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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbour keeps cutting our side of the hedge

36 replies

Wittsendhasarrived · 02/06/2023 16:53

We're in a semi-detached house and there's a laurel hedge right down the centre of the boundary line between our gardens.
The neighbours have lived there a lot longer than we have here and have always cut the hedge annoyingly low so we can both see directly into each others' garden. We asked very politely several times the first summer we were here for them to stop cutting it below 6 feet on our side but they kept doing it. At the end of that summer they separated and only she remained in the property and she did stop cutting our side and finally we had grown a good 6 foot hedge and had the privacy we wanted. However, today I've just got home to discover she's done it again and we can see straight into her garden and hers our again! FFS! I'm so annoyed. If I had the money I'd just build an actual wooden fence on our side because this is ridiculous! Sadly I don't.
How can we stop her cutting the hedge so low on our side!

OP posts:
theemmadilemma · 02/06/2023 16:55

Who owns the hedge as that makes a difference? Or is it shared?

OhmygodDont · 02/06/2023 16:56

You’re 100% that it’s your side of the boundary yes? That it’s not all hers?

Sparklfairy · 02/06/2023 16:56

She shouldn't be cutting it at all this time of year.

Fairyliz · 02/06/2023 16:57

Totally depends who owns it; they can decide.
My neighbours annoy me by cutting down our hedge.

GoodChat · 02/06/2023 16:58

If its her hedge its her responsibility to maintain it

JulieHoney · 02/06/2023 16:59

Sparklfairy · 02/06/2023 16:56

She shouldn't be cutting it at all this time of year.

If there are no birds nesting in it, why not?

Nothing ever nests in our shitty laurel, they nest in the much nicer privet on the other side instead.

itsnotmybirthday · 02/06/2023 16:59

Could you stretch to buying some cheapish trellis which you install up against the hedge on your side? Make it 6ft tall, and plant some evergreen jasmine and honeysuckles. They grow like mad, and will soon reach the top of your trellis. She won't be able to cut that down.

Iyiyiiii · 02/06/2023 17:33

theemmadilemma · 02/06/2023 16:55

Who owns the hedge as that makes a difference? Or is it shared?

yeah - if its their hedge they can do what they like

Season0fTheWitch · 02/06/2023 17:39

we're going to need a diagram. who's hedge is it?

SunnySaturdayMorning · 02/06/2023 17:44

If it’s her hedge she can cut it as low as she wants.

Absolem76 · 02/06/2023 17:44

As others say. If the hedge belongs to your neighbour then they have responsibility for cutting it on both sides. The best thing you can do is erect a fence on your side

SoupDragon · 02/06/2023 17:47

Season0fTheWitch · 02/06/2023 17:39

we're going to need a diagram. who's hedge is it?

Why on earth do you need a diagram?

ShimmeringShirts · 02/06/2023 18:05

Is she coming into your garden and cutting the side on your boundary, or is she simply cutting the top down? Maybe time to save up for a fence if it bugs you, I’d be pissed with the removal of privacy too though for what it’s worth.

Theunamedcat · 02/06/2023 18:10

SoupDragon · 02/06/2023 17:47

Why on earth do you need a diagram?

Show quote history

I suppose to answer the question how is she cutting both sides of the hedge?

My family had an argument with a neighbour she wanted the hedge 5ft they wanted it 6ft the hedge ended up looking like a freaking STEP but they both cut their "side" 😂

RenovationNightmare · 02/06/2023 18:13

I can sympathize. I have a hedge in my front garden but right on the boundary, the weird neighbour keeps cutting it even though every time he has 'offered' to do me a favour and come into my garden to cut it from my side, I've firmly said 'No thank you'. I have no problem with him cutting any parts of the hedge that over hang in his front garden but do not want him to do the same butchery in my garden. He just does not get it.

Jagoda · 02/06/2023 18:44

Depends on who owns that side of the boundary. If it’s her, there’s nothing you can do except erect your own hedge or fence. If it’s your boundary, and the hedge is not completely contained in her garden, you can tell her not to touch it.

GreekDogRescue · 02/06/2023 18:46

How annoying. She sounds like the sort of idiot who pollards trees so they barely stay alive.

angelikacpickles · 02/06/2023 18:48

Surely the hedge isn't exactly on the boundary? Was it originally planted on their side or your side?

towriteyoumustlive · 02/06/2023 18:53

One of you will own the hedge and be responsible for cutting it. Whose side of the boundary is it planted on?

Ellie1015 · 02/06/2023 19:32

Does it block light from her front garden/window?

TheCreamTeaWasFromMe · 02/06/2023 19:46

If it's your hedge - tell her to stop.

If it's her hedge - put up and shut up because you have no control over what she chooses to do with it.

TheSnowyOwl · 02/06/2023 19:46

Unless the hedge is yours, I would find the money for a big fence and put it up asap.

CaroleSinger · 02/06/2023 19:49

Only cutting half of it will make it look ridiculous but the key question is who's hedge is it?

Xrays · 02/06/2023 19:55

Plant your own identical hedge right next to it? She can’t cut that then!