I'd ask why did you get a tree surgeon to do this rather than a tooled up gardener? Tree surgeons have additional expensive equipment and staff to pay for and their prices are higher than you need to pay for this type of job.
Also, if you hired him, he shouldn't have listened to the neighbour at all. In future it's best one or the other of you instruct work. Working for two clients can be a nightmare for everyone.
I would have been happy with a gardener but the tree surgeon was here to sort out two trees and so became embroiled. He was supposed to be working for me, not the neighbour. He explained the neighbour that cutting the hedge would make no difference to the light but the neighbour wasn't having it. When I was out and the men were cutting the hedge, he came round and pressurised them into doing what he wanted.
The cheek of some people! It's beginning to sound like more than just an issue of light. Does the neighbour now think 6 foot is too tall, or is it the section that's still 10 foot that's the problem? Maybe it's the width that's their problem (if so, they can trim back whatever's overhanging onto their side of the boundary, and pay for it). If they just don't like the look of a mixed native hedge, they could always put up a fence on their side, within their property.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
If he didn't do what YOU had asked of him then he could be asked to refund your half of payment! It could be put towards your next gardener or do it yerself fella! Also what was the arrangement for him coming,? Surely he should have come when you was home? Still it's done now ,only thing left is to follow through with All the other suggestions , plus wait for them to do a spot of sunbathing and make sure your sprinkler is turned in their direction.when they complain ,kindly point out you have always done this but they must not have noticed with the tall and lovely hedge😯
Just an afterthought....would they be members of a certain gardening forum we all think is brilliant for free advice??????
Thanks for your advice. The tree surgeon has refunded me, and is very apologetic today. But next door is refusing to pay, because he didn't get all he wanted. What did he want, for goodness sake, the whole hedge gone?
I've had the tree surgeon for years and trusted, foolishly so it turned out, that they would do what I wanted. I was only gone for 30 minutes, but when I came back the damage was done.
I have no idea if the neighbours are members of the forum...we're unlikely to be exchanging pleasantries any time soon!
... I have no idea if the neighbours are members of the forum...we're unlikely to be exchanging pleasantries any time soon!
Well, if they are, they've not popped their heads up above the hedge yet
Good of your tree man to refund you.
As for your neighbours, it's your hedge ... it was there when they bought the house, you've made a generous gesture to give them some of what they want ...they'll have to put up with it now, or move ...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
... I have no idea if the neighbours are members of the forum...we're unlikely to be exchanging pleasantries any time soon!
Well, if they are, they've not popped their heads up above the hedge yet
Good of your tree man to refund you.
As for your neighbours, it's your hedge ... it was there when they bought the house, you've made a generous gesture to give them some of what they want ...they'll have to put up with it now, or move ...
The cheek of some people! It's beginning to sound like more than just an issue of light. Does the neighbour now think 6 foot is too tall, or is it the section that's still 10 foot that's the problem? Maybe it's the width that's their problem (if so, they can trim back whatever's overhanging onto their side of the boundary, and pay for it). If they just don't like the look of a mixed native hedge, they could always put up a fence on their side, within their property.
Good business sense though. He's probably wanting future work on your trees, and knows he was wrong to take instructions from the neighbour when you weren't there.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Your tree surgeon was totally in the wrong to take orders from a third party - you hired him and because you had used his services before you rightly assumed that you could trust him. He proved to be unreliable. I think you would be wrong to hire him to do further work for you in the future even though he hasn't charged you for this incident.
If you have any future work done near your border with this neighbour, you should warn your new contractor of the problems you have had with your neighbour's interference and stress that you have hired them to work for you and that you don't want a repeat of this annoying situation.
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I would have been happy with a gardener but the tree surgeon was here to sort out two trees and so became embroiled. He was supposed to be working for me, not the neighbour. He explained the neighbour that cutting the hedge would make no difference to the light but the neighbour wasn't having it. When I was out and the men were cutting the hedge, he came round and pressurised them into doing what he wanted.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks for your advice. The tree surgeon has refunded me, and is very apologetic today. But next door is refusing to pay, because he didn't get all he wanted. What did he want, for goodness sake, the whole hedge gone?
I've had the tree surgeon for years and trusted, foolishly so it turned out, that they would do what I wanted. I was only gone for 30 minutes, but when I came back the damage was done.
I have no idea if the neighbours are members of the forum...we're unlikely to be exchanging pleasantries any time soon!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.