AIBU to object to a neighbour growing ivy on our fence?

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Our neighbour has planted ivy up our boundary fence (owned by us) for the second time. They previously grew ivy up the fence, and we eventually replaced the fence as it was getting old and worn. The new fence now has ivy poking through on our side! It’s such an eye sore and really does look a mess.

What can I do here? Are they technically “allowed” to grow a climbing plant up a boundary owned by us? They are elderly but also very unreasonable hence why I haven’t approached them about it yet.

Roundup sprayed on any ivy that pokes through on your side should deal with it.

I don’t hate it in itself. But I don’t want it growing where it’s coming through and I don’t want it ruining the fence. I have other plants planted where the ivy is growing through and it just looks such a mess.

I hadn't realised until recently how thick and heavy ivy can be, especially if it is mature with a thick trunk. Having said that I think that it takes a while to damage fences. I do feel your pain, Op. Spent the weekend hacking at the ivy appearing from our neighbour's side.

Can you spray the bits that poke through on your side with weedkiller? I think you can buy some that are designed with Ivy in mind?

Oh! Maybe I’ll do this. I presumed plant killer would have had to be sprayed on the whole plant/at the roots.

And it does very quickly engulf any plants in its way.

I think it was planted approx 6 years ago.

Great, thank you! I follow my stepdad’s advice on gardening as he’s much better with his garden than I am! But he has taught me a lot. My ivy has never bothered me at all (apart from cutting it back annually) and same in mum and stepdad’s garden (my mum would tell me after the rodents business they had with it in the past).

This really.

It's not going to wreck your fence in a matter of hours like some people seem to think, but over a course of years it will eventually amalgamate itself with the fence, and it will be difficult to remove without destroying the fence in the process. This can look fine if the fence is strong and kind of supports the ivy in a supported hedge. Or awful if the ivy gradually smashes the panel to pieces and the fence partially collapses in the wind.

Nuclear option. Remove the fence panel for "repairs". If freshly installed it should still have enough structure to be able to take it down without damaging it.

Legally they cannot attach trellis to it so you are then within your rights to tell them they need to make it free standing or remove it entirely.

Personally I'd call around to say that you are going to have to take the fence down as it's already getting damaged. On investigation you've discovered they've attached a trellis without permission. I'd offer to replace the ivy with something less damaging like jasmine. Year round leaves but easy to maintain and a few wires will support it.

If that is not to their liking, they have the option to install free standing posts and attached a trellis to it but they don't have your permission to attach a trellis with ivy which is damaging your property.

Re the top of it? I'd keep pushing it away from the fence so it falls down under it's own weight but I'm petty like that.

Noted. My ivy only grows over my back wall then there’s a space/gap with a wall between the vicarage garden and mine. If it encroaches between fences and over and into your property I can appreciate it’s annoying and you want to rectify it.

They certainly shouldn't be attaching anything to your fence, so that is the first thing that needs to be dealt with.

Are they nice? Could you have a chat with them and suggest something a bit less thuggish like a clematis? I'd offer to dig the ivy out and plant the clematis if they're elderly.

Going against the grain, but I think you’re overreacting and I don’t get why you think ivy looks a ‘mess’.
And birds and insects live in it. I’ve never seen a rat in ours either.
But you have the right to cut back any of it that comes over/through to your side.

It’s not ridiculous at all. If you’re willing to give the green light to neighbours to do what they want and destroy your stuff that’s your right, but don’t expect everyone else to put up with this sort of entitled behaviour.

Well it is ridiculous in the sense the solicitor can’t actually do anything.

apart from a strongly worded letter 🤣 if they haven’t responded to OP asking they’re unlikely to care

Glysophate weedkiller on all of the leaves and shoots that poke through to your side. Will suck into the main stem of the ivy and may be enough to kill it.

We have ivy from the neighbours side on our fence. I brutally hack it back at least twice a year. The bits I’ve used glysophate on have been successful.

Roundup is a systemic herbicide - think of it getting into the bloodstream via the pores.

I’n not sure about ivy but if it has rather tough leaves, a wipe over with dish detergent can remove the outer coating so the plant can take it up easier. Or spray the new leaves while still soft and fresh.

If it’s a larger plant and you can only access a few leaves at once, it may take repeat doses to do the job.

I thought your fence, not allowed to do anything with it without permission?

Have you talked to them?

I would use some sneaky weedkiller. Over and over again until those plants die. Ivy is a tough one to kill, have to rough up the leaves to get through their waxy glossy finish. Ivy is destructive and it looks pants too.

I probably have about a metres width where it grows above the fence by about 30cm.

And then about 10 other vines growing through the fence panels.

Would this be enough to kill the entire plant?

If it were me I would go round and tell them they must remove the trellis from your fence immediately as they are not allowed to attach it to the fence. If your fence panels are slid into concrete posts, which is the ideal, I would slide out the panel - remove all the ivy, then slide it back. Either way, the first port of call would be to go round and explain nicely that they cannot grow things up your fence or attach anything to it, and see what they say.

Ivy will damage brickwork and kill trees. It might look good but it is very destructive.

FROM THE Royal Horticultural Society website:

RHS-funded research found that applying two coats of clear ‘easy-on’ anti-graffiti paint or fixing copper or zinc sheets, or copper mesh, to walls and fences, completely prevents ivy attachment without affecting plant health. Stems that grow onto these surfaces peel off naturally and just need trimming off at the boundary. This allows you to keep ivy within a desired area and limits maintenance.

I haven’t spoken to them. But my 4 year old daughter (for the first time ever) once threw her ball over the fence by accident. When I went round to retrieve it the next day, they told me they had slashed it as they didn’t know who it belonged too…

Baring in mind that it was a peppa Pig ball and there are no other neighbours with children…

Honestly....I hate ivy.
I would be creeping out at 11pm with round up qnd murdering the fucking thing.

Especially after they slashed a child's ball...

Plant Virginia creeper, jasmine clematis honeysuckle or any other kind of thing instead of ivy!