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.

You can also use the leaves as soap for laundry. Which is no help to the OP I realise

I beleive you are allowed to pull the ivy away from your fence, although you can't go onto their land to do this. Boundary fences can be a real issue. Could you suggest that you remove the ivy and offer to plant something less damaging in its place, such as a clematis?

The way to deal with Ivy is to cut it back at roots. The roots are still there but the Ivy growing up the fence dies off.

No advice here but I understand your annoyance. Last year I bought a house right next to a park and the fence is covered by ivy growing over from the park. It pops out individual fence slates and they have to be reattached. It leaves marks on the fence. It’s difficult to take off or trim. Forget about ever painting that fence unless you take days to take ivy off and sand every individual slate. It’s my nightmare

I love ivy and have allowed it to grow all over my front fence. It covers the gaps and gives me privacy. I usually get my gardener to cut it back once a year in autumn. If it spreads over the neighbouring fence they can deal with anything that grows on their side but I am not getting rid of what is in my garden. They are probably too scared of me to mention it.

I think some people on here just don't like plants ... or, god forbid, insects or birds ...

This thread is also full of alarmist nonsense. If it's a good-quality treated timber fence, it will support any climber as long as it's not left to overrun things.

@HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM - trim it back now & paint your fence. The ivy will grow back through, but just let it do so. It'll eventually grow up your side of the fence anyway. Add climbers to your side too - they look beautiful & support wildlife. You can even add a large-flowered clematis where the ivy is, as the two will intertwine.

Ivy is self-clinging, but twiners like honeysuckle & clematis need wires attached to the fence. As do climbing roses. Embrace it!!!

Spray weed killer

No, but if you have a horrible neighbour, they just might!

Have you not read it’s illegal to do that?

The ivy can pull the fence down as others have said.

A relative had this with her neighbour. Cheeky fucker had the gall to come over and claim the fence panel was collapsing the first time it happened and could my relative replace it as it was her responsibility!

After the second fence in ten years was torn down/pulled apart by the ivy, my relatives solicitor got involved. Relative made it clear that they would not be replacing any more fence panels (and you can't replace fence panels if it doesn't belong to you without explicit permission) that were torn down as a result of the ivy. Neighbour had two toddlers and a dog so after a few weeks of huffing and puffing with a huge gap in the fence...they conceded. It ended up with the neighbour getting someone in to dig the ivy out as best they could and agreement that they would keep the ivy away from the fencing.

Cost a fortune in solicitor fees. Cheaper than replacing the fence for a third time though.

This looks fine to me. If this is your actual garden I’d paint the fence and plant along the border, maybe even grow some climbers which will blend with the ivy. In a few years you won’t be able to see the ugly fence.

It’s not my fence.

my fence looks like that but also has bits poking through the slats too.

I have lots of plants and trees in my garden, I just don’t want the ivy poking through.

Damaging to fence could be considered property damage according to the link, not painting or placing things on it- actually damaging it ie it falls down or splits.

but again what different does it make? It could result in legal action- who is going to spend thousands suing their neighbour to get a trellis taken off a fence?

If you cover your fence with plants you won’t notice. Maybe if they had given the ball back you wouldn’t mind so much. Which is understandable. You’re going to have to bite the bullet and talk to them. And if they don’t listen you’re entitled to take matters into your own hands (cutting, not poisoning!) A pile of ivy cuttings in their garden will probably get their attention.

I actually have a lovely rose bush next to where the ivy comes through, and wouldn’t want the ivy entangling the rose bush. It’s also illegal to throw cuttings into the neighbours garden unless they ask for them!

Can't believe all of these posts recommending glyphosate weedkiller. The OP has a 4 year old who plays in the garden FFS. Somebody further up posted the official Royal Horticultural Society advice of applying anti graffiti paint or attaching copper or zinc sheets to the fence to stop the ivy attaching.

The real issue is that the neighbours can't attach anything to the fence because it doesn't belong to them, so the OP is within her rights to tell them to remove the trellis the ivy is growing on if it's actually attached to the fence.If the trellis is freestanding and the ivy is just moving onto her fence she can pull it off and apply the paint to stop it coming back.

A systemic weed killer needs to be applied to the leaves, maybe a bit of weed killer over the fence in the dead of the night. I did that when a house behind ours was empty and the 'garden' went crazy encroaching on out garden in a big way.

I don’t actually have a problem with them attaching anything to the fence. It’s just all the bloody ivy poking through.

You are likely correct, just re-growth

the neighbours could hace put up their own fence to block the gaps

Great! Do it with your own fence 👍🏻

have they attached the trellis to your fence? Beacause if so you have a bargaining point. You allow the trellis and in return they control their ivy

kind of...the actual rule is that you have to offer and they can say yes or no,

I had a neighbour drill into my concrete fence posts to put a bamboo fence (while I was away for the week, without permission) of their own up on their own side, that left holes that water gets into, freezes and expands and over time cracks and breaks the fence posts. Absolutely do not let them attach anything to the fence. They have show what kind of people they are, do not give them an inch.

I love ivy, I didn’t realise it was so hated! I know it can be invasive (like many things) so I make sure to control mine religiously. My neighbours own the fence so I created a dead hedge a foot away from it so I have my own barrier as their fence is ugly and getting on a bit. Virginia creepers are a non-damaging alternative but aren’t evergreen. Maybe they could try jasmine or put the ivy in pots? It sounds like they’re pretty inconsiderate twats.