Offer to replace neighbours sycamore trees

[Itwasntme1]

My neighbours have about seven sycamore trees planted tight up against our boundary.

I hate them, my side garden is shaded all summer, grass won’t grow, and don’t get me started on the leaves and Sap.

They hate it when I trim overhanging branches - someone’s they tough my roof though.

I was thinking of offering to employ someone to remove the trees (which are now over two stories Hugh and at one point less than ten feet away from my house) and replace them with more appropriate trees which would main their privacy but not destroy my garden.

This might be bonkers, but I am at the end of my rope. Any ideas on what tresses will be suitable. I would of course ask the tree surgeon, but just want to have some initial ideas.

If they object to you trimming overhanging branches (which you are absolutely legally entitled to do) they aren’t going to take kindly to you offering to remove them!

The way I see it you have only two options realistically.

Cut them dead level with the boundary, as high up as you can reach, keep them regularly trimmed back to that boundary and brace yourself for regular arguments.

Or, accept there’s nothing to be done and make a shade garden.
They can be quite beautiful actually.
White fences and flowers and white gravel to reflect light, lots of ferns and silver leafed plants.
Vinca minor would probably grow in place of a traditional grass lawn.

I suppose I am a wimp and was trying to find a solution that might work for everyone.

I didn’t trim them at all last year, so quite out of control this year. I do need to trim a little because the branches brush up against my washing line. At parts my Very small garden has lost about three feet.

I can settle for no plants or flowers on that side of the garden - but really want grass

I am getting a landscaper in once lock down is over to see what can be done with the garden. I love grass and really want a nice green garden.

I will be working from home full time now for about a year, I want a nice out door space.

If they upset about you trimming them what makes you think they will be up for you having them destroyed.

Is there something missing from your op which leads you to think they might quite like that idea?

I love syccamore but get where you are coming from.

you can certainly aporoach the neighbours politely but I would be prepared for them to decline.
also: the work plus new trees would be very very expensive. a tree big enough to provide instant privacy will be a good few hundred - more if you go for a mature spalier type.

How close are they to your house?

Sycamores are giant forest trees, if left to carry on growing unhindered, they will be a nightmare. They are also classed as a nuisance tree. Perhaps you could email the tree officer at your local council and ask their advice.

Yes you’re likely looking at about a thousand pounds min to have them all removed and the stumps ground, which makes a proper mess.

Then to replace them with mature trees is again very expensive. Overall I think you’d be lucky to get change out of three grand.

Do you know how much that would cost? Where I live, just the removal of one mature tree alone would be many, many hundreds. It depends on access and how much space there is.

I thought their was a law about really tall trees and you could apply to the council to get them reduced even if the owner objected?

The taking down of the trees isn’t that long, it does depend on the access and if they need to do it i stages or risk damaging something Ie fence etc,

I’ve two large sycamores, round about the height the op is saying, we could porobably take them out ourselves. The issue isn’t taking them out, it’s the then cutting them up and removing the wood, that is a shit load of work, and then the grinding out of the stumps, which makes a fuck off level of mess.

I reckon it could be done in four days, probably a thousand pounds with a friendly tree surgeon, maybe 1500.

Then replacing them with mature trees, that’s not cheap at least two to three grand there,

So yes I reckon to do what the op is suggesting it’s between three and four grand.

Bluntness, the lady who owned the house before kept hem trimmed quite low.

What is maybe missing from my post is they whack them back on their side every few years, and I hear them complain about the mess And the leaves in autumn.

I had budgeted about £5k to fix up my garden, the main problem being these trees. Perhaps a stupid idea to offer a compromise.

I think I need to trim them and just take the flak.

What’s so special about grass?

There’s lots of lovely low growing evergreen plants that can be used in place of grass and make a perfectly lovely fake lawn space?

Okay most of the most commonly used ones like thyme and chamomile require sun but vinca minor doesn’t, I’m fairly sure ajuga would grow there too and possibly (though I am not 100% sure) Corsican mint and there’s probably others.

Ferns are lovely, fuchsias don’t mind a lightly shaded area, roses and a myriad of other flowers do fine in light shade too.

Most spring bulbs flower nicely in even deep shade, Hostas, lungwort, Brunnera, Hardy geranium, Christmas roses, Astrantias, astilbe, heucheras...

There’s loads of plants.

You can still have a really lovely garden even with the massive sycamores.

Some great ideas - maybe I got fixated on grass beciase I love walking bare foot in grass (with a glass of wine😊).

Okay I need to replan the whole thing. Learn to live with the monster trees. I do love trees I really do, these are just too big.

You get grass that grows in shade, you can buy the seed on amazon.

We flattened and cleared an area, co incidentally also by the two sycamore trees I mentioned, and some others, much bigger, pines, and I bought grass seed from amazon for shaded areas and it lawned it’s self over in a few weeks.

I’d chop trim what over hangs your garden then simply put some grass seed down that is for shaded areas and then just focus on the rest of the garden.

I’m not sure what you planned to do with your five grand but I’m guessing it wasn’t just removing your neighbours sycamores and planting new trees for them,

Ps if you did broach the subject with them, depending on what kind of soil, I’d recommend camellias, which they can turn ultimately into a camellia hedge, which is gorgeous for both of you. But I think it will take every penny of your five grand.

Try Googling something called the high hedges law in the UK. If the trees are higher than 2m, they may be breaking the law. If you can establish that the trees are in fact illegal, it will give you a good starting point to negotiate with your neighbors to reach a reasonable solution.

Sycamore trees aren’t a suitable back garden tree when you have near neighbours. Definitely seek advice from the council and keep trimming every branch that overhangs your garden.

I paid to chop a neighbours tree that was affecting the light into our conservatory when we were planning to sell the house. It cost me £400 and the neighbour was happy as the tree surgeon also chopped it into manageable logs for his log burner.

DH initially grumbled about paying but it definitely helped to sell the house.

Actually if the trees have been there a Long time and the neighbours wish to fight it she may end up with a tpo in place. Meaning they never go.

My garden - new to me- is full of hideous sycamores. They block the light I fucking HATE them. I'm in a conservation area though so they have to stay.

I believe that the High Hedges Act can override TPOs. You cannot force the removal of the hedge, but you can force your neighbors to cut it below 2m, which I think the OP would be happy enough with,

Ask them. Just ask them. Why wouldn't you?
If the answer is no well you can decide what to do but, for the love of god just ask them.

High hedges legislation does not apply as Sycamores are deciduous. Nor does it apply to individual trees.

High hedges legislation is for evergreens.

Bluntness thanks. The £5k was supposed to brighten up the garden and make it useable space. My garden is tiny - inner city. I haven’t really thought it though.

I hoped a small patio with grass that actually grows either side. I was happy to sacrifice the budget to get rid of the trees. But appreciate now I was maybe being unrealistic.

All I normally leave the house at 7am and get home at 8pm. All of a sudden I am home much more and want to make the most of my outside space.

I have just got the office sorted- grades and kitchen next. Probably overthinking things.

Will call at neighbours tomorrow and say I am going to to prune the trees again, they are aggressive and sweaty. I am fierce in work but for for some reason lose my bottle in my home environment. I think living alone is a factor. Shouldn’t be.

Don’t worry.
You will have a beautiful garden!
You just need to pick shade tolerant plants and pick light colours for things like decking, fencing etc to increase the light.

Also, why do you need to call round the neighbours..?
You are legally entitled to cut back any branches that are overhanging back to flush with the boundary.
You don’t need the neighbours permission at all.
Just chop the branches back level with your fence.
If the tree is dense and you time it right when they aren’t looking into the garden they probably don’t even realise?

Op, you don’t need to tell them you’re going to prune them, if they over hang it’s your right.

I get the awkwardness though, if you feel you need to, then maybe just tell them this time and say in future when they need trimming you won’t bother them but will just do it.

As said, then get some grass seed for shaded areas from amazon and overseed what lawn you have, then plant things that love shade, camellias, hydrangeas etc. Shades really not that bad.

Check your deeds. It could be that trees should be no closer to the boundary than 6 feet. I fucking hate large trees close to boundaries. My lovely south facing garden is far too often shaded by selfish neighbours tree which is well above roof level and whose rotting leaves killed the wildlife in my pond. I will be speaking yet again to them tomorrow.

Cut them back to your fence line and chuck the cuttings over into their garden as required by law.

Don’t say anything. You don’t have to. You are acting legally.

I’d still be concerned about trees close to my house as the roots wreck your drains.