Hosepipe being sprayed over fence

[Mistywalnut]

Every morning my neighbour is watering their plants on the other side of the fence that forms the boundary to my garden. I am outside every morning either walking around or sitting in the garden with my dog or doing some training with him. On several occasions water comes over the top of the fence quite a way into my garden. On 1 occasion I had to move where I was sitting so I didn't get wet. One morning last week I was outside doing some training and talking to my dog. Watering next door starts, suddenly a huge amount of water gets sprayed up over the top of the fence into my garden missing me by 1 metre. I would've been drenched if it had hit me. I shouted out as I was so shocked. Whoever was watering turns off the hose and disappears inside. What do others do in this situation? Neighbours are not friendly or approachable.

Talk to them - this is always the best first step.

(edit): or at least try, sorry didn't see the 'unapproachable' bit before I posted)

Haha I’d have have to make a joke of this. I’d be out there with my water pistol asking if they were challenging me to a dual i think next time it happened

Isn't there a hosepipe ban in your area? Report them if so, if not spray them back!

I was thinking about this the other day - when I was about 17, neighbour and I had a massive water fight, which became part of family legend 😂

It's difficult when you have to live next door to someone who isn't approachable isn't it. Are there specific times this neighbour does the watering, could you change your routine?

Failing that, you could always knock on their door and 'apologise' if you startled them the other morning, but you weren't prepared for the water that came over the fence, and is there a specific time they do the watering so that you can avoid it? They might think twice about it then?

If they're really not nice neighbours at all, then changing your own routine might be the best option. I know people will say it's your space and you're entitled to enjoy it, but if you're living next door to complete arseholes it's a bit difficult isn't it!

You mean go round and talk to them or try talking over the fence when it happens?

If they aren't approachable to go to their front door and talk, hang a sign over their fence. Something like 'Please DO NOT spray water over the fence into my garden'

I'd call it out at the time it comes over the fence.

Hey neighbour, can you re-aim the water it's getting me.

Have a bucket of water at the ready, when water comes over your fence, grab the bucket and throw water back over!

Either, really ... if the fence is convenient, do that ... are you sure it's someone holding it, and not a 'sprayer'?

They don't want their plants to die in this weather, that's reasonable (provided there's no hosepipe ban). You want to enjoy your garden in this weather, that's also reasonable. I would just ask them if there's a particular time that they do their watering so that you can avoid the area and not get drenched (you haven't been yet either, so you can't get cross about something that didn't happen). You say they are hard to talk to - but this is a fairly easy and obvious conversation. Otherwise, avoid that part of the garden for the ten minutes they are out watering their plants and be elsewhere in the garden. But I would have the conversation.

I suspect it is deliberate and related to the dog..

I think I’d have to say politely to “Please stop spraying water in my garden” and then if they persist get your own hose and retaliate .

But if they aren’t pleasant people I’d bet they are doing it deliberately.

The fact they stopped when you reacted sounds like maybe they weren't aware and ran off in case you got grumpy with them

They might be more careful going forward now they're aware

Next time it happens just shout up "hi, that's coming over the fence. Can you lower it a bit please?"

My god peoples imaginations can really run wild can't they.

I hose my garden, and have accidentally dropped the hose and water has gone over, I've apologised profusely, but I'd hope if I hadn't noticed that they would say something! I have bought a watering can now!

Just shout something over the fence 'hey, careful, I'm sat out here, you nearly got me'

As soon as it happens shout, "can you stop watering my garden?! Thank you!"

How is it coming over the fence?? Don't you water the roots??

Are you my ndn? I sometimes hose the yappy fucker next door..