scarlettohara Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Just need a quick rant. I get on very well with one set of neighbours (don't really have anything to do with the others) give them eggs, have their grandchildren round to see the chickens etc. Last week they asked if they could cut off some of my leylandii that borders their garden; bear in mind that i have this cut professionally every other year (as recommended by tree man)and it costs about £200. This is the year for it to be cut, he usually does it in October as regrowth is slower in the winter. No problem I said but it will be cut anyway in October, so they go ahead and have made a right hash of it as did it with a manual saw and shears , yesterday they asked if they could put the cuttings in my green bin. I said yes but at the moment it is full and won't be emptied until next week, Ok then we will wait. Today the husband stops me when out walking the dogs and says to save throwing the cut-offs into your garden can your tree man take them when he comes - so again I tell him he is not coming until October. Oh Dear is the reply, I suggested he takes them to the dump where they will shred them if he doesn't want to wait - he just mumbled (they are in their sixties). I feel really with them now - they didn't have to cut it (it's not mahoosive), they have made a complete mess of it and could have waited a couple of months when it will be done properly - I can see this causing problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 I had a similar experience - but counted to 1,000 and smiled sweetly. I then had to get my own tree man to come and sort out the mess - a little earlier than he was due. The problem with my neighbours is that they are retired and have too much time to spend thinking so become obsessed with getting something done NOW! But in the end, I told myself that trees grow again and that friendships can be far more fragile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 17, 2010 Author Share Posted August 17, 2010 Thanks for replying - yes when he comes he will have to even up the side they have hacked off They are retired too - I wouldn't mind but their garden is a complete mess, I work really hard in mine and it looks lovely. They also know that my husband left me last October so you would think they would be a more bit understanding, I don't always have a spare £200 I too smiled and was polite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 You are too nice. Next timeyou should be firm and say they can cut their side but not the top. I can't believe they had the cheek to say they were going to put the trimmings in your garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Yes, even my patience has limits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 17, 2010 Author Share Posted August 17, 2010 I try to be nice because I have enough going on without them hassling me However if they say anymore I'm going to point out that they wanted to go ahead and cut it and that it will be professionally cut in October. I do appreciate your replies - sometimes you need to sound things out. I did wonder if I was in the wrong as I know if you cut anything down you should return it to it's owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 I really sympathise with you Scarlettohara. Life can be hard enough without having to deal with unreasonable neighbours and it is a terribly stressful and emotional time when your husband leaves (I know what it is like!). I think the best thing is to try to let it go over your head. These people sound annoying but if you haven't had any real problems with them so far, then just let this one go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 17, 2010 Author Share Posted August 17, 2010 Yes I will and if push comes to shove I'll just take it to the dump, don't want to risk them moaning about dogs or chickens in the future My life does get better as time goes on and hope yours does too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 At first I thought this was a post about TV prog Honestly they havent enough to do - i would give them a wide bearth let them take the cuttings to the dump - their prob not yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 It does get better. My husband went 2 years ago and things settle down eventually and you get your confidence back. I even get some free weekends without the kids - although with 3 young boys I deserve a rest occasionally! Hope the neighbours stop hassling you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Oh Dear, I had a similar problem where I used to live. I had very strange neighbours who never spoke to anyone, in fact they went out of their way to avoid people. Then one day, I came home to find that they had cut off all the branches which overhung their garden from a tree in my garden. They hadn't asked if they could but I had no particular problem with that at all, but what I did have a problem with was that I came home to find they'd dumped all the (very large) prunings on my drive. I was really upset about it (I live on my own and just didn't know what to do). However, after an hour or so of feeling very upset, angry, cross, you know, all those things, I went out and bought a pair of "loppers" they cost me about £15 and meant that I could at least cut the branches into small enough pieces to get them in the car. I was then able to take two car bootfuls FULL of tree to the tip, without having to even speak to the neighbours. I did what I did just for a quiet life, which is perhaps not the best way to handle it, but I was still quite proud of myself for sorting it. I am so glad I don't live there anymore. Feel for you Scarlett, hope you manage to "keep a lid on this". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 The legal niceties are such that you can cut down branches that overhang your garden, and you do have to "offer" them to the owner (or it can potentially be construed as theft), but that they don't have to accept them, in which case it's your responsibility to dispose of them, and just dumping them on their side is (illegal) fly tipping. Phew! Having said all that, if I ever need to chop down any of next door's greenery, I just dispose of it myself, as it seems nicer. My old neighbour used to throw stuff onto my garden (with some force, I may add), he was horrid. Luckily we have nice new neighbours. The other side i slovely too, so I thank my lucky stars, especially after the Grump moved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Thanks Debbier that is really helpful, if they do try I will politely decline then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Hi Scarlett I can appreciate this must be very frustrating for you, expecially as October is only a couple of months away. I've just tried putting myself in your neighbours shoes, especially as you told them it was going to be cut in October. I'm wondering if it causes more of a nuisance to them than you perhaps realise? Maybe they wanted to get ot cut now because it is affecting their enjoyment of their garden right now? Maybe they are just people who don't have anything better to do, I don't know. But they don't sound like the sort of neighbours who are generally a nuisance. Just a thought. Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 What a nuisance for you I just wondered if they treated you any differently when your husband was with you? The only reason I ask that is that my experience from when I was on my own was that suddenly neighbours felt they could say and do anything they liked as I had no back up if I didn't like what they said or did. For example one of my neighbours put a note through my door one night asking me to cut back a lovely virginia creeper that I was growing along my fence as they weren't happy with it. When I got up the next day I went outside only to find that after putting the note through my door they had gone out in their garden in the dark cutting all my plant down and throwing all the cut down bits into my garden and I nearly broke my neck falling over it all when I went out the back door. Now when my husband was with me there was no way they would have done that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Hi Scarlett I can appreciate this must be very frustrating for you, expecially as October is only a couple of months away. I've just tried putting myself in your neighbours shoes, especially as you told them it was going to be cut in October. I'm wondering if it causes more of a nuisance to them than you perhaps realise? Maybe they wanted to get ot cut now because it is affecting their enjoyment of their garden right now? Maybe they are just people who don't have anything better to do, I don't know. But they don't sound like the sort of neighbours who are generally a nuisance. Just a thought. Hazel No they have always been annoying but we grin and bear it My leylandii is the smallest thing backing onto their garden, they have a huge cherry tree which doesn't allow any sun into their garden at all and sheds leaves and blossom into my pond- the rest is overgrown apple trees, their lawn is completely covered in childrens plastic toys and slides etc (not really big enough as they sold the end of their garden to build a new house which completely overlooks us and we never said a thing ) oh and they leave their washing out for days on end even in the snow So no I think they are being unreasonable and awkward ETS: Actually she called me to the fence the other day and showed me a plant and said 'isn't this dill lovely' it's about 10 feet tall and it's fennel and choked with stinging nettles Their garden is pants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I stand corrected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 No offence meant Actually I wish I hadn't told her it was fennel and then she would have sprinkled it on her fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Poor you Scarlet. Book your tree surgeon for the END of October Mwaaa haaaa haaaa. sorry, adding fuel to the fire now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 Oh dear Touch wood, our new neighbours have been lovely, but we had neverending trouble in Hackney with the tenants in the flat above us and the retired couple with nothing better to do than harass us to one side. We have a lot of trees in our garden, and a lot that overhang from neighbours and into neighbours' gardens. I'm getting the tree surgeon round in a couple of months to see what he can do and I'll ask before I have any dead wood from our neighbour's tree cut off (it's actually quite dangerous at the moment, I don't dare walk down the end of the garden in a high wind) but I'll be burning anything he takes off trees (after a year or so) and I would never expect them to dispose of it for me. Am toying with the idea of having some trees cut down completely, but it feels so wrong somehow. We do have a lot though - the huge willow (love it), the two damson trees and then three strange fluffy leaved trees and four sycamores. One tree completely blocks the evening sun, but it does provide a bit of privacy from next door. We're wondering if the surgeon can top it and thin it out a bit without losing it totally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
