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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

154 replies

Buddhabuns · 07/05/2025 09:32

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?

OP posts:
godmum56 · 10/05/2025 10:15

PicklesMacGraw · 09/05/2025 17:57

Many single trees in gardens don’t actually have any nests in them. The percentages are actually quite low. I’ve quite a large garden with quite a few mature trees and currently have no nests at all in any of my trees. This isn’t uncommon. I do have nests in my mixed hedges though.

same here. The birds spend a large part of their days in my trees but the nest in my hedges and scrubby clumps

godmum56 · 10/05/2025 10:24

AlpacaMittens · 10/05/2025 09:45

Yeah I absolutely agree with you. I was just thinking that it's difficult to tell which root was the culprit. For a while I was heartbroken thinking that roots from my favourite tree were ruining my patio - but it turned out after much sleuthing that it actually was a completely different tree much further down the garden - I removed that one with no regrets! But for a while I thought the wrong tree was the culprit.

yeah I think we are kind of in agreement. My neighbour, whose relationship with the tree group at the council wasn't as good as mine for some reason, had to get a tree root DNA test done to prove to the council that the oak in his garden was making his garage collapse. At the same time, the same council was agreeing that I could remove 3(!) smaller very mishapen oaks from my garden because they were putting my neighbours fence at risk.

Buddhabuns · 10/05/2025 13:03

Disturbia81 · 09/05/2025 17:30

Any pics OP? You might get more sympathy, I appreciate how annoying it must be and I’m a tree lover

Thanks so much — I really do appreciate it.

Honestly, I'd love to post pics to show how ridiculous it is, but it feels a bit too personal, house, garden, other neighbours and all, and if we ever wanted to sell, I’m not sure having a full public archive of The Great Tree Saga floating around online would do us any favours 😅

Trust me, it’s not just a little branch here or there. It’s a semi-garden takeover at this point!

OP posts:
Deckings · 10/05/2025 13:06

Talk to your house insurance about it.
They might have advice.
I wouldn't be happy if my garden was being overshadowed and put in shade by a towering tree.

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