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.

Ivy is important for animals

Going against the grain, I wouldn’t talk to them if you think they will refuse. Then, if you poison it, will be obvious what’s happened and that it is you.

Instead, I’d just poison it. We did this with a neighbours rampant ivy in a previous house. Use a pre spray on leaves, then use a heavy duty roundup. Try and get what you can all over top as well. Do it late at night when they are in bed.

If they accuse you of poisoning it, act surprised and affronted. Tell them, you had noticed lots of bugs coming from it, and thought you were doing the right thing with insecticide to stop the bugs invading you, and you are sorry but didn’t mean to damage it😑. Suggest they replace with something else non invasive where bugs won’t be an issue moving forward.

Do not do this.
You're committing criminal damage by deliberately killing someone else's plants. You can't dig up your neighbour's plants from their garden and neither can you kill them with weedkiller.

That’s lovely, but you planted ivy because you wanted ivy. If I wanted Ivy in my garden I would plant it myself.

I’ve googled and this is what my fence looks like… it’s not just simply overhanging branches.

The ivy is really dense and leans over the top of the fence onto my side. I do trim this back so that it doesn’t lean into my garden, but it’s still a good 30cm higher than the fence as that’s how thick the plant is.

It’s not just as simple as cutting the bits poking through, as I can only get so close to the fence. And it only takes days for it to be back through again.

Thats a crime against nature

I think those pictures of ivy poking through look lovely. Much nicer than a bare fence.

I think it looks unkempt.

Urgh I hate ivy. The previous owners of my house planted ivy against the fence, I have hacked it down so many times. I thought I’d found the root and killed it off, however my neighbours keep it going on their side and it still
creeps through and over the top. I’ve tried spraying with weed killer on my side but it makes no difference. It’s a bloody menace.

Yeah you’ve got a ivy pube fence lol

I don’t mind a fully covered one but like you say the current state of yours is messy.

Im not sure tbh, you'd have to read the bottles warnings - there are some pet friendly ones but not sure about birds

Can't see the problem with a fence looking like those pictures, it looks attractive.

But perhaps you are someone that has one of those regimented sterile looking gardens surrounded by bare fences and a couple of plants arranged round the edge.

Another thought (doing well today!) If you were to dig under your fence where the roots would be and pour some weedkiller in directly onto the roots? No evidence of you doing anything, it would just "naturally" die

'You cannot legally paint or hang anything on your side of a neighbour’s fence without their permission, even if it faces your garden.'
'Painting someone else’s fence is considered property damage or trespass and could result in legal action or a requirement to restore the fence.'

And an actual crime in law.

Here’s an example of what it looks like on top.

It will eventually rot your fence and bring it down. I can't believe people actually plant ivy. It's an ugly menace that spreads everywhere.

I agree. It's better than looking at a bare fence and it's great for wildlife too 🙂

Not at all. I have multiple trees in my garden and lots of plants and greenery. I just don’t want ivy poking through my fence.

I think the neighbour would be suspicious, get the soil analysed and you would be in trouble!

Does anybody really have time to get their soil analysed?!

This is just wrong

The fence belongs to OP

The neighbours are not allowed to grow anything on the fence without the permission of the OP.

A fence like that is pretty solid. It's the lap fencing that is easily destroyed. That one will probably hold up as it has vertical boards.

My guess is that is that it is now established enough that it would be a right hassle to take it down from that picture.

We had that from our neighbour and one evening hubby climbed up and poured a load of weedkiller and plant killer. End of problem

Retired people with too much time and money on their hands.

They are not allowed to use a fence which you own to support the growth of anything without your permission. They are not allowed to attach trellis or anything else to a fence which you own without your permission. You can't stop them growing ivy but you can stop them using your fence as a support for it. You absolutely can tell them this but it may cause you problems in the future.