Neighbour and quince tree on boundary-WWYD?

[HaveringWavering]

We have a healthy quince tree in our small garden, it’s a real feature for us. It was there when we bought the house but has grown quite a bit since we moved in 7 years ago. Our neighbour is a very elderly man and we’re on cordial terms. However He came out when I was pruning some branches the other day and asked us to cut back the tree so it doesn’t overhang his side at all. The problem is that the tree is going to look horrendous if we remove everything that overhangs his side. I’ve tried to get him to explain what the issue is as you’ll see from the pic that his garden is basically a junkyard. He doesn’t sit at the back of the house either so no issue with light into the house.

I’m all for maintaining neighbourly relations and I know that we don’t have a legal keg to stand on, but it feels criminal to butcher the tree this way. What would you do in this situation?

I’m thinking maybe we get a tree surgeon in to cut down the top a lot, then build a higher fence so the lopsided tree doesn’t look so weird against it? I think maybe that work would be best done when it’s not in fruit and the leaves have fallen, so we can perhaps buy a bit of time.

I mean cut down the top a lot in addition to removing the branches on the neighbour’s side, so it’s both shorter and narrower.

He might have plans for the garden? I’d get the tree surgeon in. Building a higher fence would look a bit aggressive.

I’ve found you a legal keg to stand on:

5essexcourt.co.uk/our-people/profile/jason-beer-qc

He can do what he likes with his garden as it’s his space. Which is why you cannot insist you occupy it with your tree. I know it’s a shame, but he has the right to cut it back. It might work if you reduce it to where it was when you moved in, and you don’t try to make a case based on how he uses his space, which has nothing to do with it, but negotiate nicely.

Lovely tree but it's rather engulfing his garden. I'd seek advice from a tree surgeon

Hi. Thanks for replying but, as I mentioned, I’m fully aware of the legal (and moral) position. Not really looking for “AIBU” type input, just a gardener’s perspective, hence posting in the gardening topic. I mentioned how he uses his garden as that might be relevant to how the tree is ultimately shaped.

Ha ha very good!

@custardbear

"Lovely tree but it's rather engulfing his garden. I'd seek advice from a tree surgeon"

I agree, talk to the experts.

I think they are best pruned in late autumn but you can check. I don't think it will look too bad cut back. Maybe give it a light prune all over to lessen the effect of cutting his side back. It's the wrong tree in wrong garden. It's just too big for your garden.

What about the tree at the end of the garden. That's huge. 👀👀

Thanks. The two at the back are not on our land, they are on the light industrial estate behind us. Annoying in terms of lead and seed shedding but a godsend for shade and screening.

I think a pp has it right. Reduce height as well as both sides so it is similar to when you moved in. This would make it look more natural rather than lopsided. Do you have any photos from your first year for comparison?

Definitely get a real tree surgeon rather than a "gardener". They are more expensive because they have knowledge of how/when to cut trees rather than just the equipment.

My DH has pointed out that if you are in a conservation area you need planning permission to prune the tree. Otherwise I agree that you'll need a tree surgeon.

I wouldn't bother getting a tree surgeon I for that but I'd research it a lot and I'd really think about what I was doing before tackling it. I get a tree surgeon in to maintain my trees every couple of years but that's for larger and more difficult to prune trees. The OPs tree doesn't look too tricky to do at all but obviously depend on how willing the OP is.

Hi OP,

Until Friday my plum tree was massively overhanging my neighbours garden, he hadn't even complained as it is the top of his garden and he has a cherry, plum and apple tree himself, but I was conscious it had got unruly.

Cost me £180.00 to get it pruned and the tree surgeon has kept it's shape.

Had it not split with the weight of the plums I was going to leave it until November to do, but the rain and the plums made it necessary sooner.

I would offer to do it professionally after the leaves have fallen - and probably offer to sweep up the leaves for him. I'm guessing the fallen fruit and leaves is too much for him now.

Your tree is huge in comparison to the gardens. I'm not surprised your neighbour is complaining. Shaming him by posting his garden online is not cool.

Thanks, that’s really useful and you’ve pretty much nailed the situation, except that the quince don’t usually ripen until September and I always harvest the ones on his side before they fall.

I did also think that offering to clear the leaves for him was a good idea. He mentioned the leaves being part of the problem. The quince isn’t shedding any leaves yet but the two big trees at the back did as a result of the drought and I don’t think he can tell the difference. He’s right though, in autumn there are always quince leaves everywhere. The slight issue with us going round his side to clear the leaves in autumn is that there is all sorts of rusty metal and junk underfoot in there, but we’ll just have to make sure our feet and hands are well-protected.

I’m well aware how dominant the tree has become because yesterday I was pruning off a couple of low-hanging boughs on our side that were below head height and getting in the way. When he came out I said to him that it had been on my mind and did he want a bit of a trim on his side too, at which point he asked for a more comprehensive cut back.

Thanks. That would be a helpful excuse, unfortunately not a conservation area though.

Sure. He does spend a lot of time on Mumsnet, I imagine he will indeed be mortified.

@Iamthewombat
that’s brilliant! How long did it take you?

God you’ve had a couple of bonkers responses OP (along with some good advice). As far as I’m aware you’re not allowed to legally prune trees during bird nesting season (until end September) in UK or Ireland. Trimming them a little is different to the sort of pruning he wants. That might give you time to think about what you want to do. I believe with it being on his side of the boundary, he needs to pay to have it pruned back to the boundary or do it himself. Also is there any chance it might have a TPO (tree protection order) on it to stop it being cut? If not can you get one?

Whatever you decide it is always goi g to be better for you to do it a friendly as you can before a relative decides to help him!

I'd have pruned it into a fan shape years ago, making sure to remove everything growing his way to be honest. It is easier done as they grow rather than years later.

Ow wow that is a pretty large tree on the boundary. As I’m sure you know he would be quite within his rights to lop off any overhanging branches so I would speak to a tree surgeon (not a gardener) and get advice on the best way and time to prune it back and then speak to your neighbour and tell him what your plan/timescales are and get agreement. Otherwise there’s a risk he’ll take matters into his own hands. Definitely needs reduced in size generally rather than just on one side.

We have a quince too.. they can take quite hard pruning. I'd get a professional in and take it back to nice small round tree and it may not produce fruit for a year or two but when it does you'll get much better fruit.

You are incorrect! It's only if there are active birds nests.

Quince trees are fruit trees, so you wouldn't need permission to prune them in a conservation area, as the authorities know that fruit trees need regular pruning anyway.

I'd wait until the right time of year for the species, which I believe is winter, but check on the RHS website to see what they say. It is pretty much at mature height, so needs structural pruning to improve its fruiting capabilities rather than a drastic chop. And of course to keep it cut back from your neighbour's property.