Common Fence Etiquette

We have an eccentric neighbor who doesn’t want any of our plants to touch the new fence that he put up just inside the common property line between our backyard gardens, i.e., it’s probably a quarter of an inch on his side of the line.  We have actually seen him reach over the fence, cut and rip off the tops of our plantings that come too close to “his” fence.  We have lived next to each other for years, with an ivy-covered fence between us, but this issue surfaced when he replaced the old fence (and consequently destroyed all the ivy) with the new one.

Is there an accepted fence “etiquette” between neighbors?  I guess it goes without saying that conversations between us haven’t worked out.   I always assumed that we could do whatever we wanted as far as plantings on the side of the fence facing our garden.  We are not replacing the ivy – just planting wisteria, forsythia, etc.

kb16mm

in Quality of Life 13 years and 8 months ago

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snowman2 | 13 years and 8 months ago

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It’s on his property (which is key) and it’s his fence, so you can’t use it for a trellis.  He is not permitted to reach over the fence to cut anything on your property but he can cut whatever he wants that extends on to his property (except a tree if his actions would kill it).

wyckoff | 13 years and 8 months ago

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If you are planting wisteria (or any other vine) then you should absolutely build your own structure to support it. If it’s a nice fence then the guy has probably shelled out tens of thousands of dollars, so it’s not hard to understand that he doesn’t want it pulled down in the next 5 years.

Silvermax | 13 years and 8 months ago

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If he’s just put up a new fence and you’re growing aggressive vines — like Asian wisteria (as opposed to less aggressive native wisteria) or English ivy — then I kind of understand why he’s trying to stop the rampant growth from reaching into his garden. Wisteria and english ivy are stranglers, and fence destroyers, and nearly impossible to eradicate. My neighbor allows his english ivy and rampant honeysuckle to grow unchecked, so I “check” it on my side — i.e., I cut it off as it pokes through the fence. It’s a nuisance, but not much else I can do. I also pull up all the baby rose of sharons and ailanthus trees that come over my way from his garden, but I leave his forsythia alone as I think it’s lovely. By the same token, I would understand if he decided to lop off branches of any of my vines or bushes that grew over onto his side — he may not like butterfly bushes or climbing roses and may regard them as an intrusion on his space, so I do my best to keep them in check on my side. 

Does he not speak to you at all under any circumstances? Have you tried asking him point blank if any of your plants are a problem for him? That might be the opening you both need, to figure out some kind of modus vivendi.

Goatcrapp | 13 years and 8 months ago

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If he paid for the fence – he’s probably just being fussy over something so newly purchased.

Frankly – I’m a firm believer that good fences make good neighbors…  and if you’d like your plants to be able to touch a fence – put up your own, on your side of the property.. make it taller than one could easily reach over… and call it a day.

Alternatively – does it matter much?  If he’s the one doing the work – not demanding that you trim between the plants and fence.. who cares?   Have you actually spoken to him about it?  If not – then I suggest you stop following his passive aggressive lead, and simply mention it. See what his point of view is.

Odds are – its being fussy over a new purchase… in the same way some people get fussy with a new car.  After a couple of years – it won’t matter much.

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Just run an electric fence along the top just below his fence, he reaches over and zap.

bowl-of-dicks | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Some plants can destroy a fence (over a long period of time) For instance, you mentioned Wisteria. We had wisteria vines that (left unattended) almost pulled an entire side porch off of our house. I agree that it’s unfortunate that your neighbor is the passive aggressive type, but it is his fence on his property, so he can be as finicky as he wants to be about it and it’s out of your control entirely. My suggestion is that you add your own fence 6″ in from prop line and let your plants do what they want.

haiderbk | 13 years and 8 months ago

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PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH THAT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU OR TRY TO DO, THEY’LL DO THINGS THAT MATTER FOR THEM. DOES NOT MATTER NEIGHBOR PUT NEW FENCE OR VERY EXPENSIVE FENCE THE GOOD SIDE SHOULD BE ON YOUR SIDE BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU DON’T HAVE RIGHT DESTROY HIS PROPERTY. IT IS JUST PLANTS NOT ANYTHING ELSE. IF YOU TALKED TO HIM AND HE ISN’T INTERESTED LISTENING THEN I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE THERE IS TO DO BESIDE GETTING LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVE.