Neighbours hedge overflowing into our garden

[Ger1]

My neighbours hedge is quite high and grows quite thick and overflows into my garden. They cut their side of the hedge regular and leave my side of the hedge still overgrown. Which means that I have no choice but to cut it myself and dispose of the massive amount of hedge cuttings myself. Who's responsibility is it to cut my side of my neighbours hedge.

[angiep429]

Hi Ger1, I' ve read of similar problems with overhanging branches from a neighbours garden and it seems the law is that you can cut the branches off but they are supposed to be given back to the people who the trees belong to, isn't it possible to ask the neighbours to trim your side as well, we have trees which overhang our neighbours front drive and every so often we go in and trim them back and take the cuttings away. Hope you can get it sorted, I know from previous experience it can be very annoying, good luck.

[Ger1]

Just an add-on to the question. If the neighbour is unwilling to take responsibility for their hedge on my side and I cut it. Are they responsible for disposing of the cuttings. Can I insist that they take back the cuttings from their hedge.

[sfieldy]

yes the cuttings are there property and therefore they are resposible for disposing of them in theory if you took them you would be unlawfully disposing of their property!!

[Ger1]

What if the neighbour refuses to take back the cuttings. Can I just put the cuttings in their garden.

[Richard1966]

Yes, you can do this but do it in such a way that you cant be accused of causing a nuisance. Put the clippings in sacks and pile them neatly in their garden. Tell them what you are doing in writing and keep a copy of the letter.

[carlton23]

Google `Garden Law` and print it out to show them if they make a fuss.

[lankeela]

Do what I did when my neighbour refused to cut back an overhanging tree in my garden. I cut it back myself, then posted all the cuttings through his letter box one bit at a time.

[VHG]

>What if the neighbour refuses to take back the cuttings.
>Can I just put the cuttings in their garden.

We had a huge neighbour dispute a year or two back in our street.

One neighbour cut off overhanging branches and threw them over the fence (perhaps not the best thing to do).

The other neighbour was so annoyed he got a 4 foot long metal "bar" and went round and smashed their car up, denting every panel and smashing every pane of glass.

He also broke every downstairs windows and the glass in the front porch door.

He got arrested, but because he is old, and has diabetes, he got "let off" with a small fine, and has to pay them about �10 for the damage.

The other neighbours were so upset they moved house.

So be careful what you do !!

[Robinia]

Oh these garden laws are so wishy washy aren't they? Is the hedge your only boundary or do you mean it's overspilling another fence? If it's the actual boundary between the two of you you might find it's a joint responsibility to maintain it (that's how it is where I live) However, if it's definitely your neighbour's hedge only you could try asking them if they'd like to come & do your side. (He needs permission to come onto your property). Failing that, you can trim it back as far as the boundary line & again ask if they could dispose of the waste for you. If they're awkward about it you might need the 'post it through the letterbox' option....haha, I'm joking, please try to sort it out carefully. I'm so lucky, I have great neighbours ....at the moment!

[Robinia]

oh, thankfully it posted my reply, my first attempt's in cyberspace somewhere!

[anotheoldgit]

Oh dear, no wonder some neighbours don't get on these days.

Really in one way you are lucky that your neighbour has planted a hedge. This I presume creates a privacy screen between your property and that of your neighbours. This has in turn saved you the cost of building a wall, erecting a fence or even planting an hedge, so as to obtain the same privacy that you enjoy today.

If you had regularly clipped it and disposed of the small amount of clippings each time, wasn't that a small price to pay for the benefit of the free screening?