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Original poster

It'll grow back but no privacy now !

56 replies

121hugsneeded · 07/02/2021 04:23

More of a little vent /what should I do now ?

Had a boundary in my garden that was all 7.5m tall established trees. (It's about a 15m long run. It was blocking out quite a lot of the southern aspect sunlight to the garden, so called in tree guys to trim it all off to about 3.6m. It was suggested that we entwined the offcuts into the lower parts to keep the garden secure.

So left them to it, they have worked for us before, and I had no reason to think they wouldn't do what we'd discussed.

They have taken everything down to a height of about 1m!

Now anyone can see into my garden and even climb in if they wanted . To the rear of this boundary is an access point to neighbours run of garages. My privacy and security has gone completely.

I was shocked, but was too bloody polite to show it or say. The tree guys live very locally so drive past and wave almost every day, and it's done now so not much point in causing ill feeling by ranting at them. But WTF do I do to reinstate some privacy and security?

I was really looking forward to sunbathing in my garden this summer. I'm so disappointed.

OP posts:

Sunflowergirl1 · 07/02/2021 07:22

I'm staggered now this has happened....some mis communication?

Not much you can do without confronting them which doesn't sound like you want to. Short term solution is a fence but the cost will be huge.

How much will it grow back a year?

FurierTransform · 07/02/2021 08:20

What's done is done unfortunately. I'd just replace with some fast growing stuff ASAP if privacy is an issue. You can buy/plant lelandii that are already 2m+ tall so can quickly regain your required privacy.

PresentingPercy · 07/02/2021 08:21

7.5m is very high for a boundary. The legal limit is 2m. 3.5m is still anti social. So what trees are they? If they were Leylandii they are better chopped down altogether. If lovely garden trees then they were better left alone but I’m guessing if you are talking about privacy they were horrible conifers. Perhaps your neighbours asked for them to be lower? So they got some light!!?

Get a woven Willow fence and attach it to the trunks.

Palavah · 07/02/2021 08:22

You don't have to rant at them, but you can speak to them calmly and ask why they cut to 1m when you agreed 3.6m?

rbubu · 07/02/2021 08:45

36 inches is about 1 metre. Did they misread the units?

DonLewis · 07/02/2021 08:48

How much do you want to spend to put it right? You can buy panel trees. They have a clear stem and the canopy of the tree is trained into a panel shape. If you line them up you get privacy from the panels, but it's not a true hedge iyswim? Good ones aren't cheap though.

Magstermay · 07/02/2021 08:55

I’m a bit confused, 1m would be just a bit of trunk in most cases?

tanstaafl · 07/02/2021 08:59

@rbubu

36 inches is about 1 metre. Did they misread the units?

Has to be this.

LadyEloise · 07/02/2021 09:18

This happened to us. We had used the firm before and were happy with their work. Second time they cut back too far and five years down the line the trees ( conifers) didn't grow back so we have an issue with privacy F*ckity fu#k

RatherLostPenguins · 07/02/2021 09:28

Sounds like they've misread as 3.6 feet. That would be just over a metre. :(

CellophaneFlower · 07/02/2021 09:28

@PresentingPercy

Get a woven Willow fence and attach it to the trunks.

There is no legal limit when it comes to boundary trees/hedges. Over 2m is considered a high hedge and although you could be asked to reduce them if massively above this and detrimental to a neighbours property, you wouldn't be forced to cut them below 2m. And if OP's neighbours asked the tree surgeons to cut them lower, they would be the ones breaking the law

OP I really feel for you. You have reacted much better than I would as I'd be raging! I totally get that you feel awkward confronting though... however I doubt I'd have been able to disguise the horror on my face when I saw what they'd done. The amount they've taken off is so huge I'm surprised they didnt query it and mention your resulting of security/privacy though

I have a large bush that borders an alley that runs alongside my house. I accidentally removed too much of it once and felt instantly exposed... although it wasn't really that bad. I hope you can find a solution before the summer

CellophaneFlower · 07/02/2021 09:29

LACK of security

Original poster

121hugsneeded · 07/02/2021 10:08

Hi, thank you all for commenting.

The trees were a mix of Hazel, sycamore and ash I think ( not fir trees ) and were quite full and very established ( rural location of that makes any difference?) .

The communication was all verbal including pointing to a growth spurt area about 3.6m up as the cut off point. So was quite clear.

There was a time lag between us talking about it, and them doing it, to be fair, ( due to weather and other jobs between ours) but the beech hedge boundary that comes off it at one end is established at about 2.5m, as is the boundary at the other side. They even built us a new fence and security gate last summer on the opposite boundary so they know security is a big thing for us.

I am amazed they didn't just match it to the other boundary's if they were going lower than the agreed point.

Re what to do now: if we put in a proper fixed fence, it will need to be infront of the 1m bunch of stumps/folded over bows, as no room to dig in behind, as will all be roots. If we screwed a hurdle fence to the rear, at the rear, and the wind blows it over it would be into land not owned by us, so we'd be liable for damage to cars parked there. So that's not practical to do.

So could only fix on our garden side , but I'm then worried we might lose that land, our boundary goes to the rear of the trees, but if we fence off on this side, what's to stop people thinking that's a new boundary .
Although I've looked at hurdle fence panels this morning ( online) as was suggested fixing them to the stumps. £74 a fence panel ! Ouch !
I've also looked at a privacy netting ( ugly!) .
The panel trees are lovely but also pricy .

They tree guy said it will double in height in about a year. ( so maybe my face was readable ) and will be denser than before . But I just can't get past the security thing.

We a rural and sadly there are some people who help themselves to oil or garden equipment, one neighbour even had old oil barrels lifted from their garden ( for scrap values I assume )

As we didn't go abroad last year and won't be this year, we were looking forward to buying new rattan sun loungers and an extra long table with 10 new chairs and making an outdoor bar /kitchen etc.

I don't feel we can risk that as it might well go walkabout.

First world problem I know. I should just be patient. And hope it grows fast.

Thanks for your support

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 07/02/2021 10:13

If they are now three feet it is just the bottom of the trunks left, there is no way trees lie sycamore ans hazel are coming back any time soon.

Can you post a pic?

Candleabra · 07/02/2021 10:14

New pruning always looks brutal, that sounds particularly drastic. Why didn't you say something to the contractors though? I know they can't make things grow back, but I'm assuming you've paid in full and are not happy. Sounds like you gave clear instructions - they may have had a good reason to suggest something else, but not without your consent.

Chumleymouse · 07/02/2021 10:18

Yes , there is no legal height limit on trees in gardens.
Perhaps your neighbours asked for them to be cut lower 🤣😂 what a load of shite 🍩

Chumleymouse · 07/02/2021 10:22

The ash and especially the sycamore will grow back pretty fast I don’t know about the hazel as I’ve never had one.

Original poster

121hugsneeded · 07/02/2021 10:25

They are a small family business and lovely people, so I feel bad to make waves - re the Bill - not had it yet - that's not how they work - they do the job then give us an invoice for man hours and shredder or any other equipment hired etc afterwards. It's crazy I know.

DH says it's done and we'll just make do until it grows. He doesn't think anyone could be arsed to steal stuff that's so big .

Didn't really want to post a pic incase the tree family are on MN and see it - would hate them to know how upset I am about it . Like I said before, they are good people and live just up the road.

OP posts:

Chumleymouse · 07/02/2021 10:37

Yeah that’s the problem when things are cut down / too much , there’s no going back and what’s done is done ☹️ If you get some new garden furniture, get some covers with so it’s not so noticeable if your going out / away ? The sycamore will grow back quickly, they are the weeds of the tree world and grow anywhere and fast 😀. The large root system on them will urge the tree to make more leaves to get energy for the trees It’s a pity they are not holly, We cut a large holly down in the middle of the garden and it grows leaves out the stump every year.
Holly are great for fast growth and good coverage , they usually grow quite straight too.

Bluntness100 · 07/02/2021 10:38

@Chumleymouse

The ash and especially the sycamore will grow back pretty fast I don’t know about the hazel as I’ve never had one.

There is no way if a sycamore or ash has been cut back to three feet it will grow back quickly. Those are big trees and all that’s left is a stump of trunk.

Poppins2016 · 07/02/2021 10:39

This won't help with security, however a reasonably inexpensive and temporary way to get privacy would be to erect some bean poles and grow climbers such as beans, sweet peas, etc. If you also attach jute netting you'll get extra density/privacy. Tried and tested - I did this to hide a gap in a hedge one year!

Candleabra · 07/02/2021 10:43

I know you don't want to make waves. But honestly, if they're a small family business who really care they need this feedback because something has gone badly wrong. And you're clearly upset about it.
Just talk to them, you don't need to be aggressive or anything, just say what you've said here.

Original poster

121hugsneeded · 07/02/2021 10:48

I can see that I should tell them, in reality I'm a people pleaser rather than a complainer. And it's not like they can put it back . I'm just going to have to suck it up . Lesson learned. If use them again will need to be out there guiding /watching etc. But in reality, at this point in time, I don't feel I'll be booking them again. :-(

OP posts:

user1471462115 · 07/02/2021 10:56

Hazel will grow back quickly as it is a coppice tree and the have just coppiced to 1m rather than the ground.
I’d wait and see for a year as trees can and will re grow.
I might get some bamboo sheets and secure them but honestly it will re grow

Tip for next time is to put in a ribbon on a branch at the height you want so that is their visual guide. A row of red ribbons is hard to ignore

Candleabra · 07/02/2021 11:04

@121hugsneeded

This will be my last post on the subject I promise! But you are complaining - here - and we can't really do anything about it. I know it's hard, but failing to address this will eat away at you. And it is in their best interest because they've lost a valuable customer.

Give the a chance to do something. If they dismiss your complaint and are arses about it then you'll be no worse off - you said you'll never use them again anyway. But at least you'd know you'd done something.

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