Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Chuck weedkiller over fence ?

135 replies

incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 11:17

I recently paid £7 K to fence in my garden. Both neighbours very tight and I wanted a safe garden so I've paid the lot. I won't ever be able to afford to finance this again. The neighbour on one side is allowing her garden to go to pot and I've got thorns and weeds and branches growing over and pushing against my new lovely fence. She did not allow my fencer to cut anything back on her side which ok fine, but now it's pushing against my fence. Her garden is so absolute mess but she doesn't seem to want to do anything about it any I don't want the fence damaged. AIBU to cut back what comes on my side and Chuck weed killer over the side ...?

OP posts:
godmum56 · 06/09/2021 11:52

@HarrietsChariot

You need to be very careful with the weedkiller. As others have suggested you can kill the stuff that grows onto your property but it's legally dubious spraying it over the fence. Definitely do it after dark, preferably when the occupants are away.

Could you did your garden out so you can get under the fence? That way you'd be able to tunnel under and put weedkiller under the roots. Then fill the hole in and nobody will be any the wiser.

its not legally dubious its actually criminal damage, although of a minor kind...it could also be covered under harassment law.
EmbarrassingMama · 06/09/2021 11:55

Brambles and weeds aren't going to push your fence over. Just prune anything that comes over the top.

OP posts:
romdowa · 06/09/2021 12:05

I'd do it at night. I'd live to see her call the police to report me for criminal damage to her weeds 🤣🤣🤣 she has no way at all to prove that you killed her weeds.

Coogee · 06/09/2021 12:14

she has no way at all to prove that you killed her weeds.

Sending a soil sample to a lab would help.

EvenRosesHaveThorns · 06/09/2021 12:18

Absolutely not, would you think someone chucking harmful chemicals, linked to cancer, into your garden, without your knowledge, was acceptable? You're off your rocker. Just prune back what comes over your side, don't sneakily apply chemicals. If their garden is overgrown, it's likely home to lots of wildlife, which the chemicals could have crippling effects on.

Horehound · 06/09/2021 12:20

Isn't there a thing If you pour salt down it gets absorbed into the soil and kills weeds and stuff.
And that's kind of invisible after it gets wet.

Hopefully stuff stops growing so fast over winter and during that time I'd build up the salt content of the soil ready for spring and hopefully everything to Die but it won't be as obvious as weed killer ;)

EvenRosesHaveThorns · 06/09/2021 12:21

A 7k fence will not be destroyed by weeds, stop being melodramatic. You've clearly never used weedkiller and understand it's dangers and the hugely obvious, instant yellow dieback that it creates. Although in this case, chucking a bit over the top will do nothing apart from create a human and wildlife health hazard. Grow up.

Hoppinggreen · 06/09/2021 12:28

@Coogee

she has no way at all to prove that you killed her weeds.

Sending a soil sample to a lab would help.

That’s incredibly unlikely to ever happen and if it did it might prove that weed killer killed the plants but that’s all
PissedOffNeighbour22 · 06/09/2021 12:29

I did this a few years ago but it did nothing!
The brambles and ivy continued to grow and started pushing my fence apart. All I could do was trim what came over or through. It was in a part of their garden they couldn't see from the house or access easily so they didn't care whether I cut back or chucked weed killer over etc.

Might be best if you have a word with the neighbour. If you're prepared to help her clear it that might be acceptable to her. If she's unreasonable then tell her you'll be billing her for any damage caused to your fence unless she sorts it.

seaandsandcastles · 06/09/2021 12:32

No, you absolutely cannot chuck weed killer over the fence, but I get the impression you’re just going to go ahead and do it anyway.

GemmaRuby · 06/09/2021 12:32

Erm… yes you would be unreasonable to spread toxic chemicals on someone else’s property. Imagine if someone came and did this to your front garden.

And it will be very obvious because there will be a strip of suddenly dead plants along the fence line.

trumpisagit · 06/09/2021 12:33

weedkiller is horrible.
It will be winter soon and everything will die back.
Incidentally I bet wildlife likes her garden, even if you don't.

LukeEvansWife · 06/09/2021 12:33

And if a child visits and goes into the garden, you are happy to potentially harm them if they get near it? Then go for it Hmm

Popcornbetty · 06/09/2021 12:34

I'd cut the bits that came on my side and throw them back over.

Eustaciavile · 06/09/2021 12:48

It’s only weeds!!! Flowers by another name; wildlife needs more of them not less. I have an enormous garden, lots of mature trees and bushes, and both very wild and more structured areas, and fencing that cost a huge amount less yours (even allowing for the years that have passed) which has been up for nearly 30 years. And
please don’t use weed killer, it’s catastrophic for the environment .

Will someone think of the bees 🐝

ChikiTIKI · 06/09/2021 12:50

Can't you slide out the fence panel and cut everything that hangs in to your garden? Or is it not that kind of fence?

scoobydoo1971 · 06/09/2021 12:51

Rocksalt at the boundary, and water repeatedly...this is how I dealt with neighbours ivy and bramble issues. It is RIP for soil, so only do this if you don't want anything growing your side.

Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:52

@ChikiTIKI

Can't you slide out the fence panel and cut everything that hangs in to your garden? Or is it not that kind of fence?
It's not that kind of fence sadly
OP posts:
Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:53

@Eustaciavile

It’s only weeds!!! Flowers by another name; wildlife needs more of them not less. I have an enormous garden, lots of mature trees and bushes, and both very wild and more structured areas, and fencing that cost a huge amount less yours (even allowing for the years that have passed) which has been up for nearly 30 years. And please don’t use weed killer, it’s catastrophic for the environment .

Will someone think of the bees 🐝

Im not here to argue the cost of contractors. I'm so pleased you have a huge garden Confused.
OP posts:
Leftbutcameback · 06/09/2021 12:54

I was going to suggest boiling water too. We use it on our patio weeds and it works well. Can you get to just underneath the bottom of the fence?

For those who are surprised about the damage, we have ivy issues and it’s caused permanent damage to a very solid fence this year.

Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:54

@Popcornbetty

I'd cut the bits that came on my side and throw them back over.
It's such a mess, you wouldn't actually notice I'd chucked it back tbh
OP posts:
Original poster
incognitodorrito · 06/09/2021 12:55

@Leftbutcameback

I was going to suggest boiling water too. We use it on our patio weeds and it works well. Can you get to just underneath the bottom of the fence?

For those who are surprised about the damage, we have ivy issues and it’s caused permanent damage to a very solid fence this year.

Exactly - I'm guessing those thinking of the bees world think differently if it was affecting their investments !
OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 06/09/2021 12:56

I was just looking at a friends fence the other day. Neighbours had it professionally built 21 years ago and it looks as good as new from her side. Other side is bursting with plants some growing up it some in trellises and some vines and some tree boughs resting on the top of it. Absolutely no sign of damage at all.
Are your neighbours plants actually triffids ? Has there been a bright meteor recently ? Can’t believe you spent that much (so not just panels I’m guessing) and it’s already being damaged.
Anyway agree yku can’t Chuck weed killer around. Boiling water sounds a better bet ?

Leftbutcameback · 06/09/2021 12:58

The other option is to wait until she’s out, get your steps up against the fence and reach over and down with the loppers. I’ve done that recently and cleared quite a bit of ivy. She’s unlikely to even see you’ve done that and it should keep it clear for the short bit of the rest of the growing season. I wouldn’t worry about bindweed, just anything woody which can get in between the posts and slats