Neighbour Complaining

[GenerallyGreenerGrass]

I have lived here over 20 years and both sides of my front garden used to have shrubs and on one side several mature trees.

A few years ago I had some of the shrubs and trees taken down as they were old, leaving just three trees and intending to plant an evergreen hedge instead.
Meanwhile one of my neighbours whose end of garden is adjacent to where the trees were left came and told me the Pine was dropping needles into their pond and they were frightened of it falling as it was so tall.
I had it taken down and planted the hedge but hadn’t ordered enough Laurel and it was about 12 foot short of the end of my garden, the rest is maintained and is now about 8 foot.
Last week I had 6 more Laurel planted to complete the hedge and today the gardener came to fill in an area under the two big trees with shrubs.
Neighbour comes out and starts ranting that the Laurels are causing her a lot of work and she doesn’t like/is afraid of the Willow tree as she thinks it’s dangerous and it makes shade it her garden and she wanted it cut down and the hedge cutting to about 5 foot.
I told her there used to be trees and shrubs there before and the hedge was evergreen, drops hardly any leaves and the Willow was fine.

She fumed off, not happy with that, who is being unreasonable?

You’ve done nothing wrong and been perfectly reasonable. 5 foot dividers ar mead. Stick to your guns

It sounds like she's being unreasonable, but I'd be interested to hear her side of it. Not because I think you've done anything wrong, just to hear why she thinks you have. Depending on where the houses are, where the shade is etc, I'd consider getting them trimmed to 6ft though.

Is she tree-phobic do you think?

Also, she doesn't also lovingly nurture an ivy, does she?

Laurel can be a pain as it needs keeping in check. Just because it doesn't drop leaves doesn't mean its trouble free.

To be honest it sounds like that whatever you have planted on the border is causing her a lot of work to upkeep on her side and I sympathise with her on that.

We have a neighbour who's very much into his garden, he's retired and lives alone and spends hours maintaining his garden, we however work full time and have young kids and don't have the time to prune and cut back all the plants/shrubs/trees etc that grow over onto our side.

Could be that?

is the hedge actually on the boundary or on your side of it? Could you suggest she puts up a fence on her side?

kHow far from her property and how mature and what size is the willow as she could well be right as they have shallow spreading root systems and are a very thirsty tree. A mature willows roots could spread 70 ft or more. They soak up a lot of moisture from the surrounding area and shouldn’t be within 18 to 20 metres of any house. Not really a tree suitable for residential gardens unless you have a massive plot.
I have laurels and they are fine as long as you maintain them and maybe you can offer for your gardener to cut them back on her side once a year. You will also benefit by doing this as she is well within her rights to just hack back any on her side and then you could end up with a very uneven hedge.

How big is the willow? Willows are well known for being prone to breaking branches, and your neighbour does have a reasonable expectation to light. Willows can be pollarded, and generally look better for it.

What work is the laurel causing her? YABU for thinking that evergreens don't shed leaves. Laurels drop leaves constantly, and they're big waxy leaves that don't breakdown quickly. Hedges also 'gift' your neighbour the responsibility for trimming their side.

The neighbour has NO expectation of light in her garden

Generally hedges should be maintained at about six foot. Not eight. She can apply to the local council under the high hedges act to have to reduced op.

8 ft is only 2.4m

Council would not be at all interested.

It’s not that there is a 2m height limit, it’s that hedges significantly over 2m might be a nuisance.

Could you not keep the peace by offering a comprise of (if she'll let you) trimming the trees/bushes that belong to you that face her side instead of her having to do it?

My neighbour has a conifer hedge that only gets trimmed along the top and on her side;I'm meanwhile left to trim it all on my side;it's annoying and she's never offered to trim it on my side.

From what I understand high hedge law applies to your situation and should be under 2m which is less than 8ft, when freshly trimmed. Also willow root systems can be very damaging, and may be damaging her pond from underneath, so could to with investigating, and it may be time to remove and replace with something different.

So based on that YABU, but so is neighbour for trying to order you to cut your hedge to 5ft.

Is it a Whomping Willow? If so I’m not surprised!