Neighbour’s tree is basically living rent-free in our garden — now she’s offered us a leaf blower 🙃

[Buddhabuns]

Our neighbour’s enormous tree hangs over almost the entire width of our garden. It blocks sunlight, drops catkins and leaves everywhere, and last autumn we filled four garden bins (which we pay for) clearing up her mess.

We’ve asked — nicely — twice. She trimmed a few bottom twigs, probably with nail scissors, and called it done. No difference. Now the roots are pushing up our fence, and the leaves are back in full force.

Her solution? She offered to buy us a leaf blower.

We already have one. We just didn’t realise we’d signed up for unpaid groundskeeping for her passive-aggressive tree.

Every other neighbour manages their trees. She clearly thinks if she waits long enough, we’ll give up or vanish under the leaf pile.

AIBU to think she’s completely taking the mick — and that the leaf blower offer was basically an insult?

Is this for real? She's not taking the piss, exactly....

YOU bought the house! The tree was there! What did you think would happen? That she would come and remove the leaves in autumn for you? Nobody does that.

Talk to her and tell her you're having serious problems (roots damaging fences is a serious problem) and you need to come to a compromise. Bring the names and numbers of a few tree surgeons. Say you'd like her to at least get a consultation about what she can do about it. She won't like it because it potentially means her paying for something that doesn't really bother her and she doesn't have to deal with. But if you're smart and charming then she can hardly refuse to at least talk to a couple of experts.

I've dealt with this problem in that I have a neighbour who bought his house next to a big tree in my garden which doesn't overhang but does shade his garden somewhat. I didn't mind having it reduced a little but he would like it reduced a lot more - however my view is he bought the house with a large, 100-year-old tree right there, so that's on him. I have taken advice from a tree surgeon and done what the expert was comfortable doing so as not to harm the tree.

HE has a tree which (because of prevailing winds) drops most of its leaves and brash in my garden and I have never once complained because I could plainly see the tree when I bought the house, so it is what it is. I rot down the leaves for leaf mould, and I pile up the twiggy bits at the end of the garden for insect habitat.

Now the roots are pushing up our fence, and the leaves are back in full force.

Yes the leaves will be back 'in full force' EVERY SPRING FOREVER that is normal for trees

We have a line of beautiful old trees on the fence line at the bottom of the garden. Most are hundreds of years old and have TPO's on them but the FB posts about them are unreal, branches going to kill small children and dogs, suing The Council, lack of light etc etc.
Occasionally a near neighbour will get them trimmed back ( Illegally in some cases) and ask if we want to get ours done and reduce costs but its always a no from us and after around 6 months of reduced privacy for them they grow back just the same anyway

I don't think you can easily force her to pay. Yes she should get it done, at her own expense, but since she won't I think your rights are basically to get your own work done on the tree, up to the boundary, assuming there is no TPO.

Thankfully everyone round here are much better neighbours and do pay for the work on their own trees. But tree surgeons tend to cost hundreds at least, and some people just can't stretch to it. As long as it's not overhanging a public road you're more or less on your own.

If you are planning to get it done yourselves check for TPOs and keep her fully informed. Tread carefully, these things can cause massive fallings out between neighbours.

Absolutely disagree. Why should OP have to put up with this. Are trees now the new dogs. Get a tree surgeon and lop off every branch which overhangs your garden. Tell your neighbour first maybe.

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a tree surgeon who would do that! They have a professional reputation to uphold.

Christ. Some of these replies make me thankful my neighbours aren’t Mumsnetters.

This.

Thanks for all the responses — I appreciate the different viewpoints (even the tougher ones!).
To clarify a few things:

Yes, the tree was already there when we bought the house five years ago, but it’s continually grown and has only been professionally maintained once.

It’s around 20 metres tall, planted less than a metre from the shared fence, and its branches stretch across almost the full width of our garden. The roots are visibly pushing up the fence, and we’re concerned about its safety in high winds.

We absolutely love wildlife and nature, but this tree is overwhelming in size. We’re dealing with the ongoing mess and safety concerns — it’s not just about leaves, it’s the constant encroachment into our space.

We’ve spoken to her nicely twice, and while she trimmed a few twigs (which made no difference), the real kicker was when she offered to buy us a leaf blower. It's not about tools, it's about the fact that the issue needs proper action.

If the roles were reversed, she’d likely push hard for a solution, possibly with council involvement. That’s been our experience before, and it's hard not to feel a bit frustrated at the double standard here.

Don’t throw branches back, that’s also an offence. But you should be able to trim tree, at your own expense of course.
We paid for our neighbours overhanging tree to be trimmed, as they won’t just cut back branches

This.

We had similar and got all the overhanging bits removed by a tree surgeon then sent neighbours the bill.

Agree with @TokyoKyoto The tree was there when you moved in, and if it's 20 metres high now, it would still have been huge just 5 years ago when you moved in. I would never buy/move into a house that has a 20 metres high tree 1 metre from the shared fence. How close it it to the house? If it's too close (less than 10 metres,) the roots could compromise your foundations. Does your insurance company know about this tree?

Why on earth did you buy this house @Buddhabuns ??? As I said, the tree would have been huge when you moved in!

@Buddhabuns you are at liberty to cut off all overhanding branches, you simply need to offer them back (a note through the door to state that if she doesn’t contact you by X date, you will assume she doesn’t want them and dispose accordingly).

There is no right to light in garden but if the roots are damaging your fence and you’ve notified the neighbour then it may constitute ‘nuisance’. It does not matter that the tree was there prior to your purchase. But you can request that her tree is seen by a tree surgeon to be trimmed and to limit further growth - and that she pays for repairs to the fence. Technically you can also remove/dig out the roots that encroach on your land but if this kills/destabilises the tree such that it were to fall on her property/injure anyone you would be liable, so again, the advise and services of a tree surgeon would be needed - if you send a solicitor’s letter stating that this tree’s unmanaged growth constitutes nuisance and what you reasonably would like her to do to abate that nuisance before taking it to court, she may act …

What type of tree?

It sounds like it's an alder tree that grows very quickly (about 60cm per year according to the RHS), so I guess that's potentially 3 metres in 5 years which I think you would probably notice. It sounds like you need to get someone in to give it a really good solid prune. The good news is that it won't hurt the tree, but you'll probably have to do it every other year or so.

Trees are wonderful - but people really have to think about what they're putting in, and how they'll take care of them.

We had a tree at the end of our garden that overhung the neighbours garden, but was also was giving access to squirrels getting into their loft. We got a tree surgeon to cut it back a few times, but it started dying, so had the whole thing removed.

If you’re worried about the tree in high winds than you should be seriously concerned about a good hard pruning… when the tree then fights that prune by sending out a billion small branches to replace what was lost then suddenly you have a kite, oh and also if you only prune it on one side that’s pretty destabilising too! Other than a bit of thinning it’s a myth that pruning will in any way help your circumstances infact the tree will just grow even bushier with even more leaves than before! So be careful what you wish for…

I think you need to learn to embrace the tree and think about how great a thing they are, or move house. Good luck, and I hope if nothing else you find a therapist who specialises in tree trauma.

If the roles were reversed, she’d likely push hard for a solution, possibly with council involvement. That’s been our experience before

So, if you don't think talking to her again will do anything, get on to the council.

We had a tree with a TPO on it cut down. We just needed to get planning permission. It wasn’t hard to get as the roots were destroying next door’s garden.

it had to be our application though, neighbour couldn’t apply to have it cut. Sounds like OP’s neighbour might be difficult about this.

I do sort of see what people are saying when they say 'the tree was there when you moved in' but its literally damaging OPs fence? Is OP just meant to accept this because trees are magical? I love trees and live in a green area and would hate to leave, but I'm curious as to what you would do in a scenario where a tree was, for example, blocking entryway or causing damage to your house, if you are in the 'leave the tree alone you might kill it' camp. Genuinely curious as to what the solution would be, from a non tree expert!

Decline the leaf blower and ask for a chainsaw instead.

What type of tree is it?

Yeah, you're entitled to cut anything that impinges onto your property. But I get it that it seems unfair you should have to find someone and pay them when it's not yours.
I guess the council might know what to do?
I hope you get it sorted. X

I would get a tree surgeon round to talk to you about the tree and what could potentially be done.

We have a massive tree in our front garden that happens to be up against the fence and overhangs our neighbour's back garden due to the where the houses are. It has a huge impact on them and so we arranged for a crown reduction by our tree surgeon who we trust and the neighbours were involved in the conversation.

Trees can and do outgrow their location if they are not maintained. We have several trees and mature shrubs but our tree surgeon is back every couple of years to manage it all. We cut back what we can but it does get out of hand.

She isn't maintaining the height and the tree can become unstable and may damage your fence. Get a tree surgeon round to get informed.

Please don't ask her to chop it down. We are losing trees at an alarming rate but ask her to get it pointed. That's reasonable.