Neighbour's Hedge

[Tolsty]

Whenever our neighbour cuts her hedge in the front garden, she leaves the cuttings strewn across our path. The wind has now blown them onto our front lawn making it more awkward to clean up. She has also left the cuttings on the path that runs next to the house.

She has swept up all the cuttings that landed on her garden but didn't clear any that landed anywhere else. We live in a terraced house and have small front gardens with no garden fences or gates so she had no excuse really. This also isn't the first time she has done it.

My question is how can I politely say to her that she has left our garden a mess and to clean up after herself? We have lived here 2 years and have spoken a few times and say hello and all that but we're not really close neighbours.

[bookbinder]

How about, next time you see her outside the house, saying, "Would it be possible for you to take your offcuts away with you next time you cut the hedge?" Try to say it in a rather diffident manner, as if you don't want to appear to be complaining. Base your future approaches on how she reacts to this one.

[tenrec]

Why not ask her if she needs help to pick up her clippings from your side?

[tenrec]

Get chatting, and then hit her over the head with the clippings. (Only joking, obviously)!

[elliemay1]

Does she live on her own and is she elderly? You could go out and start a conversation with her when she next cuts her hedge. Maybe she just doesn't realise.

[Wharton]

She probably just hasn't thought about it, and if she has, she might be a bit timid about entering your front garden unannounced. Forget it, it'll soon be winter.

[Tolsty]

She's prob about 40-50 and lives with her teenage son!

[elliemay1]

I still think that you should go out and chat to her the next time she is cutting the hedge and quietly draw her attention to it.

[askyourgran]

Is it a dividing hedge between your two houses, tolsty? Maybe she's dropping hints for you to do your bit. If it's all her own hedge I would pick up a few at a time that have landed on your path and chuck them back over. Maybe she doesn't like to intrude into your garden to clear them up. At least she's keeping the garden tidy.

[Wharton]

Teenage son? That changes everything, have a word with him instead. In Glasgow the conversation would go something like, "Lissen son, see the next time yur maw's cuttin' the hedge, tell hur tae clear hur clippins oot ma gairden as well...an' by the way, YOU should be daein it".

[SpikeyBush]

LOL Wharton. What a barn pot! (is that the correct spelling for the Scottish term for a right wally?)

[craft1948]

How about just picking them up and getting rid of them. If this is the worst thing in your life I suggest you have a rethink............

[Wharton]

SpikeyBush
It's bampot (one word) roughly translating as 'ineffectual person', I know because occasionally I am one (weekends usually).

[douglas9401]

Bampot SpiketBush, bampot.

[douglas9401]

And a SpiketBush is just a bush with spikes, no offence. :)

[douglas9401]

http://www.scots-onli...nary/search_scots.asp

[lilacben]

She could think that because it was on your side of the property she must leave it. I believe it is the law if you cut your neighbours hedge you have to give the cuttings back to them because by law you own them.

[Wharton]

SpikeyBush
It can be abbreviated to 'bam' as in "Away ya bam ye" - go away you ineffectual person, I no longer wish to associate with you.

[Khandro]

But isn't 'her' hedge also your hedge, and she is cutting it for you? Surely picking up a few cuttings is less work than that she is doing.

[SpikeyBush]

well a spikey bush (as opposed to a spiketbush) keeps the bampots from breaking into my garden to steal my oil. That and a fierce dog that suffers from narcolepsy

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Next time cut the hedge YOURSELF and let some bits fall on her side and I bet that will really upset her!!