Allotments 4 All
Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: Old bird on March 03, 2010, 12:19:00
-
Hi all!
I put my greenhouse in my garden at the end - having cleared a large tree to make space for this. It backs onto a road so there are no neighbours at the rear but and it is a big but my next door neighbour - who is a gardener and who I get on with - There was nothing on this part of their garden it is their kitchen garden area - planted a small tree within six inches of the boundary against the greenhouse side!
It has now grown up and was about 12 ft high and big branches have been over my greenhouse - whch she has said it is OK to cut - but now the tree which has leaves in winter and is a dark copper coloured tree - is shading my greenhouse. It is due south of the greenhouse. I have cut out a fair bit coming over the g'house. So now - from getting sun most of the day I am getting virtually no sun at all - maybe a tiny bit of early morning sun and a smidgeon of later afternoon sun.
What should I do. I certainly do not want to fall out with her - but for some reason she has planted it their "for a purpose"! Currently she is in Australia visiting family and I don't want to make a "thing" of it!
What would you do?
Old Bird :-[
What would you do?
-
People are so funny about trees! I heard of someone once that drilled a hole through the fence & into the tree, then used round-up with a syringe & short length of fish tank air tubing. Apparently if you do it when the tree is dormant, come spring the tree will distribute the weedkiller around itself & shuffle off it's mortal coil... A couple of doses was all it took, apparently. This was for a self-sown sycamore.
I'm sure that, like me, you would never condone such action but thought I would share it with you anyway!
-
You can cut off anything that hangs over your side. Though I think that the wood belongs to your neighbour. Also if it is so close to your side a bit of 'root pruning' might dampen its enthusiam. A copper nail into the roots was always said to be the way to 'discourage' a tree.
-
OB - You say you get on with your neighbour - have you talked about the height of the tree and the shade problems that is causing you?
It would be unlike you to be backward in coming forward ;) ;D
If you haven't had 'the chat', I would suggest that is the thing to do when she gets back from Oz. If the tree was pruned to say 8ft would that help you?
Or ---- a large application of salt will slow it down no end :o
-
Have you had a word about it with her?
What I am thinking is;
You say; who is a gardener and who I get on with
When she gets back from Australia couldn't you invite round to see your problem and see how she reacts.
Who knows? she might be quite amenable and she might not be aware of the problem.
-
In the long term this may not maintain friendly relations. If you declare a problem and but she is not helpful you will fall out with her. If tree then dies you are no 1 suspect. If it quietly succombs you will not fall out with her.
-
I would go with the idea of talking to the neighbour, show them the problem & hopefully they will agree to prune, move or remove the tree.
If you give any serious consideration to the suggestions to kill the tree then ask yourself how you would like it if somebody decided it was acceptable for them to kill plants or trees in your garden because they didn't like them.
-
I had been thinking along the lines of the tree unfortunately giving up the ghost - only problem is she has left her husband home alone! Could be embarrasing if caught!!! Ollie I would bung a nail in - again only problem is the flipping greenhouse is in the way of nail and hammer!!
Unfortunately I have got slabs in the greenhouse so can't get at the roots!
SMP you are right I am not, generally, backward at coming forward - but this close to home I am very wary of causing upset or if there was an "agenda" planting this tree so close to the greenhouse!!
Digeroo - I have cut off as much as I can and the tree is definitely "lop sided" now with a flat side on my side - but now it is getting so big, I can't get very close to hack at it as the flippin greenhouse is in the way!!!!
I think you are right I will have to talk to her, no point talking to husband as he doesn't wear the trousers in this household, I think there may have been a reason why she planted it so close to my boundary and this may give her the opportunity to air that reason!
O B
-
OB, good luck with whichever path you choose...I'd certainly go along the route of inviting her round to see for herself the impact caused, and just be glad that she is a neighbour one could do that to (me=the thug neighbour from hell on one side >:().
Gardening for others, I've become more and more aware that 'my laydees' don't do their research when buying a 'bargain' at Morries or wherever and have no idea just how high their new twiglet will grow in a short space of time, have little or no idea of the concept of orientation and shadow/shade caused, and perhaps she is similarly ignorant of the facts? I'd really like to hope that once she's seen the impact of the shade it's causing on your g/house with its continued (and continuing?) growth, she'll perhaps agree to its removal from that spot? Honestly, you've nothing to lose by this - except...you've shot your bolt, perhaps, to 'encouraging' it to die by 'natural' means right now if she's not amenable?.....oooh, just a thought....shot your bolt for this season, perhaps, but heck! all sorts of plants/trees inexplicably give up the ghost in the winter...dont they? Not only have we had a hard winter this year...there's always next...
When does she come back from Oz btw?
-
Hyacinth - I think a couple of weeks time!
I think you are right that I should approach her directly - but I am not - dare one say it - very good at being diplomatic - I call a spade a spade - and - without intending to do so - do cause upset as I speak without thinking diplomacy!
Ah well - I will give it a go and let you know how I go!
thanks for your input guys!
O B
-
So this is what you do...
Invite her round for coffee/tea when the 'house is in full shade...oh! and have some digestive bix (poss even CHOKLIT digestive bix? 8) on offer....you really can't be spluttering bix crumbs over her (can you? ::)) so that'll buy you thinking time ;D
-
Id do as suggested above invite her round and speak to her, if you cant agree, then maybee its possible to move then greenhouse, easier than moving a tree, just an idea.
w00dy
-
Id do as suggested above invite her round and speak to her, if you cant agree, then maybee its possible to move then greenhouse, easier than moving a tree, just an idea.
w00dy
Woody, you and I are writing hypothetically and can only say what we'd do in the circs. My experience of having a 'house erected for me, and I've got the smallest possible 'house - 6' x 4' - thinking about ground preparation, levelling, laying the paving inside, paying for erecting the 'house etc,etc.....my way would be to go for paying for the tree's removal, if she agrees, & paying for a replacement sited elsewhere. Less money, a million times less hassle, and more quickly achieved. :-\
-
Sour grapes on your neighbours part, you have a greenhouse, :)
-
KILL THE TREE........................ :-X
-
There was nothing on this part of their garden it is their kitchen garden area -
Is their kitchen garden area affected by having the tree there? If it isn't casting shade on their side, could you say something about the roots not being good for whatever they are growing?
If this doesn't get you anywhere, I would definitely consider moving the greenhouse as w00dy suggests. I know it's a lot of work but in the long run it's better than falling out with your neighbour.
-
It does make you wonder why she planted the tree there in the 1st place, but maybe as Hyacinth says - she might not have given much thought to it. Talking is always the best option, but I know it can be tricky, best to be up front and honest
Can you offer to help? i.e. with paying for it to be removed / a replacement? That might soften things.
Let us know how you get on :)
-
Thanks for the useful replies peeps!
Unfortunately her garden is not shaded as the said tree is north corner of her garden - I would need to fell at least 2 more trees to re-site the greenhouse to get away from the shade. Which is why I put the g'house there in the first place as it has it side on the south face with what used to be uninterrupted sunshine!!
I think you are all right - including kill the tree - I generally do not show animosity to trees etc. but this particular tree is NASTY!!!
I will wait until she comes home and speak to her!
Thanks for all the replies!
Ann
-
If she wears the pants and is away, I would jump in with a chat with the husband,alone wife away, ask him round for supper.. couple of beers in the backgarden, trot around same noticing the greenary coming through here and there,when you just happen to come to the greenhouse give him the tour.. man to man he might tell you why his tree is planted there,discuss same after all it will kill his fence with the roots as they get big. You never know by the time Bossy Britches gets back yiu might have him on your side!!
Worth a try.
XX Jeannine
-
Jeanine
Not the sort of bloke you would invite round!!! He is - what I would politely call - odd!
O B
;D
-
Oh, I don't know Ann - wotta BUGGA. >:(
Going the 'legal' route, don't forget to point out to her that your ground clearance and siting of the 'house in its position pre-dated her tree planting - even at twiglet size and that you had to fell one of your own trees to accommodate it, will you? Perhaps, between now and her coming back you could put some thought to what else she could put there which wouldn't have such a disastrous impact on your 'house....low-growing specimen shrub with pretty foliage?....trellis? pergola? dunno...she obviously wants something there to take away the bareness of that spot, so if perhaps you could come up with some positive suggestions for her it might help things along? Anything there trigger any ideas?
Lishka
-
I cant believe the lengths people here are prepared to go to including criminal damage to a neighbours property, how selfish is that? Why is *her gardening* less important than *your gardening*? Perhaps she likes the tree and it fits her planting scheme, perhaps she planted it as a memorial to somebody, perhaps she planted it to screen the ugly back side of your greenhouse from her view. It doesnt matter, *her agenda* is none of your business.The law allows you to cut back to the boundary and give her back the cuttings. If thats not good enough for you explain your issue to her. If she will cut back further, fine. If she wont, live with it or move the greenhouse.
-
weequinnie, the suggestions for killing the tree didn't originate with OB :(
-
weequinnie, the suggestions for killing the tree didn't originate with OB :(
Praps not originator but not averse to either...........
I had been thinking along the lines of the tree unfortunately giving up the ghost - only problem is she has left her husband home alone! Could be embarrasing if caught!!! Ollie I would bung a nail in - again only problem is the flipping greenhouse is in the way of nail and hammer!!
Unfortunately I have got slabs in the greenhouse so can't get at the roots!
I think you are all right - including kill the tree - I generally do not show animosity to trees etc. but this particular tree is NASTY!!!
-
Weegie, OB has amply demonstrated that she wants to talk with her neighbour to reach a resolution and this is what she states she's going to do. I'm not about to cut'n'paste to 'verify' this opinion of mine..perhaps, in the interest of fairness & if you have the time, you can do so? ::) There are many....
Dreadfully off-topic, how words can come back to haunt you? You prolly don't know, but I'm a 'jobbing gardener' for the more-elderly-than-me round here, and oh! so many times in the past, putting my trowel into someone's flower border I've dug up a pile of cat mess...resulting always in the cry from me of "I HATE BL**DIN CATS!" And one of these old laydees took me seriously, just at the time when I was struggling to come to terms with a much-loved cat's horrible death, with her suggestions that we (I for her?) put down poisoned meat to keep her bloody bizzie lizzies in pristine condition. >:(
She, like you, it seems, is of a literal disposition ;)
-
Cynthia you can bluster and fluster and patronise all night long, it wont change whats right.
-
Cynthia you can bluster and fluster and patronise all night long, it wont change whats right.
??? :-X ::) ;D
-
thought you'd changed your name there, Lish ;D ;D ;D
-
Looks like we both have the same problem,mine has been ongoing for several years now,we have checked with the council,the internet and it seems there is nothing that can be done,the tree is a sycamore and is just getting bigger every year.
My son who is a gardener calls them the biggest weeds you can get.
-
Just got into work and saw the excitement that weequinie has worked himself/herself up to.
Chill - really don't get so upset about something that I am not as upset about as you!!!
Dread to think if you every had a problem how you would sort it - or not as the case may be!
I DO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR!! which appears to be lacking in your case! As I say Chill - it is not as big deal as you are making out and I was asking for helpful suggestions not a verbal attack on us "criminal damage" folk!
Of course I do understand that they have a choice and I am friendly with my neighbours so for goodness sake don't be so confrontational with me or the other peeps who have given useful suggestions. Chill - chill - chill!
O B
::)
-
must admit trees are a pain when planted with no consideration for any one else.
My problem was all the roots they even lifted the pavement, next they went through the pond liner My neighbour said if you want it down you can cut it down . So next day i went in with the chain saw, He hasn't spoken since that was two years ago.
-
Old bird Im not upset, its not my property people are suggesting damaging. But the casual offhand way you and others are talking about trashing the tree is quite shocking. And of course youre not upset., why would you be, you dont have someone contemplating damaging your property. I wonder how your neighbor would feel reading this. Not as relaxed or chilled as you I bet. Making personal comments is a sure sign that you [and hyercinth] dont have anything valid left to say on the subject so Ill leave you to it now, got letters to post :-X
-
Weequeenie!
I am sure that you will feel better in the fresh air posting your letters. I am not damaging anyone's property I asked for "helpful" suggestions as to how to tackle this problem - to be quite honest I had agreed that I would speak to my neighbour to see if we could reach a compromise.
Hyacinth (note the spelling!) has offered helpful suggestions and no we don't have anything "valid left to say on the subject" so thank you for your boring intervention in what was a lighhearted request for assistance - Your opinion in the future if I ever ask for helpful hints - will not be required. Thanks!
Old Bird
-
Well said, Old Bird! :)
This forum used to be full of helpful folks - all with a sense of humour and who could spot a tongue in a cheek from a mile away! Whatever is the matter with some people? :o
-
No sense of humour :o :o :o :o :o
-
Sounds like a trol to me . :-\ ??? :-X ;D ;D ;D
-
Sounds like a trol to me . :-\ ??? :-X ;D ;D ;D
and nearly spelt like a troll, as well! ;) ;D ;D ;D
-
Certainly a US troll from the spelling of "Neighbor". :D
-
Quick update!
I cleared round the greenhouse fairly drasticly - and burned the lot up and still I got no light from 11 to 4 ish. The husband pottered out and started chatting right by the greenhouse so I plucked up courage and said that I had been clearing round the greenhouse to increase light levels and that the tree was still shading the greenhouse - so much so - that it was too cold for me to sow seeds in there!
He said that they would have to trim it - and I ventured the suggestion that if wifey wanted I would buy something as a replacement!!!
So the basis is there now - just have to wait until she comes home
O B
-
fingers crossed for you hope it gets sorted.
lucy x
-
Good Luck ;D
-
Well done - often that heardest thing to do is to start something - i.e. the conversation / topic. Hope things get sorted on both sides of the fence!
-
Good luck, it sounds as though you were very diplomatic.
-
Just re checked this.. good news OB that might work.
See another bit of nonsense has started, bit late to comment but trolls do rather take themselves a bit too seriously..shame I used to collect them years ago.. now I wouldn't give one house room. ::)
Hugs Lish!
XX Jeannine
-
Hugs back atcha kiddo! (cue for a song?..."those were the days, my friend...") 8) ;D :-*
-
when your next having a little chat about it you might like to suggest that if she ever has need of a small space for plants in your greenhouse you will make some room.
give her the incentive to favour your greenhouse above the tree.
-
good thinking, that 8)
-
Rock on eh!
Note I have to add the eh cos I is Canadian again...eh.
XX Jeannine
-
what sort of tree was it?
-
Oh deary me!!
Mentioned the tree in a friendly chat on Saturday. She had been told by hubby that I was not happy about it - anyway she was in like a lion! The tree she said was an emotional crutch to her - it was very special - she said that she would not be removing it!!!! She said that I should cho down more of my trees and move my greenhouse! (Like you do!) She also said that said tree had been in the ground before I bought the property 6 years or so ago (it was planted within the last couple of years) and that was that. End of subject.
She was very quick off the mark and said that I could trim all that came over my side - which I have had to do so far but it is quite dangerous for me to do this as I am dangling on a ladder which I push into her tree but I am over the greenhouse so have visions of falling off into greenhouse and getting badly cut!
The tree is called something like Tasmanian and it is similar to a mimosa with little yellow flowers and small little maroon coloured leaves. I looked at the trunk yesterday and it is a good 15inches thick already!
I was going to write a letter to say how upset I was with this tree etc but my sister and one of the guys at work say don't.
Old Bird
-
Oh deary me!!
Mentioned the tree in a friendly chat on Saturday. She had been told by hubby that I was not happy about it - anyway she was in like a lion! The tree she said was an emotional crutch to her - it was very special - she said that she would not be removing it!!!! She said that I should cho down more of my trees and move my greenhouse! (Like you do!) She also said that said tree had been in the ground before I bought the property 6 years or so ago (it was planted within the last couple of years) and that was that. End of subject.
She was very quick off the mark and said that I could trim all that came over my side - which I have had to do so far but it is quite dangerous for me to do this as I am dangling on a ladder which I push into her tree but I am over the greenhouse so have visions of falling off into greenhouse and getting badly cut!
The tree is called something like Tasmanian and it is similar to a mimosa with little yellow flowers and small little maroon coloured leaves. I looked at the trunk yesterday and it is a good 15inches thick already!
I was going to write a letter to say how upset I was with this tree etc but my sister and one of the guys at work say don't.
Old Bird
Is this tree resticting your light? you could ask your council about your 'right to light'??
-
How annoying! Now you'll be the first suspect if it dies.
On a different subject, does anyone know where you stand if you spray your own hedge with roundup & some drifts onto a neighbours tree?
-
Hiya
When you put in your greenhouse, did you take photos before and after? What I'm driving at is do you have photographic proof of whether the tree was there when you put the GH up and how much it has grown. That gives you the welly to contradict her.
moonbells
-
Not sure how contradicting her with photographic proof might help your cause, by the sound of it she'll be calling dial-a-leylandii double quick.
For my money I would now leave it, you have made it clear that you are unhappy and after her initial 'petulance' subsides she may start to feel uncomfortable with the situation and decide, of her own accord, to prune back the tree. Failing that, in the same vein as Ollie you could ask some local transient tree surgeons to prune some hedges in your garden, just make sure that they are well aware of the ones you mean......
-
Oh dear indeed! You'll be needing a plan b or c. I think your son and colleague are right writing to her sounds like it won't help.
On a different subject, does anyone know where you stand if you spray your own hedge with roundup & some drifts onto a neighbours tree?
Not quite sure what you are actually saying here Ollie, but the reverse has happened to me and I am far from happy about it - all I could do was moan about it and ask them not to be so slap dash about it it the furture....... :'( (BTW it was a 10year old Passion Flower that I "lost")
-
I would prune it diligently, every single branch.twig leaf or whatever that came over, in fact I would do it weekly like folks do with their privet hedges, and make sure somehow that not a single piece is over the fence..eventually the tree is going to look very lopsided and frankly silly, she may then try to chop a bit off at her side to balance it off which might in the long run entice her to trim it to a less overpowering height.. might work if you persist and she can see that you do so be careful you don't fall though.
I think folks who chop branches off trees usually seal the cut with whatever to prevent diseases getting in... if you lop off a branch and don't seal it,something might get in the cut and the tree might die... for the record I am not suggesting you do anything wrong here, the tree folks among us would know better what I am trying to say.
Legally in that case I wonder who would be responsible for the demise of the tree?
XX Jeannine
-
Thanks all for the replies!
I am now leaving well alone - I had offered some raspberry plants a while ago and after much door slamming and the like - decided that - I had to carry on - we will still live next door to one another and there is nothing like a neighbour war - so I took the raspberry plants round last night - so leaving the ball back in her court. I think she is embarrased about the situation and hope that she may also think that I am a good enough neighbour not to cause too much upset. She has trimmed the wretched tree - she took about 3ft off the height late last year - but we are now in the spring and the wretched tree is just getting going!
I will leave it a while - as my friend pointed out - I still have my large polytunnel up the lottie - so all is not lost!
Thanks for your kind thoughts though
Old Bird
???
-
Having moved home last year due to living below a family from hell I can only advise trying to achieve a balance. It all depends on how far you want to go, how much nose you want to cut off and how much misery you want to bring upon yourselves.
We had the temerity to complain about the volumne of their stereo which was so loud we couldn't hear the tv. 2 years on we sold at the bottom of the market (and bought at same so there is a silver lining!) but the stress levels were extraordinary. If you like where you live and want to remain on some kind of cordial relation with this neighbour you may have to consider planning Option B: moving the greenhouse to the other side of the garden. It may prove worthwhile having a conversation with the other neighbour about your plans. If you have a polytunnel at the plot already there is an opporunity to budget the costs of moving the greenhouse across the year by doing the prep work in stages.
I know it's not an easy solution - and I also know that I'm coming out of the blue here as I haven't been a regular poster here for some time - though it may be the only practical solution to getting light, maintaining neighbourly relations and not having to move.
And, when you wonder what to do on the old greenhouse site, Virginia Creeper is a beautiful climbing plant...just musing out loud here...
-
Thanks Bennetsleg
I am leaving situation well alone now! My point is made. Their point is made. Best left for a while!
I will probably live her until I pop my clogs so best not to leave with a party held by my neighbours!! No seriously they are older than me!! It is not as bad as some disputes and I don't think it advisable to risk a dispute and all that entails!!
Thanks for the advice tho!
Old Bird