Hedge on neighbor’s property
 

The rear of my property backs up to a tall hedge. The hedge is all on the rear neighbor’s property. I get the impression (since they no longer speak to us!) that this neighbor expected me to weed from my side the weeds coming up in the white stone island surrounding this hedge. As all of this is on their property I don’t feel comfortable handling weeds especially since I use weed killer spray and I don’t want to spray on their property. Is there a standard protocol to handle this situation that I’m not aware of? Since the rear neighbor’s property is pie shaped, as they are on a cul-de-sac, this hedge bed manages to border on my property and my next-door neighbor’s property. My next-door neighbor does not weed her border area either.

I don’t want to be a bad neighbor, but wish that they had had an honest discussion with me and my husband once we moved in to clarify what they expected. It seems ridiculous to expect somebody to take care of your property without actually having a conversation about it. But again maybe there’s a protocol I am not aware of?

I'm sure your neighbor doesn't expect you to do their weeding. They are responsible for the landscaping on their property. You can call deed compliance about the weeds. 352-751-3912

No protocol that I know of, and filing a complaint will probably make things worse. Personally I would not clear out the weeds, as you might become liable for damage if something happens to the hedge. Unfortunately this is their property and their responsibility.

I'm confused. If the stones and weeds are not on your property, I wouldn't do anything with them. If the weeds are on your property, I would have no problem spraying them with a weed killer, being careful to not spray it on their property.

Why was there no conversation when you moved in? What caused the lack of relation with your neighbor? Communications is a two way street.
Seems there may be more to this story……..

I would talk to the neighbor and let them know you don’t like looking at the weeds on their property that face your view. If they respond positively, end of issue. If not, explain to them that it’s their responsibility and you really don’t want to have to call community standards on them and would appreciate them taking care of the situation. At that point, if they refuse to take responsibility and rectify the situation, they are effectively saying F U to you and I would have no problem reporting them to community standards. The complaint would NOT be anonymous. Best of luck.

Question. Would you be willing to spray "their" weeds when you spray your own. That way, they would not have to trespass onto your yard to spray weeds. By all means, check with them first. Neighbors helping and cooperating. Nice.

Just ask them if you can spray the weeds saving them the cost and effort. if they say no do it anyway, you're not going to hurt their shrubs with light weed killer, I've been spraying mine for years with no damage other than to the weeds.

They no longer speak to you?…hmm, wonder why

Do you weed and maintain your neighbors' yards at your own expense? I wouldn't. I would talk to the neighbor. Many homes were bought preowned. Maybe, they do not know their property line.

You may want to use your survey plat and a long tape measure to identify exactly where your property line is located. Drive a few wood or metal stakes in the ground to identify the property line. I would not be doing anything on your neighbor's property. If they have weeds, leave them alone, unless they are violating a specific deed restriction. If they are, you can report it to the deed compliance office. There is no protocol.

Some people are NOT friendly/sociable and only feel neighborly if you are doing something for them or what they want. Then, there ones who want no contact. Several in my neighborhood. Luckily to get wave out of them. :shrug:

I have lived in condominium buildings where some people don't even know who lives next door, and don't want to.

We did introduce ourselves soon after we moved in and had a nice conversation with the couple. We specifically mentioned that we liked having the hedge as it gave us privacy in our backyard. We wanted to mention this to them because we understood that the people who lived there previously had complained about the hedge.

Introduction, communication and friendship would solve this problem.

That’s what caught my attention as well.

Hedge maintenance
 

I have a terrific hedge which all my neighbors get the privacy of. It is completely on my land and I take care of it. I don’t expect anyone else to do that. Yes I spray the weeds and I replace the mulch as needed. And I also keep it trimmed to about 6 feet. It’s my hedge and my responsibility. Yes neighbors behind and on both sides benefit. So what? It belongs to me.
Everyone should be talking to each other.

Don’t feel bad, there are five couples on my street that are like that!

Totally agree!

Why the sudden end to communication is unknown. I just speculate that it has to do with our not helping with the weeding. I can’t figure out what else it could be. The suggestion of delivering some cookies and requesting a discussion to clear the air is a good one. But just wanted to make sure I was not missing something obvious that I was failing to do.

Thanks all for your input.

Yep, communication that I’m not going on your property to do your lawn work.

Since they no longer speak to us….. is when I stopped reading this post.

You could just put a note on their door explaining your concern.

To think everyone is going to get along with all their neighbors may be unrealistic unless your just the go along to get along type.

I've had a neighbor in a CYV who didn't want the person who I hired to pressure wash my side of the house which would include going into her yard.

She made a huge scene because she didn't like this individual personally.

Things were never going to be the same after that childish outburst.

Good news is she moved bad news is now it's a short term rental. lol.

The law is simple if it encroaches your property you can clip it back to their property line. What’s it their property is not your business what’s in yours is .. that’s Florida law

I find knocking on the door and saying hello, I’m your new neighbor is a good place to start. Then wind your way around to the discussion about the hedge. Maybe work together on the project. Nothing like bonding over physical labor.

Embarrassing
 

I think they may not understand what needs to be done. The ownership is on them to keep not just the side they see but what you see also. If I was the neighbor I would be embarrassed and jump right into clearing/cleaning things up. As others have posted, it could be a good thing to communicate directly and air things out. The ARC would definitely be a last resort.

I so agree, Bogie Shooter.

I find it hard to believe you can start trimming neighbors hedges because they impeded your property.

Do you have some sources on this?

A near standard rule anywhere, that you can trim to boundary line most anything overgrowing your property.

See Post No. 11. Communication is nice, but this issue doesn't require any communication. That is why there is a property line. Do whatever you want on your property and stay off of your neighbor's property.

Again show me something in “writing” that says you can cut your neighbor's shrubbery if it impedes your property.

I would think you would need to file a complaint with the district before you pulled out the hedge cutters.

Gallo v. Heller, 512 So.2d 215, 216 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987), which explained the common law rule:

“[A] possessor of land is not liable to persons outside the land for a nuisance resulting from trees and natural vegetation growing on the land. The adjoining property owner to such a nuisance, however, is privileged to trim back, at the adjoining owner's own expense, any encroaching tree roots or branches and other vegetation which has grown onto his property.”

So if hedge is growing over your property then the 3’ rule may not have been in ARC rules at the time. We had to slightly change landscape plans to accommodate 3’ beds from lot line for our ARC approval

Seems the tall hedge is super close to your property... You benefit from the very nice privacy from their hedge...Hedge owner prolly does not feel comfortable going, stepping on your side to do maintenance... Show appreciation, and contribute maintenance on your side, IMHO...

I find that a little strange.

What's so strange?

Before I cut my neighbor's hedges that impeded my property I want to make sure I’m on legal ground.

I’m not looking to get arrested for cutting personal property and want to go about it in the proper manner.

That is exactly why I find it strange. The District does not enforce law.

Here is a summary of the Florida law pertaining to this topic, from this website: FE962/FE962: Handbook of Florida Fence and Property Law: Trees and Landowner Responsibility

SUMMARY
A landowner is not liable to the adjoining property owner for an alleged nuisance caused by overhanging branches and roots from a tree on his or her property; however, the adjoining property owner is legally entitled to trim back, at the adjoining owner's own expense and only up to the property line, any encroaching tree roots or branches and other vegetation that had grown onto his or her property. If the branches or roots are dead, or a dead tree falls onto the adjoining landowner's property, then the landowner of the property where the tree was originally located may be responsible. If a live tree falls onto the adjoining landowner's property, then the adjoining landowner is responsible for any damages.

I doubt it. It’s standard in most areas that nothing can overhang your property unless it is a utility line etc. You show me in writing that it is otherwise with regards to shrubs.

See Post No. 40

Makes sense. Thank you.