AIBU: Neighbours watering our garden

[TheNewKaren]

I’m not sure what to think of this: Our neighbours have a very far reaching watering system that completely soakes our entire garden, including us, if we get caught unawares. It reaches over a 2 m high fence and across the width of the garden on our side. On the one hand it’s useful, on the other we can’t use the garden all evening, because they will turn it on most nights at around 8:00 p.m. AIBU to object to this? Btw they have not asked if this is ok.

If it was me I would get some builders round and have a proper pitched-roof structure erected over the entirety of my garden, with guttering and drains, to stop the water getting onto me or my plants. £8,000 or £9,000 should cover it comfortably. Problem solved.

(Or I guess I could just ring their bell, introduce myself, and ask them to adjust their sprinkler.)

Either go and talk to them about it, like an adult, or live with it whilst wasting time posting on Mumsnet about how inconsiderate your neighbours are. Why do people need to get a load of strangers involved when there's a logical solution to the problem?

You're presumably enough of a grown up to buy a house, so should be old enough not to need this advice but...

USE
YOUR
WORDS

Put your swim suit on and have fun!

Is this what you want to teach your children, to keep quiet and just hope it will stop. Not managing to communicate or sort out the simplest things in life. Poor children.

They know the kids can’t be out after 8 and that’s why they’re doing it IMO. I would do as PP has said and go out with DC in swimming cossies and play in the water as loudly as possible like it’s the best fun ever. After a few days I’m sure they’ll turn the water right down.

Tell them to stop. Also set boundaries with noise. You are new but their wants do not trump yours. Of course they know what they are doing they just dont care.

After my experiences things need to be sorted straight away or they get worse.

@Okbutnotgreat

They know the kids can’t be out after 8 and that’s why they’re doing it IMO. I would do as PP has said and go out with DC in swimming cossies and play in the water as loudly as possible like it’s the best fun ever. After a few days I’m sure they’ll turn the water right down.

Or, you could be a grown up and talk to them.

Such a waste of water. I never water ours and its doing fine pretty much - even in these roasting hot conditions.

Just go and talk to your neighbours.

@Lipz

Get a power washer, stand up on a ladder, point in their direction and if they say anything say you thought it was a game.

That made me snort with laughter, @Lipz.

Maybe they are pissed off with kids screeching outside all evening so are doing it on purpose so they get some peace.

Either talk to them or wait until your garden is so wet that your house floats into another street and it is no longer a problem.

@Notebooksarefabulous

Such a waste of water. I never water ours and its doing fine pretty much - even in these roasting hot conditions. Just go and talk to your neighbours.

You’ve obviously not got any plants in hanging baskets or containers. They need a good drenching every day - Mother Nature’s doing the job here this evening.

Sounds ideal especially if you are on a water meter! But if you don't want them to just ask them nicely to stop.

You don’t have to be confrontational at all.... just say ‘hello neighbour, please could you adjust your watering system? You probably don’t realise but it’s spraying over into our garden too - thanks very much!!’
Either that or scream at top note blue that you are getting wet through when it comes on and hope they get the message?

They don’t come across as very friendly. This is why I’m hesitating. And the water throwing pole is right at the fence. It is crystal clear that it reaches into our garden.

@TheNewKaren

They don’t come across as very friendly. This is why I’m hesitating. And the water throwing pole is right at the fence. It is crystal clear that it reaches into our garden.

Oh just go and ask them, ffs. It would never occur to me that a bit of water was a problem. If it was pointed out that it is, I’d apologise and sort it out. And I’m a dragon 🐉

I think we can see that vote and what to do is unanimous OP

What's the worst that can happen? Seriously.

1. They say no, you live with awkward atmosphere
2. They deck you, you call police, everyone lives with an awkward atmosphere.

If all else fails just cut off their water supply!

@TheNewKaren

They don’t come across as very friendly. This is why I’m hesitating. And the water throwing pole is right at the fence. It is crystal clear that it reaches into our garden.

Go on, you might find they're lovely when you talk to them and it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

If the pole is close to the fence line, get a ladder and adjust the sprinklerhead a bit...you can even wait until they aren't home if you think they might be mean
I've done this plenty of times.

Tell them they need to keep the water within their own fence because you are unable to use your garden. You just need to tell them.

Personally wouldn't get wet myself, I'd sacrifice one of the nippers and then go round with them to say "you can see my issue here".

But no, I wouldn't. I'd go round, introduce myself and ask politely if they wouldn't mind angling it away or putting it on later. Because I'm not partial to being held hostage in my own home and as a grown up homeowner I am perfectly capable of tackling issues that affect that home.

My DF always told me that if you don't ask it's always going to be and stay a no. Asking is the only way to get a yes...

Our NDN have done the same this year. Went out in the garden at 6pm on Tuesday to have DS’s birthday cake and their sprinkler was on soaking our garden so we had to go back inside. They have one at the front and back so DC often get wet when they go out to play, it makes our lawn soaking too so not pleasant to sit on and makes DC muddy. Annoying.

You either have to put up with it or go and talk to them. It's really that simple.