Shrubbery on property line question

[Tuffcookie]

My neighbor has a large, thorny rose bush that is huge. It hangs over their fence into my side yard. I trimmed the over-hang once before and disposed of the thorny branches but they were hard to dispose of, not to mention it hurt getting stuck by the thorns.

It's their bush so why should I have to deal with any of it? If I'm trimming it, who should be responsible for the cut branches?

TC

 

[Coconut36]

I don't get these types of things. If you decide to trim it then you dispose of the branches. You could try politely letting the neighbors know it often overhangs your property and ask them if they could trim it when they trim on their side but I don't see the point in making an issue out of who deals with the branches when you trim it. That's the stuff that makes neighbors end up on Judge Judy.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My neighbor has a large, thorny rose bush that is huge. It hangs over their fence into my side yard. I trimmed the over-hang once before and disposed of the thorny branches but they were hard to dispose of, not to mention it hurt getting stuck by the thorns.

It's their bush so why should I have to deal with any of it? If I'm trimming it, who should be responsible for the cut branches?

TC

My answer depends on if you like your neighbor or not.

If you don't like your neighbor then I would trim it and toss the cut branches back over the fence. They'll figure it out.
If you like your neighbor then I would have a chat with them and explain the problem. Ask them to handle the trimming and disposing. Or you could do it all yourself and never say anything.
I moved to farm country. No worries with that anymore!!!

 

[luvmy3]

The bush may be on the property line, or even on their side but whatever hangs over your property is yours, so I would say that if you trim it, you are responsible for the disposal of the cut branches.

 

[tOSU]

Round Up - unless you really like your neighbor ;-)

 

[worm761]

The bush may be on the property line, or even on their side but whatever hangs over your property is yours, so I would say that if you trim it, you are responsible for the disposal of the cut branches.

This. This is the law here. If it is on your property then it is your responsibility.

 

[duffy]

I trimmed the over-hang once before and disposed of the thorny branches but they were hard to dispose of, not to mention it hurt getting stuck by the thorns.

I wear long sleeves and gloves when I deal with the branches of the roses I trim. Then it doesn't hurt.

I dispose of them the same way I dispose of other yard waste.

 

[Gigi22]

In our municipality you are allowed to trim a tree/bush on your neighbour's property that hangs over your property, up to the property line. You are not allowed to trim so much that the tree or bush dies.

Would you really want your neighbour coming onto your property to trim overhanging branches?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

The bush may be on the property line, or even on their side but whatever hangs over your property is yours, so I would say that if you trim it, you are responsible for the disposal of the cut branches.

This. This is the law here. If it is on your property then it is your responsibility.

+1

When I moved in to my new place, I called a lawyer to ask about a large tree/bush that is rooted on my side of the property, but has branches that touch the neighbors home (neighbor has many trees on his side of the property that also touch the home). Wanted to know if it was my responsibility to trim this tree....answer: no, unless it poses an obvious danger (like is rotted out and decomposing with branches that could break off at any moment and damage property or hurt a person)

 

[mjkacmom]

The bush may be on the property line, or even on their side but whatever hangs over your property is yours, so I would say that if you trim it, you are responsible for the disposal of the cut branches.

Yes, all you. Now, on the same note, they can't tell you that you can't trim it. I just trimmed my neighbor's bush yesterday because it was scraping my van.

 

[sparklynails23]

If it really bothers you, I don't see why you couldn't spray the branches on your side with weed killer. Just do it while they are on vacation. I wouldn't do it unless it really, really bothers me.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Thanks for the responses. I live on a very small city lot. The houses are quite close together. This neighbor moved in 1 1/2 yrs ago. I do all the cutting of the grass between our 2 houses. She has not cut once. That does not bother me. It's not that much trouble to cut along her side while I'm doing mine. However, I don't like it when I go out to cut and have thorn bushes hanging in the way. This is the 2nd time it has happened. Those thorn branches are a pain, literally, to gather up. Friday I got my rose gloves on and trimmed the over-hang and flung it over the fence! Yesterday, she sent one of her adult sons over to ask me not to fling them again. I will have to have a talk with her about how to handle the bushes in the future. I guess that would be the adult way of dealing with it.

TC

 

[Disney Doll]

Did you say to the adult son "Well, since it is your bush overhanging my yard and requiring trimming, I figured it was OK to throw your bush branches into your yard".? That was your opportunity you know......

If not, then I'd probably trim the bush as necessary and dispose of the branches myself.

You'll have to wait till next year now to Round Up it, or they'll know it's you.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We've lived in our house for about 17 years, and not ONCE did our neighbors trim the shrubs that is in their yard yet borders our driveway. Those shrubs grow quickly, and are the first thing people notice when pulling into our driveway. Dh does the trimming, or it'll never get done. He picks up all of the trimming and does 100% of the maintenance for those shrubs that the neighbors own. ETA: Without trimming, the shrubs very much invade the driveway area and are over the property line. We have had a lawyer tell us we own "to the sky" and that anything hanging over we are legally allowed to trim.

Related story: We recently saw a HUGE paper hornet hive in those shrubs. We told the neighbors about it, and (surprise, surprise) they did nothing. The neighbors didn't care, as it was on the edge of their property and not really a risk to them (except for when they mow the lawn in that area, which doesn't happen as often as it should). The hive was within feet of where we get in and out of our car. Dh and a friend ended up getting rid of the hive. We were afraid that we or company we have would get stung, and those hornets are aggressive.

 

[Jennasis]

Thanks for the responses. I live on a very small city lot. The houses are quite close together. This neighbor moved in 1 1/2 yrs ago. I do all the cutting of the grass between our 2 houses. She has not cut once. That does not bother me. It's not that much trouble to cut along her side while I'm doing mine. However, I don't like it when I go out to cut and have thorn bushes hanging in the way. This is the 2nd time it has happened. Those thorn branches are a pain, literally, to gather up. Friday I got my rose gloves on and trimmed the over-hang and flung it over the fence! Yesterday, she sent one of her adult sons over to ask me not to fling them again. I will have to have a talk with her about how to handle the bushes in the future. I guess that would be the adult way of dealing with it.

TC

Ick..very passive-aggressive of you, and frankly wrong since anything that hangs over into your yard IS YOUR responsibility...not your neighbors (even if the bush is one her side). You can have all the "talk" with her that you want, but she is under no obligation legally or morally to trim anything on your side of the fence.

 

[msjprincess]

Thanks for the responses. I live on a very small city lot. The houses are quite close together. This neighbor moved in 1 1/2 yrs ago. I do all the cutting of the grass between our 2 houses. She has not cut once. That does not bother me. It's not that much trouble to cut along her side while I'm doing mine. However, I don't like it when I go out to cut and have thorn bushes hanging in the way. This is the 2nd time it has happened. Those thorn branches are a pain, literally, to gather up. Friday I got my rose gloves on and trimmed the over-hang and flung it over the fence! Yesterday, she sent one of her adult sons over to ask me not to fling them again. I will have to have a talk with her about how to handle the bushes in the future. I guess that would be the adult way of dealing with it.

TC

That seems really childish. And like a lot of people have said most likely whatever hangs on your side is your responsibility, not hers.

 

[manning]

Roundup no, you can smell it. Late at night go out and water the roses with buckets of water....loaded with salt. Yes, salt water.

 

[mjkacmom]

We've lived in our house for about 17 years, and not ONCE did our neighbors trim the shrubs that is in their yard yet borders our driveway. Those shrubs grow quickly, and are the first thing people notice when pulling into our driveway. Dh does the trimming, or it'll never get done. He picks up all of the trimming and does 100% of the maintenance for those shrubs that the neighbors own. ETA: Without trimming, the shrubs very much invade the driveway area and are over the property line. We have had a lawyer tell us we own "to the sky" and that anything hanging over we are legally allowed to trim.

Related story: We recently saw a HUGE paper hornet hive in those shrubs. We told the neighbors about it, and (surprise, surprise) they did nothing. The neighbors didn't care, as it was on the edge of their property and not really a risk to them (except for when they mow the lawn in that area, which doesn't happen as often as it should). The hive was within feet of where we get in and out of our car. Dh and a friend ended up getting rid of the hive. We were afraid that we or company we have would get stung, and those hornets are aggressive.

I've lived her for almost 15 years, and my neighbor doesn't trim the branches of her trees or her bushes that encroach on my yard/driveway because it's not her responsibility - it's mine. And if a branch falls into my yard, it's up to me to remove it. If my other neighbor's huge oak tree falls on my house, I will pay to have it removed from my property. That's just how it works.

 

[duffy]

Throwing the branches over the fence was very childish.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Enough of the attacks, please.