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Good Neighbors Stay In The Lines

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

Updated: 12/03/2007 09:46 pm

Even among the best of neighbors, questions may arise about property line plantings. Here are some points on this matter to keep in mind when you plant, and some to consider for mature trees, shrubs and vines.

I suppose a homeowner has the right plant right up to his property line, but it is not a good idea with anything taller or more permanent than green beans. Whatever you decide to plant close to the lines, consider carefully what it will do to your neighbor's yard, and your own, and how it will look at maturity. It is legal to cut away branches from a neighbor's tree that hang over the property line, and vice versa, so consider how the tree will look if trimmed at the lot line. And remember that neighbors are not necessarily as permanent as trees.

When neighbors of my husband, David, and I began building their home, they politely asked first whether they could cut away part of our largest tree, and I suggested they cut the limbs from the trunk rather than leave stubs. They did so gladly and did a good job. It did look shorn for awhile, but it soon grew full again.

That oak tree hangs over their driveway and some years coats it with acorns. Their son was out there sweeping up acorns the other day while I was working on my side of the fence, and he gave me a pleasant greeting, so I hope he doesn't hold that mess of acorns against me. The last time we had our trees trimmed, they asked that one large branch reaching over their roof be removed, and we were glad to oblige. It was the least we could do. I often walk up their driveway and prune away the parts of my plants I can't reach from my side.

I made a grave and costly mistake by ignoring the seedling trees that quickly grew large right on the other side of our back privacy fence. I considered them someone else's trees, and indeed they might belong to the county because there is a small canal back there. They might be ours because they are so close to the fence, and fences are most often a bit inside the property line. Before we knew it, they were large and shading much of our backyard. We pay for trimming our side every time we have the tree men come.

So I tell people to be aware of what is growing beyond their property lines that will soon be hanging over, especially if that property is not someone else's yard. In such a case, it is wise to ask whoever owns the land before you go over there and prune away unwanted and invasive seedlings. If you can't find anyone to ask, go and prune anyway.
Vines offer another problem. I once had red passion flowers that climbed our fence and then the neighbor's hedge. When they pruned the hedge, the vines dropped back into our yard and looked pretty bad, but such rampant vines come back. Be carful of rampant vines anywhere, especially near lot lines.

I must confess to planting a small herbal vine Fo-Ti, or Polygonum multiflorum, to climb the fence, never guessing how wickedly it would spread. I've been pulling it out of my yard since, but it has escaped under the fence to the yards of two neighbors and settled in spaces between that no one can reach. So I've caused terrible trouble for all of us, and I am truly sorry - in fact, sorrier and sorrier as I pull those vines constantly.

Along the rest of our back fence, air potatoes planted by birds and the wind constantly come across. I pull them, too, as much as I can, though they thrive beyond my reach.

It is neither legal nor decent to reach over a property line and cut from your neighbor's plants what will fall back into his yard.

If you see a seedling tree in your neighbor's yard that is bound to cause you trouble, talk to him about it. Maybe he doesn't want it either and would be just as glad if you would cut it out of there for him.

Years ago, I wrote about property lines, and one of the best neighbors I have had was concerned that I was trying to tell her something. I am blessed with good neighbors, and no property line problems, except those trees that are probably ours and that vine that causes so much trouble.

As the Amish say, "We get too soon old and too late smart."

If your neighbor makes a mistake or causes you trouble, willfully or not, try to find a way to get along as best you can. After all, people are more important than plants.

Today's Pick

Nasturtiums, or Tropaeolum majus, are just about my favorite annuals for many reasons. They are easy to grow from seeds or plants, starting now. They will spread all over, and I don't mind. Some will climb as high as the house. They need full sun to partial shade. The flowers are jewel-bright in all shades of cream to maroon, mostly yellows and oranges, and have a pleasant fragrance that reminds me of childhood summers. All parts of this plant are edible, so we add leaves, flowers and seed pods to salads or use them as garnishes. The plants will start slowly but can bloom by Christmas or earlier. I find they bloom sooner in containers. By spring they are full of flowers, and by summer they die and should be removed as soon as they look too bad. This is not a difficult job, except that I hate to see them go.

Now's The Time To ...

Suggest a topic. The information about property line plantings was requested by a reader. So if you would like to see an issue covered in this column, e-mail me with suggestions and questions. And if you or someone you know has a garden I should visit and write about, contact me with a phone number to call for an appointment.

Monica Brandies can be reached at monicabrandies@yahoo.com.

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