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This is something that is continuing to be a bit of a problem for us. Keep in mind this isn't a neighborhood where folks talk. We're lucky if we know the other's name. Anyway, their bushes overhang our fence, and I don't want to do the cleanup of their bushes and leaves. Any recourse or suggestions?

Well I certainly am no lawyer but in most states, trees, bushes, etc. overhanging your property line can be trimmed to the line by you. Of course it normally is good practice to discuss it with the neighbor first.

Walt Conner

Anything above your property is yours. In ancient Latin: Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad caelum et ad inferos ("To whoever owns the land, shall belong the earth to its center and up to the heavens.")

Same question occurs with respect to a branch of a fruit tree from the neighbor's side of the fence. Expect your neighbor to understand that. But I recommend involving the local authority or sheriff to clear up matters.

I think you have to just speak to them 1:1 and be honest without making a big hassle out of it. Hopefully, as god neighbors they will respect your views and clean up after themselves.

Why not just ask them to trim them. It would be the neighborly thing to do. If you just go and do it yourself they might do something back that you don't like. Take the first step and chat with them.

If you are nervous of talking to them why not drop them a little note just saying something like, "Hi, I hope you won't mind if we trim back the stuff overhanging our yard, or maybe you'd prefer to do it. Either way is fine. If I don't hear by Friday, I'll go ahead and do it. Ciao!"

Hershey said:

Keep in mind this isn't a neighborhood where folks talk. We're lucky if we know the other's name.
suggestions?

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This is the real problem...
I would use this as an opportunity to fix this...
Get to know your neighbor, you might even end up liking them...:laughing:

I am very lucky and like the few neighbors I have.
... but then I do try to like most folks... (I have been known to make an exception now and then)...
:smile:KennyV

We just had our land surveyed because my neighbor is clear cutting his land to the East of me. This neighbor has caused a bit of trouble in previous years for me as well. I have had both good and bad neighbors over the years, best is try to talk, if that doesn't work, take it into your own hands.

I'd be very careful about attempting to trim the overhanging bushes without speaking to your neighbor first, my opinion is, the bush is theirs entirely, the overhanging bit doesn't belong to you just because it's overhanging into your property.

A 5 percent solution of any brand of glyphosate will solve your problem. Using a wet sponge (not dripping) of this solution, wick both sides of the leaves on your side of the fence. If the whole plant dies, "gosh, it must have had some disease". Poor thing.

That's a pretty good solution right there. All you do is try to kill your side, and if by chance the whole thing dies, it's not really your fault.

wow, what happened to the days when you could talk and carry on with your neighbors and run next door and borrow a cup of sugar to bake cookies with.....

talk to him ...then go from there

I agree, there must be an easier way to deal with this. Is this neighbor that hard to deal with? Perhaps all the town hall and see what your rights are, if any so you know before you go to talk to him.

Gabi said:

wow, what happened to the days when you could talk and carry on with your neighbors and run next door and borrow a cup of sugar to bake cookies with.....

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They are still around...
But you do have to take a little time to get to know your neighbors...
You may not like them after you get to know them, but I think the majority are going to be reasonable people...
:smile:KennyV

I guess I would try the note method first. If you can't talk to them, or you just don't get the chance, send a quick politely advising them of the issue. Most people will respond in a positive way. If they are negative, or they just don't respond, I'm afraid you will have to trim the plans yourself. It's a pain, but it may be your only choice.
If the tree is large, and you can't easily trim it, I would get your local authority involved. I have found in the past that this works, as many times these large trees, or their branches are also causing the authority problems with over head wires etc. Just my thoughts.

I'm glad we have friendly neighbours who we talk to. Ours even offered to come over and trim the top branches off our fruit trees. His honeysuckle overhangs our garden but it smells so nice I don't mind.

Smartaleck said:

I'm glad we have friendly neighbours who we talk to.

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Me too... :smile: :smile:KennyV

Hershey said:

This is something that is continuing to be a bit of a problem for us. Keep in mind this isn't a neighborhood where folks talk. We're lucky if we know the other's name. Anyway, their bushes overhang our fence, and I don't want to do the cleanup of their bushes and leaves. Any recourse or suggestions?

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There's one good reason for you to talk to your neighbor You may not know them now. But chances are good that they're cool. If they truly belong to your neighborhood then they must be cool, right?

Well, I would suggest you cut them. For some reason I believe your neighbor, although you don't speak, will be happy you did this for the both of you.

My nearest neighbor lives 1000' from me and he's moving so now my nearest neighbor will be 1/2mil.from me. that said I'd check codes on something like that if you have a problem talking with your neighbor.One of my nephews had a neighbor's tree fall on his garage and the neighbor's insurance had to pay the repair costs. russ

It sounds as if you see the bushes and the potential mess, and it sounds as if they don't see what you are seeing. I'm betting that if you discretely trimmed them to a more acceptable length, they would never know the difference and you would then both be satisfied. No muss, no fuss!

Reading this post got me thinking of another recent post. I wonder whether goats eat bushes... You could solve your grass-mowing problem AND your bushy-neighbor problem all in one shot!:laughing:

That's funny. Actually, neighbors on two sides never bother trimming their bushes and such so I just have my guys do it. No one has said squat. I don't any of it hanging over my fence.

Tell your Neighbour that their bushes are trespassing onto to your Properties Air Space.........and what are they going to do about it...........then depending on the answer..........you should obtain legal advise.

Nah. I don't even talk to the neighbors. Besides, they have never said anything about what's going on. I doubt they even know or care.