Hedges

I live in a semi and on either side of the back garden there are privet hedges, our attached neighbour's garden is like a wildeness and the hedge was massively overgrown on their side and the other neighbours side was also a good few feet higher than 7ft-8ft we've cut it back to , i expected this to just be on our side (therefore easier to reach) as he does trim it but found it wasn't so he must only do the side. It was hard work trimming the hedges back and left us with enough clippings to make another hedge.

The non-attached neighbour asked last year if he could cut it down, which we'd rather not as we've got dogs and our current fence in front of the hedge is only 4ft so it would then need replacing up to 6ft. While it is a pain to trim, i do quite like it and it makes the garden feel more secluded, i'm not 100% if its ours but he seems to think it is.

Tonight he cut his side and all the clippings ended up in my garden they weren't stray clippings that simply fell as he's not trimmed the top on our side. I'm sure i've read that legally you can cut back neighbours vegetation that strays onto your property and should offer them the offcuts or something, but presumed with hedges most people would just cut their side and dispose of the clippings themselves, as this is what i do. Am i correct in thinking this?

 

He's allowed to cut his side of the hedge, even though it belongs to you. And yes, legally the clippings have to be 'offered' back to the owner. In practice, I think most of us understand the benefits of getting on with neighbours and throwing the clippings back over the hedge into their garden would be a tad antagonistic!

Our neighbour planted a leylandii hedge (boo, hiss) a couple of years ago, forcing me to cut it back on our side, even though I detest these hedges more than you can possibly imagine. But I don't throw the cut pieces back into his garden - he's an ok bloke and it's easier to stay friendly by putting them in the bin.

Try not to get into an argument with him - you'll regret it. Perhaps take the hedge down a foot or so, show willing etc, etc. Compromise.

 

Oh i have no problem with him maintaining his side of the hedge, was just a bit miffed that he's chucked the clippings on my side as i have enough tidying up to do as my garden is about 3x the size of his. Well i'm glad i'm not alone in being a considerate neighbour and just dealing with the waste created.

I don't think the height is causing the issue as we chopped it back a few foot and his side was the same height as our overgrown side and our side is actually shorter than his at the moment. He's done the same before but not as much, so i've just given him the benefit of the doubt previously that it might of fell over.

We're not argumentative types and have silently stewed to avoided stirring up trouble as like you say it's not worth the hassle for fairly minor stuff. I'm surprised in a way that he's being petty as his 2nd estate car he got recently doesn't fit fully on his driveway and its backend is partly on our property, that in itself annoys me as he got it knowing his smaller work van barely fitted in the space.

While on the subject can you trim privet any time or is there specific times of the year that are best?

 

I would have cleaned up the cuttings, then dumped them back over the fence.:gnthb::rotfl:

 

:hehe: It was very tempting, perhaps i should of left them on his car

 

I'd have put them in a big box toed a ribbon round it and left the parcel on his doorstep. Oh and a label saying 'Love and Kisses'

 

Sounds to me like someones spoiling for a row - don't give him the satisfaction - he'll soon tire of it.

People like that are idiots, and best avoided.