Asking neighbours not to grow plants on our fence

[crunchiest]

We recently had to replace the retaining wall and fence between our garden and the neighbours garden. The retaining wall was on our property, and so was the fence. We asked the neighbours to contribute to the cost of the fence, and they refused, citing “works” they were saving up for.
Legally it was a grey area, with better argument that we should pay for the whole thing, so we did it. It was very expensive, and the neighbours now have a super nice fence to look at instead of the disgusting crumbly one from before. It was done last October and I’ve now seen that the neighbours are now growing all kinds of plants on our fence (on their side) including leaning polls on there for their tomatoes. Aibu to ask them not to do that? The fence is wood and will obviously be damaged by this.

I thought they could do as they wish on their side?

I don't see that it's anything to do with you. The plants are on their side, after all.

I don't think you can ask.

It's never occured to me to look over my fence to see what's touching the other side.

Leaning a pole against it for tomatoes won't damage it.

They can grow what they want as long as it is not physically attached and only supported from the ground up on their side.

You're being ridiculous. You don't get to dictate that your neighbours have to stare at a bare fence just because you paid for it and you're in a huff that they didn't want to contribute. Tomato plants, and a support/trellis won't damage it anyway.

The one thing that will really wreck it is ivy which most people don't plant, it just takes over.

my fence fell to bits a few years ago. the bit that stayed up longest had no ivy growing up it.

the bit that fell down first (a year and a half earlier) was pulled down by the sheer weight i think.

we halved in for a replacement fence. i told them not to grow stuff up it as it would pull it down again.

it’s COVERED in ivy. it’s grown right over and down my side. i cannot see the fence through it. Itll pull this fence down too. So annoyed.

How poorly made is the fence if you think some plants and poles leaning against it will damage it?

They are doing nothing wrong.

a bunch of the plants are attached to it, yes.

It’s very simple - if it’s your fence i.e. you paid for it, your neighbours are not entitled to attach anything to it or grow anything up it etc., and you are entitled to ask them not to.

Legally, should they do so, it falls under the civil torts of trespass and criminal damage.

Edit: They are entitled to erect their own fence parallel to yours.

Most people don't plant ivy, though. It's a bit of a rampant thug once it gets a toehold.

Ironically if someone plants something they actually want against a fence, then they're more likely to be motivated to deal with any ivy.

It’s really not worth it. Let it go.

Just petty of you. Forget about it.

On the average row of terraced house gardens - where (in general) each house is responsible for one of their fences on either side - can you imagine if everyone took this approach? There'd either be legal havoc or a weird set of fences alternatingly bare on one side and festooned with plants on the other.

Fortunately, most people don't look at it this way!!

I wouldn't ask, as you can see from the responses here, despite your considerable expense your neighbours still view it as 'their' fence.
Personally I would be out with the watering can liberally dosed with bleach right next to the fence on my side. If some accidentally got in their plants and killed them it would be a shame 🤷‍♀️

absolutely correct.

doesn't matter, its still what the law says.

How petty.

If the fence is yours, it's yours to replace. They'll be responsible for the one the other side of their garden and if you have neighbours the other side of you they own the fence that side. Have you got anything growing up that one?

OP, you are not being ridiculous or petty, despite what you're being told here.

If it is your fence it is your property. Your neighbour is not allowed to attach anything to it or paint it without your permission.

The post by Mountainbetweenus today at 17:32 is correct.

It doesn't matter if it "looks weird" or your neighbours have to stare at a bare fence (!) They can grow something in front of it on trellis, stakes, obelisks etc.

I'm not saying whether I personally think this is wrong or right, but this is how it is.

This would be wrong and potentially criminal. You can't attempt to poison your neighbours' plants, especially their edible plants.

Neighbourliness is a completely separate issue.

The OP prefaced their neighbours attitude in their post. They could have gone 50/50 on a new shared fence, and this thread would not have been posted.

It takes two to tango, agreed?

If some tomato plants are going to damage the fence, then I suggest you get a new one as it’s likely a pile of shit and will soon be blown away by the time autumn comes

Not to mention the poor wildlife that would come into contact with it! Sometimes comments on here really leave you wondering about the people who wrote them.

nope. Not if they don't own the fence or wall.

My neighbour leans right over and clips my hedge a few inches in so it doesn’t touch his boundary. Very annoying.

Doesn't always work like that. My neighbour on my left is responsible for the fence on my left, neighbour on the right is responsible for the fence on the right. I only have the one at the bottom of the garden to worry about. It really annoys the neighbours as they are both responsible for three fences and I just have the one.