Overhanging tree and laurels

[Old Merc]

The owner of the property at the bottom of our garden has let his greenery and a big fir tree grow out of control. He does not reply to my letters, not interested in doing anything.
Would I be legally within my right to cut back everything up to the boundary without discussing it with him, then deposit all the cuttings ( his property ) his side.

[Grumps.]

Near enough top hit

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-new...

[Pica-Pica]

Yes, you have that right. It’s always been so.

[Chrisgr31]

Except the bit about depositing cutting his side.

If you cut your neighbours trees or hedges back you have to offer them the cuttings back. If they do not accept you have to dispose of them.

[Panamax]

Old Merc said:

Would I be legally within my right to cut back everything up to the boundary without discussing it with him, then deposit all the cuttings ( his property ) his side.

Be careful, because the answer isn't a simple "yes" as others have suggested.

You can cut back to the boundary and then, strictly speaking, you should offer the cuttings to the neighbour who may or may not want to take them off your hands. You can't just dump rubbish from your garden into their garden. This only has any significance if what you have cut away is useful fire wood or something else that has a value. If it's just cuttings of no possible use or value then the neighbour suffers no loss and you won't be at risk if you don't make that offer of returning them.

You are not entitled to trespass on the neighbour's property to do the cutting, although you can climb (from your side) into any parts of their tree that overhang your property.

[Bennet]

Old Merc said:

then deposit all the cuttings ( his property ) his side.

Legal right or not, unless you actually want a bad relationship with your next door neighbour, surely it makes sense to dispose of them yourself.

[Roofless Toothless]

Be careful if the ‘fir tree’ is in fact a leylandii. They don’t grow back readily if pruned and leave an awful looking scar.

[Silvanus]

Although you can cut back up to your boundary, you are not entitled to carry out any work that will cause damage to the tree/shrubs health.

There is loads of info online on the do's and don'ts of boundry hedges and overhanging trees.

[hunton69]

Interesting answers.

You might want to check if the tree in question has a TPO if so your not allowed to cut it without applying for approval from your council.