Neighbour's leaves - what would you do?

[Tigerrrr.......]

We've lived in our house for 5 years and get on great with our neighbours. However, I have an issue every autumn with my neighbour's leaves.

Our houses have no fence or wall between them, and they have a large deciduous tree in their front garden. Every autumn the prevailing wind blows their leaves onto our grass. The result is they hardly have any leaves to sweep up but I have to spend hours clearing their leaves from our grass.

Would you just carry on for the sake of good relations, have a quiet word, or perhaps some other tactics? What do you think? Sensible answers only, please!

Thanks.

[Sally]

Get the wind to blow the other way?

[Owenski]

Been honest I'd just carry on as is OR ask if you can take it in turns.
ie, if this is something which needs doing everyfortnight then the first week you rake both lawns, the 2nd occasion the neighbour does both.

NB this will only work well if you have similar standards and you're both keen on keeping the grass clear. If you're quite anal about it but they're not too fussed then this option would cause tensions.

[Mr Speirs]

Ask them to clear them up. If they refuse then they obviously don't cherish your neighborly relationship.
I would then clear them up from my lawn by returning them back onto their lawn. Or put a fence up to stop them blowing over.

First option is more entertaining though.

[flymo]

clean 'em up and enjoy life.

[Bri w]

Good neighbours are a godsend. Better just to get on with life than have tension with neighbours... besides, if you fall out you never know how far things will spiral downwards.

[Wideboy]

Chuck some poison down

[Stenno]

Put a fence up or put up with it :)

[Specialone]

I have similar but it's give and take I guess, I'd be inclined to put a fence up, this might stop a few and make them think when they see a pile on their side.

[Bluepete]

Rake 'em up, stuff 'em in a bin bag and...







Hide them at the bottom of your garden for a year by which point they'll have become very good, loamy compost.

Pete ;)

[fenjer]

clean 'em up and enjoy life.

Totally, there are bigger things to get stressed about in life.

Leaves happen.

[Red Herring]

Do you enjoy having the tree in "your" front garden? If it's as open plan as I'm imagining then the presence of the tree benefits everybody, it's just tough luck the leaves end up on your personal bit. I think Owenski's proposal is the best compromise but don't be to bothered if they don't want to play ball.

[tweakedtay]

Pile them in his yard, and burn them.

[hindle8907]

I would Fence up.

[hardhat_harry]

Burn the tree

[Balky001]

I'm with Flymo here, if that's the wrost of the neighbours then count yourself lucky and don't spoil something you obviously are generally happy with. You may well do something that annoys them which they don't mention, who knows?? It's all part of living together. How would you feel if you do mention it then every week you see them worrying you're going to moan and sweeping your lawn. You'd feel a right ....

[wyrdness]

Get a leaf blower and blow them back.

[Stingo]

Invite the neighbours around for beer. After having consumed a couple, grab the chap and go outside to talk about 'man' things as you clean up the leaves. Simultaneously the women will be employed within the 'white appliances' area preparing hors d'ouvres etc.
Result - One tidy garden, slightly squiffy/completely rat *rsed and stuffed with yummy things. Who cares what happens to the bag of leaves? (Maybe the council do a collection fortnightly?)

[Red Herring]

Buy him an SV then he can come on here and get the hint....

[LankyIanB]

from http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/trees.html

A tree or shrub belongs to the owner of the land on which it grows even if its branches or roots go over or under adjoining land. This includes the branches and the fruit of any tree or shrub. This even applies to windfall apples etc. The Theft Act 1968 makes it a criminal offence to take wild flowers, fruit and foliage from any plant if it is sold for commercial gain. However, falling leaves and fruit still belong to the owner of the tree or shrub, the law does not require the owner to come and sweep up the leaves or pick up the fruit. Having said that if falling leaves block a gutter, which results in water damage, the owner of the tree could be sued for damage.
You are not allowed to go onto your neighbours land or to lean over it to cut your hedge. You need the permission of your neighbour. The same is true about going onto your neighbours land to pick up windfalls or trim back branches.


So that's the answer as far as the law goes.


Otherwise - if you don't want leaves, go live in a high rise apartment block, you'll find you won't get so many up there....... Nearly as bad as the townies who move to the country and whinge that **** smells and cockerels crow...... ;-)

[missyburd]

Got any kids? Get them to rake the leaves up then watch with amusement as they launch themselves into the middle of the pile spraying them everywhere all over again. It's only a couple of months of the year when they're around long enough to be a pain. Enjoy nature and avoid neighbourly ructions :)

[Reeder]

Either suggest politely that they might wish to help/lend a hand clearing them at the same time as you are or just do it yourself. As others have said, don't fret about the little things in life and enjoy the decent relationship you have with your neighboughs. Don't put a fence up just because of some leaves.

[Bibio]

go to neighbours, knock on door, ask if they could give you a hand. simples.

[Levo]

Our garden is covered in leaves in autumn even though none of the 3 trees dropping them are ours. I say if your neighbours are generally good then I'd spend the little time it takes to clear the leaves up myself. Most of our leaves come from the lovely old couple next doors tree so I'm ok with cleaning up.

[Messie]

Mmmmm, just wondering.... what happened to leaves before everyone started tidying them up?

[Geodude]

Let the worms clean them up ;) or make compost as blue pete says its good stuff.

[metalmonkey]

Well a JCB, heavy duty chains, chain saw and 20l of petrol should solve the problem;) After all its not too far away from bonfire night, might as well get ready for it!

[Ed]

I'm with Bri on this.

Leaf well alone.

[hardhat_harry]

I see what you did there

[Jayneflakes]

Rake 'em up, stuff 'em in a bin bag and...
Hide them at the bottom of your garden for a year by which point they'll have become very good, loamy compost.

Pete ;)

Let the worms clean them up ;) or make compost as blue pete says its good stuff.

Compost the lot and then use it the following year. :smt040

Your other option would be to get an old car tyre, chuck in a pint of petrol and hang it on the tree. Life Boat Matches make it a doddle to light! That should sort your problem! :smt104

[Lozzo]

Just be thankful you live in an area where you have trees, even if they do drop leaves.

[seedy100]

I have lots of leaves collecting in my garden.
I used to rake them up and burn them. A better solution was to bag the up and lave them for a couple of years to rot down, it does take two years but makes some super "leaf mould" not very fertile but a great soil conditioner.

Last year I started running the mower over them, with the blades raised so that the grass doesnt get cut the same time. This picks up the leaves, chops them into little bits, speeds up the rotting process and saves time over raking and picking up by hand.

I have been very lucky and "found" some meter cube bags to store them in whilst they rot down. About 4 cubic meters of leaves makes about 0.5 cubic meters of leaf mould.

I cant believe ive just posted about gardening! :confused:

[Sir Trev]

I have lots of leaves collecting in my garden.
I used to rake them up and burn them. A better solution was to bag the up and lave them for a couple of years to rot down, it does take two years but makes some super "leaf mould" not very fertile but a great soil conditioner.

Last year I started running the mower over them, with the blades raised so that the grass doesnt get cut the same time. This picks up the leaves, chops them into little bits, speeds up the rotting process and saves time over raking and picking up by hand.

I have been very lucky and "found" some meter cube bags to store them in whilst they rot down. About 4 cubic meters of leaves makes about 0.5 cubic meters of leaf mould.

I cant believe ive just posted about gardening! :confused:

The lawnmower on high setting is my preferred route too, but I mix it in with the rest of the compost heap - if they're shredded by the mower they do not take long to rot down, especially if you turn your heap a few times.

Do NOT buy a lawn vacuum - waste of money, heavy, sod to use, only comes out of the shed perhaps twice a year. Unless you want to buy mine! On the "blow" setting (no sniggering) they can help by shifting the leaves out of flower beds so you can mow over them.

If the neighbours are otherwise fine then as said above don't fret. You're getting free compost material so what the heck.

[-Ralph-]

Leaves blowing into your garden are a problem...

:lol::smt082:smt081:laughat::smt036:smt046:smt043

[Tigerrrr.......]

Leaves blowing into your garden are a problem...

:lol::smt082:smt081:laughat::smt036:smt046:smt043W ell, would you rather spend a few hours riding your motorbike or sweeping up your neighbour's leaves?

[-Ralph-]

Well, would you rather spend a few hours riding your motorbike or sweeping up your neighbour's leaves?

I'd rather ride a motorbike than sweep up leaves, but sweep up leaves I did last weekend.

Thing is, it didn't even cross my mind who the leaves 'belonged' to (I don't own any trees BTW).

Maybe I should repeat my sentiments on this 'problem'

:lol::smt082:smt081:laughat::smt036:smt046:smt043

[Fruity-ya-ya]

If like us you have a 'green bin' provided by the council, ask nextdoor if you can put the leaves in their bin and then subtly slip in the fact that raking all the leaves inclines your bad back. If they don't get the hint suggest to them they prune it right back and when they say it's took muck like hard work, remind them how much work it's creating for you.

[Bri w]

Leaves blowing into your garden are a problem...

:lol::smt082:smt081:laughat::smt036:smt046:smt043

Col, I can't believe you're not taking this seriously! Do you realise how important this is in the great scheme of life? Or how precious 20mins of someone's life this represents?

My God! A huge famine in west Africa, a global banking crisis, the cost of fuel going through the roof AND you have to take off your helmet...

Col, and edumakated man like you being so blinkered... what is the world coming to?;);):-D

[Biker Biggles]

You clearly have serious issues about this.Id try very hard to turn over a new leaf.

[Stingo]

Perhaps you could rake in a few favours?:smt102

[punyXpress]

Are they ' morning ' or ' evening ' people?
Get a big petrol mower and remove silencer.
Cut & collect leaves at time to suit yourself.
Stack leaves right on their boundary ( since it's wet you'll need a few old tyres to help light )
Wait until wind blowing in their direction & she's just put the washing out.
Guess what . .

[SIII]

Get a handful of copper roofing nails and hammer them into the tree when they are out.

No tree next year - no leaves!

Sorted!:cheers:

[Bluefish]

Put a leaf-let through his door explaining the situation ;)

[Geodude]

Put a leaf-let through his door explaining the situation ;)

I don't beleaf you thought you could get away with that ;)

[Bluefish]

ah c'mon, mine was better than that lol

[-Ralph-]

Groan.... leaf out the puns, they're terrible! ;-)

[beabert]

Could be worse, could be a conker tree... fecking things grrrr.