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

[HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM]

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.

It also chokes to death any living thing it grows up and destroys buildings and fences,

Thats why people dislike it!

Who says?

The more you cut it the more it will grow. Kill it! One of those times when nuclear force weed killer is justified.

It’s criminal damage to attach or paint someone else’s fence. They own it.

Just because you can see it and touch it doesn’t mean you’re allowed to. Same as if their house wall is a boundary it’s their wall not yours to attach or paint as you wish. You are meant to ask permission.

The law?

Maybe not the answer you were looking for but, as you know this may be a never ending fight.... could you buy a sheet of perspex or panel of thin board to lay between their side of the fence and the ivy so that there is a barrier? You could explain to them that its causing you concern as your fence will be damaged and, due to it not being their fault in any way (ahem) you need to place it there? Kill them with kindness is what my nan always used to say!

Why do you think this?

and let’s be honest, what difference does it make anyway? If you commit criminal damage that you don’t get arrested or prosecuted for then what does that really mean?

For the more knowledgeable out there… if I buy some roundup weed killer in a spray bottle, will this be effective enough? If I simply just spray on all the visible leaves every few days? Perhaps if I wipe some leaves with washing up liquid first?

Please make sure they don't have a cat, wildlife etc in their garden before you do this - it will poison anything living in its wake ... also I wouldn't if you have any in your garden either.

My one concern is that I have a lovely cherry blossom tree that is in reach of their side of the fence (they could lean over and touch the leaves). I’d be worried they’d figure out I’d killed their ivy and kill my cherry blossom in return!!

Perhaps you should read this before reaching for the weed killer!

We do get lots of birds in our garden. Will it be ok with birds? The ivy is in a raised bed and grows up a trellis.

They don’t have a cat.

Technically they wouldn’t be able to prove anything though. I don’t plan on putting anything into their soil, just spraying the leaves on my side.

Avoid rainy periods.

Use ivy pre spray first
Leave it a day or two
Then a few sprays of Roundup Fast Action Weedkiller

Get a pressure sprayer with a wand so can get down to tge roots over the fence

This is the one I would use. I don't think the normal weedkiller is strong enough. It might still need several applications- but we have used this to kill grasses and some holly and ivy (coming in from a council tree)....

I don’t think I dare do this… what about if they notice their fence is wet 😂

After that update I would be actively killing their ivy.
The miserable shits.

We had this and I killed it when it grew through my fence. YANBU

I didn't either. I think it looks really pretty. Ivy is quite a popular name again too...

I see what you mean. You could leave it to grow through a bit more until you get a stem which you can then trim and seal off. Otherwise think you’re going to have to talk to them about it.

Hahaha I discreetly spray any ivy that comes through our fence 😅.

Oh god yeah - who slashes a ball? Gloves off then@HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM , I’d be knocking on the door asap and telling them their plants are encroaching and asking theM to fix it. And then after a week, if they’ve done nothing, I’d lop the top and throw it in their garden.

The law
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I think you're being far too melodramatic. Of course you can cut it on your side. When you see it coming through just snip it off with secateurs.

I love ivy. I deliberately planted a variegated type on the back of my house 30 years ago. I trim it each year, keep it just above the top of ground floor windows height and trim around windows and doors. It looks great all year round and provides habitat for all sorts of wildlife, including wrens which have nested in it for at least the past ten years. It's wonderful to sit in the kitchen and see the parent birds going to and fro bringing food for the chicks and gear them chirping in the nest. Their nest is a thing of beauty.

I also grow it up a fence which isn't mine, but I do keep it to the height of the fence. My neighbours are fine with it, it doesn't poke through. I actually don't really see how it's poking through and growing way above your fence. Does the fence have wide gaps or is the trellis higher than your fence? But snipping it off on your side is easy to keep it under control.

People telling you to kill it should realise it's criminal damage to kill someone else's plants.

ah, you live next to arseholes. Your poor kid!