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.

Yeah I’m not an experienced gardener and have been busy with a growing family since we moved in; everyone’s friendly so just let it slide really. All good, just had a chat to him over the fence for now and he’s good to wait till autumn and we’ll clear the leaves when they fall.

Thanks.

The tree is leaning over to his property so he has every right to trim up to the boundary. However this would make the tree look lopsided so he has had the courtesy to ask you. If he is on a pension maybe he can’t afford to use a tree surgeon for your tree. I would reduce and perhaps plant on your boundary at the back where it has less impact on others and enjoy watching it grow

I never suggested he had to spend any money on it? And it was me who raised it with him.

Not long. I’ve met him.

It looks like it could do with a bit of a prune anyway. The RHS website has some good advice on quince, and they say to wait until winter to prune www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/quince/grow-your-own

I love quince trees. The scent of the fruits is divine☺️

Dear lord 🙄

That’s funny, you said in your original post he raised it with you. It’s not fair to leave it there infringing his boundary. He can see you have neglected to cut it over the last few years and is likely worried it will continue to get bigger.

Once again, this is not AIBU and I was looking for gardening advice not advice on how to manage the situation so I didn’t go into detail about the conversation. We had a chat when he saw me in the garden. During the chat I explained what I was doing and asked if he wanted a trim on that side too. The conversation about how much he wanted off developed from there.

Anyway we have a plan now so don’t concern yourself with his finances or his well-being. Sorry if you strayed into Gardening looking for a neighbour-on-neighbour bunfight.

Horrible attitude. I feel sorry for your neighbour

What on earth makes you say that?!

Some posters on MN are unpleasant regardless.

If you get on with a neighbour and post how you want to ensure you want to keep getting on with them they tell you, you are unreasonable.

If you don't get on with a neighbour due to their behaviour which can include anti-social behaviour or discrimination, you are unreasonable.

BTW The poster forgot that your neighbour may want your tree cut back for physical reasons but they actually like the tree....

How sad he doesn't like/appreciate it. Prune and clear. Healthy trees are a gift.

If I was his daughter and read the way you are talking about the junk yard next door I would be pretty offended. You have posted photos that could easily be identified. He has been polite enough to talk to you, you should be polite enough to trim it back. What other advice do you need?

He described it as a “rubbish tip” himself when I was speaking to him today. He’s well aware of the issue, which is the result of many years of hoarding. He’s a genial 90 year-old West Indian chap who has had a very interesting life. We chat all the time. Please do go ahead and PM me with my address when you have worked out where we live.

And

you should be polite enough to trim it back. What other advice do you need?

Once more for those at the back who think they are in AIBU. It’s the gardening topic. Horticultural/arboricultural/garden design advice so that I can approach the trimming in the right way.

To put your mind at rest @MeridianGrey, the only people who have any chance of recognising his or my back garden from that photo are the two of us and our neighbours on our right and left. Literally no other souls can see into the gardens from anywhere. I would not recognise the back garden of my neighbour 4 houses down because our terrace is such that all the gardens are accessible only from our houses. The wall between us and the industrial units is 10 feet high on the other side.

I don't think I would like someone else's tree completely overhanging my garden either. Whoever planted it wasn't very smart to put it so close to the neighbour. If I were you I would get an expert in to espalier it along the fence instead.

(Only if it's your fence, obviously!)

My DH has pointed out that if you are in a conservation area you need planning permission to prune the tree It’s not actually planning permission, it’s permission from the Council’s Tree Officer. But Councils find it easier to use their planning software for the mechanics.

Yes to winter for major pruning, and make sure you get a qualified arboriculturalist belonging to the relevant association, and not a bloke with a chainsaw (even if they call themselves “Brown’s Tree Services” or whatever)

Another vote for a tree surgeon rather than doing it you. A good tree surgeon will reshape your quince so it’s still attractive. We had one tackle an overgrown tree and it looks far better that we could have imagined.

November to January is the best time.