Ivy climbing on neighbour's wall
Conny
Posts: 5
I have a fence covered in ivy that has climbed onto my neighbour's wall (neighbour's is to the left of my house) and the fence is to the side (not back).
I have never had this issue in 6 years, the growth may have been facilitated by the warm summer and by the light.
My neighbour is expecting for me to sort this out and to get someone round to her to cut the ivy and for me to pick up the tab. She is basically assuming that the ivy comes from my side.
My problem is that I am not sure where the roots of the ivy are, meaning that it may well be their ivy, too (I can see a thick branch coming from their side, creeping through the wooden fence). I am worried that if I cut the ivy on their side, I will be setting a precedent and I will then be expected to do this again if the problem reoccurs.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated: shall I get rid of the ivy altogther?
Thanks in advance.
Posts
I actually find Ivy very pleasing on the eye, and it makes for a good habitat for insects and such like. It even can give the appearance of a nice hedge and can obscure ugly fencing/divides.
People don't half moan about ivy! I don't even think it's that hard to manage. To get rid of it just pull it down, or even easier, slice a section of stem out and it will just die off past that point. (That would take all of about five minutes.) Pull the rest down when it's dead.
I'd love to cover my house in it. But I don't have modern bricks or cement mortar. Which is apparently enough to keep the ivy from doing harm. If I was your neighbour, and the house was relatively modern, I'd elect to keep it - it's a good natural insulator. The only thing that puts me off slightly is spider ingress through open windows.
Not so good when it gets into the roof, though.
For good neighbourly relations I would ensure the ivy doesn't go wandering. I would certainly stop it going up the neighbours wall, as that can be regarded as trespass.
Welshonion:
I agree that the ivy should not go wandering.
The issue I have is that I do not know if it's actually my ivy - they have some on their side of the fence, too.
So I am not sure if I have to pick up the tab...
I would have thought it the same as overhanging branches of trees. If they want to cut it back they can, but you do not have to pay for it. Ivy running up a wall is easy to control. Take a pair of loppers and cut it through at the base. It will then die above that point. It will release its hold on the wall and it will peel off easily. If you did not actually plant ivy against their wall, it could just as easily be weed ivy on their side.
Fidgetbones
I did not plant it, I have been in the house for 6 years and I found it there.
I can understand that it's a pain, it's covering their bathroom window and for some reason this year it has leaned their way (it's never happened before).
But I thought it was a bit cheeky to shift it onto me ... I would like to know if legally it is the same as over hanging branches. You make your point perfectly: cutting at the base will release its hold to the wall and then peel off, which is something I guess they could do themselves? I think that their idea is that someone has to go up a ladder and cut it that way. I can get a local guy to do it on their side when he comes to me, but they would need to contribute!
We have ivy all over the place. It was growing up the garage wall. I cut it at the base and let it wither. It was getting too high up in the oak tree. I cleared an area at the base of the tree. All the ivy up the tree has died and fallen off. I dont see what their problem is. they can cut it and peel it themselves. If you try and peel it off while it is still alive, the aerial roots (suckers) will pull off mortar and leave a right mess. A lot of mine is common stuff that creeps in from the wood next door. I don't expect the owners of the wood to clear it, I do it myself. Where it is causing no problem, I leave it for the birds and insects.
What I would do is tell them you have someone coming to clear your ivy that is out of control. Then they can have a word with the chap to have their ivy cut if they wish, at their expense.
If it is your ivy on their side, I think the cost is down to you. Sorry. As I said before, it is legally trespass.
Unless it's a cultivated form of ivy the likelihood is that it's grown from seeds dropped by birds and it sounds as if it's been allowed to ramble wherever it likes with no form of control from anyone. There's probably more that one individual plant involved.
I think that in all fairness it sounds like a joint problem and should be tackled jointly - that way you can both control it from your own sides of the fence. If you can see roots/stems clearly on her side of the boundary point it out and explain that it's a weed and you can tackle together.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Very well said Dove and a good diplomatic suggestion..
My neighbour also has an ivy-covered wall which divides our properties . We cannot see where the roots of the ivy climbing the wall, originate from, but we each cut sections of it away when we see it becoming a nuisance. It is a good idea to talk to each other and together the problem can be resolved without anyone having to foot a bill! We dont talk to each other enough these days. A simple friendly conversation can work wonders!