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Original poster

How to handle neighbours opinion on my garden

68 replies

Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 21:22

We have a lovely, large new garden, which is pretty much a blank canvas and we can't wait to get out there!

The problem we have, is the neighbour.....she is very nice and friendly, but doesn't want us to cut down any trees or hedges along her boundary.
The garden needs totally re fencing, as we have animals. Ourselves and both neighbours also have dogs.

We would like to fence the top half of the garden, near the house, with normal panels and stock fence the rest, which is vast. Then grow a natural mixed hedge.
This she is happy with, but she doesn't want us to remove any existing hedges, that include lleylandi (which we can't stand) She'd like us to push the fence up against the hedges and leave them.

I know we're entitled to do as we wish with our own boundary, but I don't want to cause a big battle with an otherwise pleasant neighbour.
I also feel very strongly that we should start as we mean to go on and establish our boundaries....

Don't really know what I'm asking, but it's really playing on my mind and not sure how to handle her.

OP posts:
Littlefish · 09/03/2014 21:25

Why doesn't she want you to remove the hedging? Laylandii are very horrible, so I'm not surprised you want to remove them.

RandomMess · 09/03/2014 21:28

"we've had the landscapers around, I'm afraid that won't work for us, we wouldn't be able to maintain the existing hedge properly anymore and the fences would get ruined"

Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 21:29

P.S.
She's also the neighbour who's growing the invasive bamboo that's threatening to take over our garden! Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 21:31

She's very much into birds, wildlife etc (which we are too) and doesn't want gaps left while the hedges are growing...

OP posts:
Gooner123 · 09/03/2014 21:32

randomMess has got the right idea, give her some excuse to keep the peace.
The leylandii Must go !

MostlyMama · 09/03/2014 21:33

If it is all on your land do as you please and ignore her.

whereisshe · 09/03/2014 21:35

You need one of these!

OddFodd · 09/03/2014 21:35

Tell her you're keen to plant native species because that will attract the most wildlife and that while you appreciate there will be some habitat destruction (you are going to be doing this in the dead of winter aren't you; not nesting season?), in the fullness of time, it will provide a much improved habitat for many birds/insects/small mammals than the current arrangement

Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 21:38

The leyandii will definitely be going! Just don't want to go down the garden to find she's chained herself to it!
She looked like she was going to cry when I mentioned that we'd like to take it out. Started going on about the grass snake that sunbathes on it.

We really need to keep the peace as were also planning an extension and don't want the agro.

OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 09/03/2014 21:43

The only advice I can offer is to do what you want, but make sure you put down as much of a barrier as you can against the bamboo when you hedge is planted.

RandomMess · 09/03/2014 21:50

I would also include that the landscaper wanted to you to check with her that she realised how invasive that bamboo was and how bad it is for native species Wink

Lots of research into the best things to plant for long term wildlife purposes etc. Bind her with information and science.

Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 21:51

Yes, I know that not much grows with bamboo. I do intend to try and kill the parts that have invaded our garden.

Thanks for the advice. I know we are just going to have to be firm with her, but carefully.
I feel that once these boundaries are sorted the garden will actually be ours, to do with as we wish. At the moment she has an opinion on everything!

OP posts:
Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 21:53

Blinding her with science and blaming an imaginary landscaper are good ideas Wink

OP posts:
RandomMess · 09/03/2014 21:58

Lots of "oh, I see, I'll double check that the landscaper can't amend that" Wink

mercibucket · 09/03/2014 22:04

isnt it a shared boundary hedge? usually they kind of 'expand' to be on both sides' land.

HansieMom · 09/03/2014 22:07

Maybe, MAYBE, you could trim up all the hedge plants to six feet high. Leave just the trunk to that height. Then put your fence on the boundary line. She gets the upper part to enjoy. And so does the grass snake.

It's a crazy idea to push a fence up against the plants.

Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 22:27

The hedge isn't that high, or particularly thick.
It's a mixture of broken fencing, bits of old chicken wire, a few gaps, odd bits of hedge and the dreaded leyandii, which at the moment is only about 4ft tall.
We could of course end up with her claiming that parts of the hedge are hers.
Perhaps we should get a professional in to do the fence?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 09/03/2014 22:33

Could be easier/less hassle. I would look at different fence panel designs, and IF there are 2 you like the same you could perhaps gain favour by asking her which one she prefers?

Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 09/03/2014 23:02

Yes, I think things like that could help win us some brownie points.

To be honest it's mainly this crappy looking hedge that she's all precious and possessive over.

OP posts:
Quinteszilla · 09/03/2014 23:13

Considering the height of leylandii as they grow, how close to the boundary have they been planted? Are there any laws stating that tall trees cant be planted closer than X to a boundary?

Regards the bamboo, I suggest you spray liberally with tumble weed any that come into your garden. On your side, I also suggest you put triple layer of weed suppressing fabric, and paving stones bigger than 50x50 along her bamboo. You can make it into a feature, and have pots with laurel along it....

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 09/03/2014 23:24

Bamboo is bastard stuff. It's like Japanese knotweed, it gets absolutely everywhere. Weed repellent fabric won't work, it will both grow through and build up clumps of roots underneath that will be very difficult to kill. It goes under paths and through walls. It goes everywhere. We had some in our garden that the previous idiot owner planted. It took about five applications of roundup before it started to wilt and in the end we dug the bastard out. We're planning to lawn over that part as our gardner told us that it will just keep coming back and grass will make it easier to spot.

Please feel free to give this information to your neighbour. This could be extremely difficult to get rid of in the long run. The leylandi (sp?) won't be the half of it.

OddFodd · 09/03/2014 23:31

Leylandii can actually make a very good yew-style solid hedge with regular (2x yearly) pruning. But it's not fab for wildlife because it's too dense

Original poster
Turnipinatutu · 10/03/2014 00:15

Good point, OddFodd Wink (taking notes)

OP posts:
Bagofnutsnbolts · 10/03/2014 00:25

How about growing some climbers up through the leylandii? Clematis is a good one to romp up into it but there or the rose rambling rector...mind you it can grow like a weed so maybe not! Pretty though and lightly scented

trufflehunterthebadger · 10/03/2014 00:33

My parents' new neighbour has hacked down the mature conifer hedge that separated their gardens and replaced it with horrible, bright, tacky fencing. It looks foul and has ruined the look of my parents' lovely, cottagey garden.

Not everyone likes fencing. Some of us think it's vile. I'm with your neighour