2020 12:19

The ivy up bits of my and my neighbour's has destroyed it in large part. She and I are both to blame for that and we both like the ivy and the wildlife it brings but without doubt in most cases growing things up a wooden fence can destroy it down into the ground - difficult balance because they often look better with things growing up them.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 12/07/2020 12:35

I think it would have been nicer if they had asked first but it wouldn't have bothered me if they hadn't. If you know you will be removing the panels any time soo maybe let the neighbours know so that they can make their plants self supporting in some way. Just to preserve neighbourly relations really ( even if they haven't shown you the same courtesy)

When we moved into our house we had to replace the the whole run of fences as they were in such a bad state. We warned the neighbours in advance as they had so many established climbers attached to it that we wanted to give them the opportunity to save some of them before the fence was pulled down.

Same neighbours then asked politely if hey could paint their side of the new fence to match the rest of their garden. No problem

Neighbours over the back came and knocked and asked if they could put up some trellis on their side of our back fence which I though was nice of them as I would not even have noticed it anyway.

Melroses · 12/07/2020 12:37

We have had trellis with honeysuckle pinned to the fence between us and next door since we moved in 30 years ago. The fence posts were replaced with concrete (nothing to do with us - more to do with the neighbours path and the way the soil works here) and another neighbour completely replaced the fence as they did not like the original.
Each time, it has just been a matter of laying the plant down while it is sorted and then replacing it. The fence has never been damaged.

Likewise when we replaced the panel between us and the other neighbour. They grow allsorts up it as it is their patio area. I really could not care less what they grow on the other side.

Neighbour has trashed their own fence at the bottom of the garden, which does not back onto anyone else, by using it to kick footballs against it but that is their own problem.

Binny36 · 12/07/2020 12:46

Neighbour has trashed their own fence at the bottom of the garden, which does not back onto anyone else, by using it to kick footballs against it but that is their own problem.

I had this! My fence was ruined by footballs being kicked into it. Still happens! When I posted on mumsnet I was told I was a “child hater”, “spiteful” and many other names. I was so shocked as I thought people would be on my side (I know naive early on). I still haven’t dealt with issue as too scared from reactions. That’s why any fence issue I see on here I can’t help feel sorry for the OP’s and take their side as I know how it makes u feel.

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/07/2020 12:48

Thank god I live in a HA house, neither of us own the fence. They paint their side and painted mine.

Binny36 · 12/07/2020 12:54

As I said on another thread yesterday I think all neighbourhood issues arise from lack of manners. It doesn’t take much to just have a quick polite word if you planning to do something and to think of your neighbours.

We can ignore family and friends if we have a fallout, but neighbours are right next to us! I don’t understand why people don’t just show a little consideration. It’s a very immature attitude that “oh it doesn’t bother me, so if it bothers you then you are pathetic and petty person who has a lot of time on your hands”. As “grown ups” we should have some understanding that what is nothing or minor to us might be a very important and annoying issue to another! People have different tolerances and we should respect that

Binny36 · 12/07/2020 13:01

Gosh I can’t stop ranting now! Sorry OP for taking over. Take music for example I don’t care if neighbours play it. One other neighbour has complained to me about the music in opposite neighbours garden. I think it’s nothing but have never told her this! To be respectful I listen to music on headphones not out loud as I’m aware some people don’t like it. It does not take much people to be good neighbours. I’m scared if I move next to any of you that think it’s okay to do the f**k you want in your gardens attitude.

Cociabutter · 12/07/2020 13:31

Id really struggle to give a fuck

This

BaileysforBreakfast · 12/07/2020 13:36

My neighbour has just spent £100s having a new fence built. Do you really think it’s ok for me to paint my side any colour I like and then hang plants from it?

This^^. To fence one side of a 40 ft long garden with a good strong fence cost me just under £1000. I can't think of any other piece of property which people would think is fair game for their neighbours to paint/hang things from etc. If my neighbour doesn't like the look of my fence, she can erect her own. She has no right whatsoever to paint something that I paid for.

Silvercatowner · 13/07/2020 16:18

My neighbour has just spent £100s having a new fence built. Do you really think it’s ok for me to paint my side any colour I like and then hang plants from it?

My neighbours are planning a new fence between their garden and mine. It's technically their fence but I have offered to contribute to the cost to avoid all this crap.

Verity35 · 13/07/2020 17:08

I’ve just posted this to another thread so I’m doing this here too. Not many people are aware that it’s against the law. Trying to attach picture:

Can neighbours attach plants to your fence?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 13/07/2020 17:34

Not many people are aware that it’s against the law. Going by many responses on these threads, few people care either!

Alsohuman · 13/07/2020 18:06

@Silvercatowner

My neighbour has just spent £100s having a new fence built. Do you really think it’s ok for me to paint my side any colour I like and then hang plants from it?

My neighbours are planning a new fence between their garden and mine. It's technically their fence but I have offered to contribute to the cost to avoid all this crap.

That’s really sensible. I’d consider it £500 well spent.

Flyingagainstreason · 13/07/2020 19:05

Do people genuinely not allow their neighbours to grow plants on their side of a fence. That’s bonkers.
I mean I do understand that if the panels need replacing then that’s good bye to my climbers. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a garden with one side totally empty!

nitgel · 13/07/2020 19:10

Our neighbour took down our entire fence and replaced it with a much better fence. The told us 15 mins before the builders ripped it out. Was a bit odd but we have a much nicer fence so whatever really. I don't think they realised it was on our side.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread