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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tree saga

120 replies

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 15:44

i have a tree in my back garden which admittedly has grown tall, I just can’t keep on top of it, but it doesn’t really bother me, I planted it years ago, my neighbours are complaining it is sat against their fence and want it chopping down, they have offered to do it, but I feel it’s my responsibility and how would they dispose of it all anyway? I have received a quote £200 which I was expecting it to be more to be honest, I just feel reluctant to pay it as the tree doesn’t really bother me, am I being unreasonable to ask them to pay half? As they want it chopping down not me, the thing is I have messaged her now saying I will just sort it out, I was a bit annoyed at the time as we had a bit of an argument about it last night, please help.

OP posts:
AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 16:34

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 15:56

Here it is

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no need to cut it down just trim the branches where it touches the fence. I was expecting you to be talking about a 30ft monster of a tree. As it grows taller you could trim the lower branches so that it is more of a tree shape (ie more trunk) than a ‘shrub’/bush shape that it is now.

Happyjoe · 10/08/2026 16:35

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:31

Then I’m left with disposing of it as well

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You not got garden collection from your council? Some do for free (brown bins) and others will charge a one-off fee. Or just take to the local dump.

godmum56 · 10/08/2026 16:35

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:31

Then I’m left with disposing of it as well

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yup, its the proper disposal that is the costly bit, councils charge a fortune for commercial disposal

Original poster
pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:36

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 16:23

God you need ro remove that, why on earth would you plant that fhere, you need to get it out asap.

Really regret it I obviously didn’t do my research on trees 😂

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 10/08/2026 16:37

godmum56 · 10/08/2026 16:35

yup, its the proper disposal that is the costly bit, councils charge a fortune for commercial disposal

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It won't be commercial for the OP.

godmum56 · 10/08/2026 16:38

Happyjoe · 10/08/2026 16:37

It won't be commercial for the OP.

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no but a messy pain to get it to the tip

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 10/08/2026 16:38

£200 is very reasonable @pinenuts75. It's probably at least an hour's work, plus proper equipment and proper safety procedures and insurance and disposal and transport.
I'm not usually in favour of cutting down trees but leylandii are a pain in the arse and in a few years it could cost you a grand or more to have it taken out. So do it.

Original poster
pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:38

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 16:34

no need to cut it down just trim the branches where it touches the fence. I was expecting you to be talking about a 30ft monster of a tree. As it grows taller you could trim the lower branches so that it is more of a tree shape (ie more trunk) than a ‘shrub’/bush shape that it is now.

Show quote history

It is extremely tall the photo doesn’t really do any justice

OP posts:
Anonomoso · 10/08/2026 16:41

Having now seen its a conifer I'd wait until the end of this month and get it taken out.
I've one in my garden but it's not affecting anyone as it has plenty of space around it, it's now about 80ft tall and starting to look shabby.

Conifers once brown don't grow back like a deciduous tree would, they stay that way. We once pulled one out at a previous property and the root ball compared with the tree hight was incredibly small.

On a side note I'd let the neighbour know that you really do like the tree but as they are concerned it may damage their fence you will remove it....I say this as you don't want them to think in the future if they don't like something of yours you'll immediately bow down and change it.

Edited to add...unless its someone yiu know doing the job make sure that they are a reputable trades person with a waste licence...don't want the debris ending up in a layby.

Monty36 · 10/08/2026 16:42

That just needs managing. Not killing.
A good tree surgeon should be able to trim that back for you. Not kill it and chop it down.
It is a conifer. They grow to a height and your neighbours are probably worried it will get out of hand. To be honest they are in my view being a bit prissy about it.
But get it trimmed regularly, every couple of years.

£200 seems quite high but ask for a quote for a trim only . Not for killing it.

Wiseowl18 · 10/08/2026 16:43

Although it probably isn't the case with this tree you still have to be careful. You have to make sure you don't live in a conservation area (many people don't realise this) and that the tree doesn't have a tree preservation order. Even if a tree was planted by the owners if it has a local authority tree preservation order you can be fined up to £20,000 for the unauthorised removal. Again it probably won't be the case here but it's worth noting now or in the furure regarding tree removals.

OneStarAwake · 10/08/2026 16:46

I would chop it, tbh. It will get huge. Plant some insect friendly plants in its place.

stichguru · 10/08/2026 16:46

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:02

My question is should I just be paying for it? As they want it doing

Yes you should, It's your tree and your responsibility and is very likely to damage the fence and intrude onto their property. Yes doing it right now maybe because they would prefer it pruned, but if you didn't prune it now it would encroach more on their garden and likely damage the fence. Then you wouldn't be doing it because they "want it doing", you'd be paying for letting YOUR tree go on to their property and cause damage. Stop fussing and sort the tree on your own dime now while it's cheaper and easier to sort.

Somersetbaker · 10/08/2026 16:49

Does £200 include removing the stump? Whatever get rid of it and plant something nice like a cherry tree or a plum tree.

PinkPanther50 · 10/08/2026 16:49

That does seem a very reasonable price. I would ask if taking out the stump is included in that quote because if not then you are going to have a large stump left meaning you will be unable to plant anything in its place.

Notasbigasithink · 10/08/2026 16:50

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 15:44

i have a tree in my back garden which admittedly has grown tall, I just can’t keep on top of it, but it doesn’t really bother me, I planted it years ago, my neighbours are complaining it is sat against their fence and want it chopping down, they have offered to do it, but I feel it’s my responsibility and how would they dispose of it all anyway? I have received a quote £200 which I was expecting it to be more to be honest, I just feel reluctant to pay it as the tree doesn’t really bother me, am I being unreasonable to ask them to pay half? As they want it chopping down not me, the thing is I have messaged her now saying I will just sort it out, I was a bit annoyed at the time as we had a bit of an argument about it last night, please help.

If its pushing on their fence then it is encroaching on their boundary which means you are damaging their property.
You should never have planted the tree so close to the boundary in the first place.
Do the right thing and pay for it to be removed professionally. You can offset the removal by planting bee friendly bushes within your own garden within a safe distance of the boundary line.

Dontevenlookatme · 10/08/2026 16:54

Just noticed you’re renting, your landlord may have something to say about it if you let it get out of control. You planted it so it is down to you to remove it and the price seems reasonable.

Original poster
pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:59

Monty36 · 10/08/2026 16:42

That just needs managing. Not killing.
A good tree surgeon should be able to trim that back for you. Not kill it and chop it down.
It is a conifer. They grow to a height and your neighbours are probably worried it will get out of hand. To be honest they are in my view being a bit prissy about it.
But get it trimmed regularly, every couple of years.

£200 seems quite high but ask for a quote for a trim only . Not for killing it.

I asked how much a trim only would be, they said it wouldn’t be much cheaper.

OP posts:
7238SM · 10/08/2026 17:00

I can’t ask my landlord as he didn’t plant it

Did you ask for LL permission before planting it?

In this scenario, I'd be paying for it to be remove and not the neighbour. If it gets bigger and causes more damage, your LL might charge you for its removal in the future which might be a lot more than paying £200 now!

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:01

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 16:38

It is extremely tall the photo doesn’t really do any justice

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Honestly - it really isn't. Most of the trees in my garden are 15-30ft… as are the neighbours. It’s a shrub at this stage. Just trim it so that it’s not pushing against the fence. They have no rights over the height, not even a ‘right to light in a habitable room’ under planning regs as it’s a slow growing tree in an outside garden space. Just trim it so that it doesn’t damage their fence. I’ve seen hedges that are taller.

ETA - only proviso is that LL has some say. If they aren’t happy do as another PP suggested - take it out and plant a buddleia or something.

Original poster
pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:04

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:01

Honestly - it really isn't. Most of the trees in my garden are 15-30ft… as are the neighbours. It’s a shrub at this stage. Just trim it so that it’s not pushing against the fence. They have no rights over the height, not even a ‘right to light in a habitable room’ under planning regs as it’s a slow growing tree in an outside garden space. Just trim it so that it doesn’t damage their fence. I’ve seen hedges that are taller.

ETA - only proviso is that LL has some say. If they aren’t happy do as another PP suggested - take it out and plant a buddleia or something.

Edited
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There’s no way I’m risking falling off my ladder, I wouldn’t be able to reach the tall bits that are against their fence.

OP posts:
VividDeer · 10/08/2026 17:06

Get rid. You don't want that tree in your garden

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 17:07

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:01

Honestly - it really isn't. Most of the trees in my garden are 15-30ft… as are the neighbours. It’s a shrub at this stage. Just trim it so that it’s not pushing against the fence. They have no rights over the height, not even a ‘right to light in a habitable room’ under planning regs as it’s a slow growing tree in an outside garden space. Just trim it so that it doesn’t damage their fence. I’ve seen hedges that are taller.

ETA - only proviso is that LL has some say. If they aren’t happy do as another PP suggested - take it out and plant a buddleia or something.

Edited
Show quote history

It’s also not a shrub,

AnonyMumAuDHD · 10/08/2026 17:09

pinenuts75 · 10/08/2026 17:04

There’s no way I’m risking falling off my ladder, I wouldn’t be able to reach the tall bits that are against their fence.

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What ladder? The fence is 6ft tall - you stand BEHIND it and cut a few of the branches that are touching the fence? It’s a 60min job FFS. It doesn’t require a bloody tree surgeon just a pair of sharp secateurs.

AM now thinking you are absolutely trolling.

Gowlett · 10/08/2026 17:11

I just had to click on this because… Tree. Saga. What’s going to happen next?!?!