Garden trees too big? neighbour complaint
Discussion
mikeiow said:
This!
The neighbour is old & lives alone: go & chat with them! You can see it from their side of the fence, you can decide it it makes sense to help by trimming, hacking or indeed just agreeing to go round once a month to help in the garden!
You can also have a conversation that might demonstrate if they can afford to help pay (elderly in Surrey suggests they can, but who knows!), go halves or whether you will have to do it all.
Regardless, they will be grateful for a polite conversation over a cuppa, I bet.
Its hard to explain but the neighbour keeps to themselves, I think there is some social anxiety there which is why this was done by letter I guess. Attempts to instigate some conversation in the past have been quite difficult.The neighbour is old & lives alone: go & chat with them! You can see it from their side of the fence, you can decide it it makes sense to help by trimming, hacking or indeed just agreeing to go round once a month to help in the garden!
You can also have a conversation that might demonstrate if they can afford to help pay (elderly in Surrey suggests they can, but who knows!), go halves or whether you will have to do it all.
Regardless, they will be grateful for a polite conversation over a cuppa, I bet.
If they are that thin you can't climb up then just chop it down yourself. You can even buy a chainsaw on a sort of extendable pole for not much. Use it as a Christmas present.. that'll do the job for you. Obviously not a huge thick tree, seeing as you said it's too thin to climb it'll work. Start of with branches and work down.
272BHP said:
Its hard to explain but the neighbour keeps to themselves, I think there is some social anxiety there which is why this was done by letter I guess. Attempts to instigate some conversation in the past have been quite difficult.
In that case write an informal letter back explaining your like of the tree and you'd not like to see it made to look unsightly and ask if they'd like you to pop round and clear the leaves for them. Their formal letter may be how they were taught to write and not some attempt to sound heavy.
I have a tree over the wall from me that was starting to get a bit big. But it was growing slowly and steadily for 5 years without much of a problem.
Spoke with the neighbour and he was happy for me to cut it down to a sensible level to let a bit more light in. Since I have done this every year now I have to get the thing cut back, seems to take cutting back as some sort of invitation to grow at 3 times the rate it used to!
Wish I'd not bothered now to be honest.
In your position I'd go speak to the old guy. Tell him with xmas coming up and it been a busy time that it will be on the back burner until next year but promise to address it. Most the leaves have already dropped by now, so if he's reasonable he'd see there is nothing to be gained by doing it right now. Use it as an opportunity to get to know the neighbour too!
Spoke with the neighbour and he was happy for me to cut it down to a sensible level to let a bit more light in. Since I have done this every year now I have to get the thing cut back, seems to take cutting back as some sort of invitation to grow at 3 times the rate it used to!
Wish I'd not bothered now to be honest.
In your position I'd go speak to the old guy. Tell him with xmas coming up and it been a busy time that it will be on the back burner until next year but promise to address it. Most the leaves have already dropped by now, so if he's reasonable he'd see there is nothing to be gained by doing it right now. Use it as an opportunity to get to know the neighbour too!
The problem with trees is never caused by trees themselves, it’s the people who own them.
Lots of it comes to pure selfish t
tish behaviour.
1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However tt will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.
3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
Lots of it comes to pure selfish t
tish behaviour.1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However t
t will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
DozyGit said:
The problem with trees is never caused by trees themselves, it’s the people who own them.
Lots of it comes to pure selfish ttish behaviour.
1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However tt will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.
3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
Yay ! well said.Lots of it comes to pure selfish t
tish behaviour.1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However t
t will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
Brads67 said:
DozyGit said:
The problem with trees is never caused by trees themselves, it’s the people who own them.
Lots of it comes to pure selfish ttish behaviour.
1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However tt will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.
3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
Yay ! well said.Lots of it comes to pure selfish t
tish behaviour.1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However t
t will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
If it was me , I'd look at the trees , if I thought they had a point , or the trees are a bit of a handful I'd get them trimmed the new year .
If they want them done asap I'd ask them to pay or contribute
I live next door to a bit of council land with a large tree that was growing into my house over the summer ! I asked the council if they would trim it to stop my guttering being ruined and they said they'd do it in the winter ...they didn't
I also get thousands of leaves from it in winter , I can live with that not end of world
If they want them done asap I'd ask them to pay or contribute
I live next door to a bit of council land with a large tree that was growing into my house over the summer ! I asked the council if they would trim it to stop my guttering being ruined and they said they'd do it in the winter ...they didn't
I also get thousands of leaves from it in winter , I can live with that not end of world
There is always so much bks spouted in these threads.
Someone mentioned the right to light, there is no such thing to do with trees, it only comes into play in the high hedges act which has nothing to do with trees. Your neighbour has the right to cut back too boundary subject to consent from the local authority if there is a TPO or you are within a conservation area, this work must not cause damage to the trees health though as they can be held liable, an example would be cutting half the tree off and severing roots thus destabilising it.
That's all they are allowed to do by law, no height reductions or anything that isn't overhanging their boundary. I don't understand people's obsession with trying too control nature, some people would like this world too look like Minecraft I think.
If you do decide to get the trees reduced then get some decent advice, some trees will lend themselves to be reduced others not, mostly depends on species and how they will react. Also remember that once done then you will be looking at a 3-5 year cycle. Use a reputable local firm, don't go for the cheapest hey will most likely fk your tree up.
ks spouted in these threads.Someone mentioned the right to light, there is no such thing to do with trees, it only comes into play in the high hedges act which has nothing to do with trees. Your neighbour has the right to cut back too boundary subject to consent from the local authority if there is a TPO or you are within a conservation area, this work must not cause damage to the trees health though as they can be held liable, an example would be cutting half the tree off and severing roots thus destabilising it.
That's all they are allowed to do by law, no height reductions or anything that isn't overhanging their boundary. I don't understand people's obsession with trying too control nature, some people would like this world too look like Minecraft I think.
If you do decide to get the trees reduced then get some decent advice, some trees will lend themselves to be reduced others not, mostly depends on species and how they will react. Also remember that once done then you will be looking at a 3-5 year cycle. Use a reputable local firm, don't go for the cheapest hey will most likely f
k your tree up.The house I bought in Northumberland back in the late 90's had a row of leylandii growing up the left hand side of the garden. They had all got to around 30 foot high. When I landscaped that part of the garden I cut them down to fence height and they formed a really nice bush to cover the fence panels.
It transpired that the prevous owner - a bit of a knob - had planted them and despite reasonable requests to do so, had not managed their height resulting in next door basically losing most of their garden to shade. By my trimming them down to a manageable height, the neighbours were over the moon and became instant friends
Oh and they burn really, really well when green as well
It transpired that the prevous owner - a bit of a knob - had planted them and despite reasonable requests to do so, had not managed their height resulting in next door basically losing most of their garden to shade. By my trimming them down to a manageable height, the neighbours were over the moon and became instant friends
Oh and they burn really, really well when green as well
DozyGit said:
The problem with trees is never caused by trees themselves, it’s the people who own them.
Lots of it comes to pure selfish ttish behaviour.
1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However tt will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.
3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
^^^^^^This.Lots of it comes to pure selfish t
tish behaviour.1. Tree planted 20m from owners house but 1m from neighbours, why not plant it 1m from your patio door??
2. Trees ideally should be no taller than the distance to the boundary of your neighbours. So if 5m gap keep to 5m tall tree. And keep branches inside boundaries. However t
t will have a 30m tree with 5m gap.3. Manners and law, if you have anything legal doesn’t mean it’s good manners. If your tree sheds or shades, sort it.
4. Privacy idiots, a long time ago curtains and blinds were invented. You don’t need a conifer hedge.
England expects people to be well mannered and polite, so we don’t have silly laws, but I guess soon we will need laws like,
Strict liability for trees with 25% of value of home escrowed by council to pay. Immediately you will see well maintained trees and good garden manners.
When I look at a house if it has oversized trees for garden I knock off circa 2-5k off the value, a giant conifer 10k off. This will pay for its removal and making amends with the punished neighbours.
In urban gardens go for shrubs and you can prune them to look like a tree. Maintenance is the key, beautiful gardens need pruning, pollarding and cleaning. If someone has to ask you to do something, you are inconsiderate in most cases. People leave notes because in the UK we don’t jump queues nor do we speak in a silent coach. Gardens are gardens not forests.
OP sounds reasonable, just cut them down and get along with your neighbours. I did the same and my neighbours (retired) even drove 60miles both ways to pick wife up when my car broke down on the motorway at 1am. Chopping the forest blocking daylight to their windows was the right thing to do. Did they have to ask, no. I saw the problem and fixed it once I moved, they thanked me. Were wondering how to approach it.
Good common sense.
Personally, I'd try to chat to him and agree that you'll do something in the Spring (15 metres high is quite a bit in a suburban garden) but see whether you could help clear up some of the leaves now if you can see that it's quite a problem for him. Elderly may mean more formal (i.e letters) and reserved, but he's still a neighbour that you should try to keep on your side.
We get ours trimmed by a tree surgeon every few years. Costs a few hundred quid and keeps them under control. They can both block light and drop loads of crap on us and the neighbours. I just consider it normal maintenance.
Lady over the road has a huge tree in her front garden that covers all the cars and road with crud, if it fell down then it'd do serious damage to one of the houses nearby which all have loft conversions so good chance of injury. Legally she's entitled but morally I wouldn't be happy with that personally regardless if the tree was there longer than the houses.
Lady over the road has a huge tree in her front garden that covers all the cars and road with crud, if it fell down then it'd do serious damage to one of the houses nearby which all have loft conversions so good chance of injury. Legally she's entitled but morally I wouldn't be happy with that personally regardless if the tree was there longer than the houses.
Just a general aside. I guess that there's no maximum permitted height for a tree in an urban environment, just as long as it's 'safe' ? Some are so very high that I wouldn't have any idea how the top could be lopped.
Can/do the council step in if it's a very tall tree, in a private garden, where there are concerns over its safety ?
Can/do the council step in if it's a very tall tree, in a private garden, where there are concerns over its safety ?
If the neighbour sees the OP in the moonlight crouched on his lawn chanting "do one, do one", whilst rhythmically driving frozen sausages into the turf he'll soon get the message not to mess with him surely?
Also, chuck any leaves over the fence into the neighbours garden. Old boy probably needs a bit of exercise so he can chuck them back - with any luck you might get a game of 'leaf volleyball' going.
Also, chuck any leaves over the fence into the neighbours garden. Old boy probably needs a bit of exercise so he can chuck them back - with any luck you might get a game of 'leaf volleyball' going.
g3org3y said:
I like trees. We have trees. Neighbour has trees.
Look lovely, leaves are a bugger though. Our leaves up in in neighbour's garden. Neighbour's leaves end up in our garden. Lots of raking/collecting in the autumn.
Lovely garden, where I live this would make a nice plot for 4 executive style 4 bed detached houses with massive gardens and huge driveways, each retailing at over £1M+Look lovely, leaves are a bugger though. Our leaves up in in neighbour's garden. Neighbour's leaves end up in our garden. Lots of raking/collecting in the autumn.
Then some genius comes and tries to recreate this garden in that space ha ha
DozyGit said:
Lovely garden, where I live this would make a nice plot for 4 executive style 4 bed detached houses with massive gardens and huge driveways, each retailing at over £1M+
Then some genius comes and tries to recreate this garden in that space ha ha
Thank you Then some genius comes and tries to recreate this garden in that space ha ha
We chose to live in a countryside location. All the houses down the street have nicely sized gardens with 'proper' trees. As such there's no grumbling about falling leaves and the blocking of light has never come up as an issue (all the gardens on our side of the road our south facing). I love our trees, but I must admit the constant collecting of leaves in the autumn is a chore. It is however a minor grumble for an otherwise lovely benefit.
As has been mentioned before, photos would better clarify the OP's situation. Neighbourly relations are important and a bit of give and take goes a long way.
To set the OP's mind at rest re costs, but no neighbour dispute here, we recently had the council parks dept in to remove one tree, same height as house, and sort out the shape of 5 others, including one a cherry blossom which had got out of hand and was exhibiting some die back.
They weren't the cheapest I guess but it avoiding all the competition, either expensive or members of All Oirland Caravan club, plus stuff properly disposed of. They rocked up, took a day, proper trained arborist, £360. Four guys.
I was happy with that.
Edited to add, tell the neighbour you are going to consult with an arborist as to suggestion what to do and when. In order to get an ideal timing slot on ours, which was mid September, we had to book in end of June, otherwise they were booked up.
As for complaint about leaves, it all depends, you could offer to help clear up, or just tell him to do one, all depends on how soft you are.
They weren't the cheapest I guess but it avoiding all the competition, either expensive or members of All Oirland Caravan club, plus stuff properly disposed of. They rocked up, took a day, proper trained arborist, £360. Four guys.
I was happy with that.
Edited to add, tell the neighbour you are going to consult with an arborist as to suggestion what to do and when. In order to get an ideal timing slot on ours, which was mid September, we had to book in end of June, otherwise they were booked up.
As for complaint about leaves, it all depends, you could offer to help clear up, or just tell him to do one, all depends on how soft you are.
Edited by FiF on Sunday 18th November 16:47
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