Are you bored because it's late at night, and there isn't much new to read here? Then please step this way and tell me what, if anything, I should do anything to make it up to my neighbour?

[Earlybird]

Bit of a dilemma here, and this is a long post, so please bear with me. I am casually friendly with next door neighbours, and this issue concerns them.

Two years ago, my BIL very kindly offered to seal my garden fence with a water resistant sealant that protects/prolongs the life of the fence by a great deal. He sprayed the sealant on both sides of the fence. Neither of us realised until later that the sealant had sprayed through the openings between individual wooden boards, and onto the plants my neighbour has along the fence. Some of the plants turned brown (didn't die), but as it was the end of the summer it seemed not a big deal. She commented on it, and I apologised, but that seemed the end of that.

It is time for the fence to be sealed again. The neighbour's dh bid for the job (he's got a house painting business), but I found someone who bid the job for about 1/3 of the neighbour's dh. The neighbour's dh knows, and seemed fine about it. We even joked that we'd do our best to protect the plants this time.

I explained to the fellow doing the job that he needed to protect my plants/trees (and hers) while sealing the fence. He devised a system of draping plastic sheeting on the fence so spray would not go through the boards onto the plants. He also covered some plants to protect them.

The neighbour's dw was outside today - and fussing/worried when the men were doing the work. They tried to be careful, but it seems that some of the sealant has gotten on her ivy (ground cover). As they were doing the work, the men offered to replace the ivy if there was a problem, but she was not very receptive. When the men were finished (and she was out), they rinsed the ivy twice with fresh water in an attempt to wash away the sealant that is on the leaves.

I've now been out to look, and I would guess that the ivy is going to turn brown due to the sealant. I honestly don't know what more the men could have done to be avoid this happening.

Long winded, I know, but I don't want a problem to develop. On one hand I think it's not a big deal because it is 'just' ivy (not stuff that has been there for years), but she is a gardener and takes pride in her plants.

What would you do?

You've done your best. The workmen have done their best. It's a f*8cking plant, not her PFB, and if she's going to have an attitude about it that's her problem. Just pretend she isn't a silly old bag and be polite but distant when you encounter her.

Gosh, it is a slow mumsnet night.
Erm, i dunno.
It's only ivy.

Bit harsh I think. Ok, it is "only" a plant but some people do take extra apecial pride in their gardens, especially older people. Are your neighbours elderly, by any chance? I would apologise again, point out that you're not doing it deliberately and that the workmen did try to avoid spraying the plants, then wait to see what happens. If they do die/turn brown then replace them.

Blimey, ivy goes mad. Any dead bits will soon be overgrown. Agree, you've done your best. Buy her some periwinkle

The fence panels cost more than the ivy to replace if they weren't looked after.

Its daft. It's sounds like you were as careful as possible.

now periwinkle really is the bastard of all plants. Wish someone had sprayed the sodding stuff in our garden then stamped all over it, we had a nightmare getting rid of it!!!

No, they're not elderly. Early '40s with no children - just an adorable dachshund (sp?).

The problem is, the fence really must be sealed, so no way to avoid this process - unless we paint that bit by hand, which would be much more expensive.

Maybe the answer is to do it in October next time, when the garden 'season' is virtually over.

sounds to me as if you're really being kind over this and they should be grateful to have a nice neighbour!

In the overall scheme of things, this is rnot a big issue, I know. Just want to be neighbourly and don't want a friendly relationship to be put under strain - especially as I see them all the time!

Fwiw, her roses and the other plants/bushes along the fence seem to be OK (fingers crossed).