I'm not removing the hedges but just trimming back the long branches. My neighbor lost her mind when I started trimming them 20 minutes ago. I understand you can't remove trees or bushes during the bird season. Is what im doing against the law in anyway?

by 11bTommy

10 comments

  2. I believe you have to give them the Chance to cut it themselves by asking them First. Not sure thought. Trimming is Fine, getting rid of a large Portion of the bush is Not. 

  3. Build a wall of spinning blades next to it, and tell your neighbor it’s not your fault that their hedge insists on growing into the blade wall

  4. The short answer? No. You can get into legal trouble.

    This is governed by town/city level ordinances, so there are no simple answers. Best you talk to the neighbour and remind them of their responsibility.

  5. In addition to “does my neighbor allow me to trim the hedge or not” there is also seasonal blockings of hedge trimming because of birds and animals.

  6. Legally, the side that has the roots is responsible for trimming/maintaining both sides. The easiest thing to do is to talk to the neighbour and find an amicable and workable solution.
    If that doesn’t work, then you have the right to hire out the work and then take him to court for payment (provided that you can prove that you gave him proper notice).

    But again: fighting with neighbours over hedges sucks the joy out of life. Try to find a mutually acceptable solution

  7. https://www.wohneigentum.nrw/beitrag/hecke-des-nachbarn-schneiden

    In short:
    – No, you can’t just trim the hedges
    – The Hedge is regarded as property and cutting them is regarded as destruction of property
    – You have to formally request your neighbor to cut the part that grows over on your property and give him adequate time to do so
    – Only then you’re allowed to trim the part that’s on your property and you need a reason to do so. (Like hedges blocking sunlight)
    – Your neighbor is a pedantic idiot

  8. I do this all the time and so do my neighbours. If it’s done properly, i.e. it doesn’t damage the plants, I know nobody who would care. But I am a lucky person with reasonable neighbours – people that will totally freak out do exist. The simplest way would probably be to simply ask if they’d be OK if you it.

  9. Jokes aside, from a brief search, I got the following:

    – You can cut their hedge only if it significantly impedes on your use of your own property, and they have repeatedly failed to respond to demands to cut it. 
    – You cannot cut hedges at all between March 1st and September 30th. This is to protect animals. 

    So, until September you are probably out of luck. But at that point you should demand for your neighbor to cut their hedge back. 

  10. Minor pruning to maintain the shape of the hedge is permitted within the framework of nature conservation. However, you should first make sure that no birds are nesting in the hedge.

    With regard to the neighbor, the legal situation is somewhat more complex, as the hedge is basically your neighbor’s property, which you are not allowed to damage.
    If the branches protrude onto your property, you must first ask the neighbor and give them the opportunity to cut the branches back.
    If he does not comply, you may remove the branches yourself.
    But as with so many things: Talking helps.

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