Thanks very much for this information - I had no idea that you had to give the trimmings back to the owner - I can kind of understand the rationale, but in practical terms not so much! I've also recently picked some pears overhanging my garden - in fairness my neighbours had just moved out!
You don't have to "give" them back, you have to "offer" them back. Big difference.
I'm contacting the local council on Monday and asking them to either arrange or pay to clean my gutters out this year after all the trees are on their land, I have to get it done every year. The gutters have mesh protectors but there are just so many leaves they just lay on the top then get wet and mushy and don't blow down.
"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
HH, as it took two years and the intervention of my MP to get the council to cut back tree branches that were just about touching the house wall I don't think I would have much luck asking them to pay for gutter clearance. My window cleaner does them for me.
Your original question @ElizaRose, I believe buddleja flowers on new wood (which would grow next year) so pruning now would be OK except you might lose flowers this year. I've been dead heading mine and it's still flowering. Bees are enjoying it.
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The gutters have mesh protectors but there are just so many leaves they just lay on the top then get wet and mushy and don't blow down.