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Hawthorn Hedge

PlantpotsPlantpots Posts: 9
in Problem solving
I have a Small stretch of hawthorn hedge that used to have a fence behind.  The next  neighbour removed the boundary fence.  All well for years and it's now probably 60.  New neighbour now, wants all the hedges out, including our hawthorn.   Would cutting the branches off on their side to the trunk so they could fence behind it be a possibility?  They were going to remove it and said they were discussing it to be polite, but I pointed out the boundary line and that it is planted on our side of the garden.  It's a little wildlife haven, very sturdy, low maintenance really on our side as it's been kept tidy, and no chance of it blowing over onto the car, so it's a bit sad.  I think they would put deep gravel boards in with  those ready made fence panels so I guess that wouldn't do the roots any good?
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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    How sad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They can't remove the hedge if it's yours, so don't worry.
    I also wouldn't worry about the hedge if they put a new fence in. Hawthorn can cope with most abuse, and it will recover from any amount of cutting back. 
    A shame that they felt the hedge should be removed. Rather ironic too, when you consider the focus nowadays on preserving nature  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Hawthorn is pretty tough and if they're in your garden they are your property.
    They can chop off anything that overhangs their boundary, but so long as the main trunk is not damaged they should be ok.
    None of my gravel boards go below the surface of the soil (but the soil may need to be levelled here and there) and hopefully they won't do too much damage putting in the fence posts. Hopefully your hawthorns will be mostly ok. 
    Once the work is done, giving your hawthorns a good mulch will improve their chances.
    Fingers x'ed

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • PlantpotsPlantpots Posts: 9
    Thanks you so much for your replies, , I am thinking that it is really worth a try.  I may ask a tree surgeon so a neutral party can do the work, as it would need access to their garden, although I worry some tend to get the chainsaw out for everything ..  Another note came through the door last night this time saying they considered it unsafe and it needed to be removed so they want it gone completely.  I grew up with it so did our pets but this is a different era!  I think they thought our garage wall was the border but it's actually built several inches in, as is a wall at the front of our property, (so they are actually encroaching on our land on their side) So there may be room to leave the trunk undamaged although they say it's leaning towards them, it may be just extra branching on their side. Perhaps may need an extra  trim at top as well and encouraging to grow straighter?   
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Don't be bullied into having plants on your property removed.
    They belong to you and it is their legal duty not to cause damage to anything in your garden.
    They can cut off anything overhanging their boundary but cannot otherwise damage your trees as they are your property on your land

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2021
    Hawthorn hedges are tough as old boots ... think of the way farmers maintain them with tractors and mechanical flails, or chop them hard back and layer them to thicken them up and make them stockproof, every few years ... and they spring back into even more vigorous growth.

    Back in the day, house walls etc were built a few inches in from the boundary to allow for guttering overhang and repair etc.  Some folk just don't understand that nowadays.

    Speaking as a country girl who grew up surrounded by huge hawthorn hedges, I can hardly envisage a situation where a hawthorn hedge could be considered 'unsafe' by anyone with any common sense. 

    As has been said, they cannot remove your hedge ... they can cut it back to the trunk and it'll still be fine ... even if roots on their side are cut into it'll still be fine.  Don't worry about it ... tell them you're perfectly happy for them to do what they want within the law and on their property. 

    And then smile and enjoy your garden ... don't let it develop into a fight if you can possibly help it.  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I would have a word and warn them that any damage on your side is trespass and you will take action. I fail to see how it is "unsafe" unless they plan on trying to push through it.   Some people have objections to any form of greenery in their garden.  One of our neighbours has removed every inch of vegetation. I don't know why he doesn't live in a tower block. If it is leaning over the boundary on to their side, they can cut back to that to put a fence in their side, but not cut back 1mm on your side. We have a very old hawthorn hedge , part of an original farm track boundary.  The birds use it for nesting.  I prefer to see that than the bits where the previous owner allowed neighbours (there are seven up the length of our garden) to rip it out and put in boards instead.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I agree that a 60 year old hawthorn hedge is likely to survive almost anything you throw at it. 

    Unfortunately your neighbours don't sound like gardeners. You need to remind them that it's your hedge and they cannot remove it - but I would definitely offer to cut it really hard back on their side so they can install their fence. Maybe you shouldn't have to make the effort / incur the expense but if you do the work (or arrange to have the work done) you retain some control over the situation and can avoid unnecessary damage to the hedge.

    I am struggling to work out how or why a hawthorn hedge would be considered dangerous unless children have made contact with vicious thorns. But then - surely it's up to supervising adults to keep children away from the hedge....
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • PlantpotsPlantpots Posts: 9
    I remember it got almost cut down years ago by a neighbour when the fence was replaced and yes it sprang back.  And yes, exactly right, the developers allowed for downpipe and gutter when house and garage built.  The previous removal of some  boundary posts on their side  hasn't helped.  The hawthorn part of the hedge is sentimental value, and it won't be as thick for the sparrows once 'halved' but it has a lot of life in it yet.  Your advice is much appreciated and I did feel bullied by their attitude.  I am taking cuttings in hope I can grow a little part of it somewhere else too 🦔
  • PlantpotsPlantpots Posts: 9
    The sparrows are cute little fellas and squabble in there all day. I don't think they are into gardening or wildlife though so that's why I'm settling on how to accommodate their fence, as you can't force someone to like greenery 😿 .  They have put some bedding pansies in their front where they ripped out their shrubs. Rest is more of a car park.
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