Neighbour’s request to trim a shrub on the boundary

[PinkCamelias]

We got a letter today from a neighbour whose garden borders ours at the back. He has requested that we significantly reduce our “seriously oversized”laurel shrub, because it overshadows his pear tree. He wishes we trimmed it to the height of the pear tree. He sent a letter last year too with the same request, and also to remove the ivy from the wall. We moved in a year and a half ago and we have never met him. He never rings the doorbell, just puts the letters through the door. We removed the ivy, because incidentally it had been planned anyway before his letter and the gardener did it the following week. However, I have no intention to reduce the shrub, I actually let it grow, but make sure the branches don’t overhang into his garden. It gives us shade and privacy, especially from somebody’s extension’s window further back. The shrub is maybe 3, 5 m tall (the boundary wall is 2 m tall). The thing is that all the houses around, including mine and his, are very tall and obviously they cast shade so I don’t understand why he thinks it’s the shrub! His garden is also long, we share maybe one third of his wall. The shrub is planted at the end of our west facing wall, so east facing for him.

Does he have a point, or am I right?

Well, if its on your side then you don’t “have” to but in the interests of good relations I’d consider a trim. Laurel is a brute (and poisonous).

How much is he requesting? Our laurels can easily grow a metre over the summer anyway. So if you cut it down now, you’ll pro as be in the same position by August.

(Trust me when I say you need to keep on top of them - bloody hell they shoot’s up and out when you’re not looking!)

No he doesn't have a valid point. It will only overshadow his dwarf pear tree first thing in the morning.
No response or action is necessary.

That’s what I think @Redrosesposies, his tree gets little sun from this direction anyway. I will however take note of what @Ilovemyshed and @Phonicshaskilledmeoff say about the growth speed of the laurel and maybe adjust it at some point. Not soon though, I want it to obscure this extension first.

Well he says as much as his pear tree. Must be a dwarf because I can’t see it above the wall. So I think he’s very unreasonable because he wants half of it chopped off.

I take mine down about a foot 3 times a year. I’d just ignore him if he’s wanting more than that. Laurels are supposed to be tall. They’d look daft any lower than 7/8 feet

You should be avoiding cutting anything now until late summer anyway because of nesting birds, so maybe just say that if you see him.

Yes of course, I thought that too. I wouldn’t say it though, as he might think I’m willing to cut it later. I never see him (don’t know him at all) so I would have to write to him, but my husband says to just leave it.

I’ve realised that you may think it’s a cherry laurel or such - it’s a bay tree! If it makes any difference…

Lol - yes I though cherry laurel. They can get out of hand 😂

It’s East facing. His tree will get the sun from the South and West and it’s in your garden.

So no

Yep
I agree with your dh

Laurels are horrible trees to have overlooking a garden because they really do block light completely and all year round, some trees allow dappled light through, allowing other plants to grow but laurel creates a kind of light dead zone. I'd consider getting your gardener to keep its size check and to thin it out a bit if he can tbh.

I’d ignore him. Especially as he doesn’t have the decency to knock on the door and talk to you, and relies on written notes.

I'd send him an explanatory note. Since you cut the ivy, he may think you did it on his request; so assumes you'll do the same with the laurel.

@sueelleker and @Doris86 these are my two conflicting thoughts exactly :D

I think we could indeed thin it a bit. I could do it in winter when the other shrubs are pruned.

It makes a huge difference. Ignore him.

in a hedge they are often 6ft! They are awful trees. I’d get rid and get a wildlife friendly tree.

It’s a bay tree, I specified it up thread. This one is perfectly wildlife friendly.

Well, we have a bay tree that needs regular pruning to keep under control. Best mate has a bay tree on the five acres they bought and it must be twenty metres high and enormous with it. And there is nothing to stop it growing.

A bay tree in suburbia isn’t just a tree, it’s a lifestyle choice.

@PinkCamelias They are a Bay Laurel! Look at the Latin name. They get big and they are evergreen. They aren’t very wildlife friendly. Deciduous trees are better and obviously they are a dense tree year round.

@MeetMeOnTheCorner yes of course, I know it is a laurel, that's why I referred to it as such in my OP. I added that it is a bay tree because I got comments about an invasive, not widelife friendly tree.
@TheSandgroper my shrub is 2 m wide and 3 m high, hardly unamanageable yet. It is the only plant that grows to that height at the back of my garden, and in general, because neighbours don't have tall shrubs or trees. There are two other trees altogether between seven intersecting gardens, or thee if you count my lilac, which is maybe 2,5 (and will be hard pruned to renew it). I think it is important to keep whatever shrubs or trees grow here, or else where will the birds go? My garden is very densly planted, but with lower-ish plants, up to 2-2,5 m. That's how we bought it with the house, and I am all the time trying to work out where i could still squeeze in a tree.

Ooh could you put one closer to the house about 1/3 of the way away from the fence? I love trees that aren't plonked along the border.

@PinkCamelias Bay is evergreen and not very wildlife friendly. A deciduous tree with good berries/fruit for wildlife is better. A dense evergreen just isn’t visually pleasing or a great tree for a garden boundary. He could trim any sections that overhang his side.