How can I control a neighbour’s hedge?

Our neighbour refuses to maintain his laurel hedge so I’d like to know if there’s anything that I can do to stop it growing out of control? Are there any creepers that could be grown on my side to keep it down? I don’t want to use chemicals, just something that will look nice on our side and keep it from growing to 40ft high like it has done elsewhere.

 

Not sure there's much you can do legally.
In England there is legislation about high hedges and you can get the local council involved.
Do you know why your neighbour won't control their hedge?
Would they have a problem with you reducing the height or keeping it to say 12 ft along your garden edge?
As far as I know there are no climbers or other plants that will control the growth of a hedge.
With suitable preparation and watering you could grow Eccremocarpus scaber, Dicentra scandens, maybe some clematis or Holboelia coriacea; could make your side more attracive.

 

I suggest you always chop them back right to the border of your land, don't let it spread it's branches into you territory. Is it cherry laurel? It grows so quickly. I inherited a couple of trees when buying a house, and gardener reduced them to bare trunks. They grow massive branches every season, and need to be reduced each year. Depending on finances and neighbours, you can offer them to chop them every year.

 

There are some around here like that, laurel makes a horrible hedge IMO, the leaves are too big, I notice all the developers plant it because it grows so fast.

I cut my neighbours one down a couple of years ago, it wasn't 40ft but it was high enough, I now have to cut it twice a year as they wont touch it.

Not much you can do other than already said, don't let it invade your property, but its going to be a struggle if its that high.

 

Have they actually refused when asked or is it that they just aren’t keeping them to a size/height you feel is reasonable? We inherited some laurels along part of one of our boundaries, they were around 8ft when we moved in and probably planted or self seeded as shrubs rather than a hedge. We’ve kept them as shrubs as they are wonderful evergreen screening and we enjoy the flowers and cherries. We’ve also let them grow taller as they give wonderful privacy and are helping screen our neighbours attic extension. They are now probably around 15ft.

We would be quite happy for the neighbours to cut them back to their fence line and I have assumed they would ask us if they felt they were getting too tall. Apologies if this seems a long post but I suppose I’m just giving a perspective from the other side of the fence. Until and unless they came round to raise the issue, I would assume they are ok with our laurels.

 

As @NigelJ has said there are regulations around this, information here on UK.gov would indicate above 2m is the mark. Hopefully you can sort it without such.

 

Take a look at this post made a few days ago, its a bit of free advertising by them , but if you click on the Link ( which seems safe ) it has some good advice regarding the garden and high hedges

Higgs LLP

 

Chop as much as you like as long it is on your property

 

If you are alarmed at the height of the hedge, you can apply to the council for them to take a look at it under the high hedges act. You need to show evidence that you have spoken to the hedge owner. I believe you also need to make a payment along with your application.

The council will make a decision based on local conditions and won’t necessarily instruct the hedge to be brought down to 2m. It’s not likely to go down too well with your neighbour though if they are told to cut it.
Have you explained to them the issues you have with the hedge and/ or the problems it causes for you?

 

Like @Butterfly6 , I find laurel very useful, as it not only creates a good wind barrier [very helpful here where I am] but is great for birds etc. However, it can grow quickly, but you can legally cut back anything on your side, as others have said. The top is a different matter, because although you can cut anything on your side back to the boundary, including the top, that doesn't mean you're reducing the overall height if their side is kept much higher than that. It' sonly what's on your side that you can touch.
I think you may have to do as @Wild_Violet suggests and approach your council. That may cause difficulties with the neighbour though, and create further problems [which could be even worse] so it depends on your feelings about that. If you've already approached them about it, and they're not backing down, it could be very tricky. 2 metres is the usual height recommended, but there are always exceptions.
It won't help planting a climber, other than to disguise it, and that can be difficult too, because of getting one established - it would need to be a decent enough distance from the hedge itself.
If your garden is big enough, you can plant something further in from the boundary. A climber on a screen/trellis, or some shrubs would work. The perspective alters when you do that, so anything you plant can therefore be smaller, but will block the hedge. It all depends on the actual size of the hedge though.

 

I think the only thing you can do is keep the laurel cut back to the vertical fence line, give the neighbours the trimmings to dispense with.
Councils prefer neighbours to sort things out between themselves, unless there is a threat to the general public with overhanging branches etc.
Laurel is a nightmare, I inherited some at the bottom of a previous garden. It was my neighbours on one side who asked if I could cut them back. I had them cut back and down to bare stumps but within a year or two they were sprouting all over the stumps.

 

yes, we used to have an agreement where we paid their gardener to cut their hedge twice a year, but he’s now saying that agreement is null and void and he’s told us not to touch his hedge. Luckily it’s our northern boarder so not too bad for light, but it looks so scruffy and full of bindweed now.

 

Shame, but at least legally you can cut it back to the boundary without asking them. Maybe put at least 6ft tall fence in front of it (sorry, just guessing, and no photo was attached).

 

That's interesting. We've inherited some rather large trees and hedges - part of one hedge is a laurel. It overhangs the path to the shed, and is certainly over 2m high.

I'm considering cutting it back to 6ft, but am concerned the top will be woody and dead, permanently. However, if there is potential for new growth, eventually, I might do it.

Thank you.

 

You can cut it back to the fence line but you can't simply dump the clippings back on your neighbour's side. If they don't agree to take them, the clippings are your responsibility to dispose of.