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A new hedge on the boundary between neighbours

LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
edited May 2023 in Garden design
Hi all



I’m considering putting a hedge on the boundary of my front garden and my neighbour. My garden is the tatty one, his is the nice green one 😀

I’m not decided yet what the hedge will be but wanted advice from a neighbourly point of view. I have a good enough relationship with them, we say hello when we pass each other and have a little chat, they are an elderly couple. I will be letting them know what my plans are but just wanted to know what to do should they get arsey about it. I assume they can’t actually do anything to stop me? We are on the south side so a hedge will throw a shadow onto their lawn, though I wasn’t planning anything higher than about shoulder level. We just want to be able to sit in that area in privacy. 

Thoughts?
I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Can't see any problem. They can't dictate what you plant, so unless you were to plant something hellish like leylandii, or there are restrictions in your deeds as to what you can do, go ahead and plant your hedge. Better to wait until autumn so that it's easier and you can get bare root which is far cheaper and easier for establishing.
    Make sure you have the border on your ground, and prep well. There are restrictions on hedge heights, so make sure you abide by that too. 
    I'd go for something like beech or hornbeam, so that it can be kept tight. Bear in  mind that you may have  to come on to their property to maintain it, and it's better if you offer to do that, but that's where the future problem could lie, so it would be a good idea to check that out.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Best to tell them your plans and ask if it would be OK to go onto their grass to cut that side. As an elderly couple they might not want to / be able to do it. Assure them that you won't let it get really high or really wide.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    Thank you @Fairygirl and @JennyJ

    The plan was to plant into the center line of a 2 ft wide border on my side. Beech is a great idea and I’m definitely planning on waiting for autumn. 

    I hadn’t thought about offering to do their side, that‘ll help, I’m happy to do that. 

    I don’t think there are any restrictions about what I can plant, there’s all sorts of hedges on the estate. 
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If you cut both sides you're in full control :).
    My old neighbour used to cut the privet on her side, lower than I wanted it so the top part was thin. Then she got to a stage where she couldn't really manage it so I started doing both sides and it was much better. I also did the bit along the front of her garden  adjoining the road while I was round there, so everyone was happy. And I got lots of extra clippings to feed my compost bin.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Can I suggest  an open wire fence to define the boundary before you start.  Then if it grows through onto their side they can trim it back to the boundary.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's the way to do it @JennyJ, then everyone's happy, as you say  :)
    The great thing about beech or hornbeam [the latter is by far my favourite hedge]  is that they don't cast huge amounts of shade unless left to grow immense, and being technically deciduous, although retaining foliage over winter, you still have some privacy, but not dense shade.
    There's a fabulous hedge not far from me, which was cut back very hard a couple of years ago, and it's done it the world of good. They grow very easily here.

    I don't expect you'll be aiming to 'beat' this world famous hedge up here either  ;)
    https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/meikleour-beech-hedge-p2569991
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    @JennyJ I’ve just remembered they have a gardener come in to do their lawn and stuff so more than likely they would sort it but I’ll still make the offer. If only for the clippings 😀

    @fidgetbones I might run the idea past them, see what they say. Honestly I’d rather avoid the extra cost
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    @Fairygirl definitely not going for any records! That hedge is huge! My parents have a lovely tall beech hedge too, I’ll try and get a picture. 


    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    My parents had a large beech hedge which was very hard for me to reach well, once I took over cutting it for them! I also managed to slice half way through a finger with the hedgetrimmer one time - which wasn't great  ;)
    Sadly, the new people who moved in after my Dad died,  promptly removed it and stuck a big fence up.  :/
    The hedge was the same age as me - I was a very young baby when we moved in there - a new small estate, and ours was one of the first few houses built. My Dad chose it for the aspect etc.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Do any other houses in the road have hedges or fences between properties.  If not, there may be either a covenant on the development, or a statement in the deeds, that the estate has to remain open plan.  Worth checking before saying anything.
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