Who is responsible for trimming hedge? With diagram!

[LipstickLil]

We have a conifer hedge at the bottom of our garden (and no, we didn't plant it, the previous owner did). We get it trimmed about every 3 years, as it grows fast and every time we get the tree surgeons do it, I get a text from neighbour asking 'Can you get them to do our side?'. The 'our side' that they're talking about is just one tree's width that hangs over their fence (see diagram). It's not a big job and when there's been time in the past I've asked the tree surgeons to do it, but it strikes me as a bit cheeky and I'd never ask for someone else to pay to cut something that was hanging over my fence - I'd just do it myself.

However, it is our hedge, so my question is this: is it our job/are we obliged to do this? I know that they're entitled to cut anything that hangs over their garden and we cut anything that hangs over ours and I know it's nice to be neighbourly and generally speaking we are and we have a good relationship with them - putting each other's bins out and feeding each other's pets when one of us is away - but are we actually meant to cut this area as it's our hedge? All the info online talks about rights (i.e. the right to trim anything that overhangs your garden and the necessity to offer the trimmings or any fallen fruit back to the owner), but I can't find anything about whether we are obligated to offer or to trim the hedge ourselves. Does anyone know the legal position?

You might not legally be expected to, but your tree surgeons will almost certainly do a better job of it than your neighbours, which will keep the hedge looking better for longer.

It would be neighbourly to get their side cut back too. I’m sure they’d really value that.

The hedge has become your responsibility, so you guys should cut it.

You’re not obliged to but I’d do it if only because it would make it look better from your side.

I think it’s a touch rude that they ask you.

Does it cost you much extra?

If it was a small sum over the year then I’d suck it up.

If it was excessive then I’d not be happy.

But would the saving to yourself cover someone to come in and feed your pets? As they certainly wouldn’t do it!

Can't speak for the legal position but it's just good manners! It's your trees and I think you should cut them, I have same here and a long line of conifers bounding next door's driveway. I always send the hedge cutting guy around to their side to trim it and tidy away the stuff, fractional extra cost to me when they are cutting it anyway. On the other side of me the neighbour just leaves my side when cutting theirs, a bloody nuisance to me to have to trim that myself and dispose of! Not enough to make me complain to them though :) I hack it back and couldn't care less about the well being of their trees.

Legally you're not obliged to do it.

Legally they're not obliged to feed your pets when you're away.

Sometimes it's just nice to do these things for your neighbours as it fosters good relations and makes things nicer generally. It's your hedge, so why not maintain all parts of it?

Well it’s your hedge … hanging over their garden so why wouldn’t you get it cut at the same time…. It’s hardly cheeky to ask you to trim your own bloody hedge so it doesn’t overhang in their garden.

Your garden is creating work for them when that shouldn’t be the case.

Conifers have to be cut it a certain way to prevent them going brown and then Sprouting up and out in an ugly shape ( non technical term) .
Our neighbours have a Leylandi hedge and they pay someone to trim it both sides. I give them access and I expect them to take all the branches away and sweep up. Takes two days and it costs £850 every year and it still does not comply with the high hedge act.
If your neighbours were to complain about the height of your hedge you could ask them to contribute to the cost of trimming or removing it but otherwise it is your responsibility.

https://www.problemneighbours.co.uk/rules-on-hedges-and-roots-growing-into-your-property.html#:~:text=Your%20Obligations&text=More%20often%20than%20not%2C%20no,in%20case%20any%20disputes%20arise.

Could you ask the tree surgeon if they were to cut it would it cost extra or would it be included in the price you usually pay. If it’s included I’d ask them to do it but if it’s extra I’d let the neighbour know the price and they can pay.

Right, so it seems that there is no law that states we HAVE to trim their side, or offer to do so. I like to be neighbourly and maintain a good relationship and it's useful to both parties - but it honestly wouldn't occur me to ask my neighbour to do this - hence my question.

Why should they have to pay to cut back a bush that they don't want and is affecting their property, which is in the neighbours garden? They shouldn't be out of pocket for something someone else has. I think you should pay and if you don't want the upkeep, get it removed. I can't imagine it costing much more than what you pay anyway. I wouldn't dream of asking them to pay if I was you, I'd see it as my responsibility.

The tree surgeon was once asked by my neighbours at the rear of they could trim a little bit on their side. No problem.

The laurels and single conifer were trimmed a couple of months ago, and when I passed my neighbours house (the road passes the side of both our houses) I was mortified to see that while the tall conifer trim (rounded off at the top) looks great on my side, it's left it looking really weird on their side. I'm guessing that they weren't in when it was done. I'm surprised they haven't been round to complain.

I am not really quite sure why they are having to ask every time. Surely as a good neighbour, which you seem to imply that you are, you should do it anyway as a matter of course as it is your hedge.

While the law seems to say that you don't legally have to do this, the government website does say that a hedge is the owners responsibility.
Start a trend OP. Take some responsibility.

Our neighbours own some massive hedges that overhang onto our side and every year they get a tree surgeon to come round and trim them. They tidy up the whole bush, including our side, and it’s much appreciated. Legal requirement aside, it’s the neighbourly thing to do.

I think you should trim the whole thing and not just the big on your side. How much extra work would it take for the tree surgeon?

I am not really quite sure why they are having to ask every time.

Because it's only been three times and it didn't occur to DH when he booked the tree surgeons. So then I got dragged into it and was wondering what the legal position is, because if it's our legal responsibility then I need to make sure we do what we're supposed to. But it appears it's just a nice thing to do.

Yes if you have trees on your land you should cut all sides of them.

But OP, why should they have to trim and maintain your trees? The trees that wouldn't even be on their property in the first place.

You own the tree and therefore are responsible for the whole tree imo.

What the actual?…

Wtf this thread took a weird turn 😂😂😂

Your hedge will be healthier if you have the tree surgeons do a complete job. It can’t really change the price that much to do all 4 sides. We just priced up tree trimming and adding on some extra bits was trivial. The bulk of the cost was getting them out for the main job.

you really just need to ask permission for your workers to be on your neighbor’s property if it’s required to properly do the job.

Well okay, but leaves off their tree end up on my driveway every autumn and I don't make them come round and pick them up. Should I? After all, they own the tree and are responsible for the whole tree, so .... ???