11/05/2026
An interesting read as I'm asked this question all the time .
🚨 As warmer weather arrives and Brits get their gardens ready for summer, some gardeners might have problems creeping over their fence.
🌳 Without proper maintenance, neighbours could leave an unsightly overhang with overgrown bushes or trees for nearby residents.
Dealing with an unruly tree or shrub of your own is straightforward - but the lines blur when it is not growing in your garden.
Property owners fed up with overhanging greenery might feel they are fully entitled to tackle the problem themselves.
However, understanding the legal boundaries is crucial. Failing to do so risks triggering significant complications.
According to Gov.uk, homeowners are legally entitled to trim branches from trees or shrubs that extend into their property from a neighbouring garden or a public highway. But, people must understand the limits before this gardening task becomes a more serious disagreement.
Gov.uk said: "You can trim branches or roots that cross into your property from a neighbour's property or a public road. You can only trim up to the property boundary. If you do more than this, your neighbour could take you to court for damaging their property."
Legal professionals caution that property owners must be careful not to exceed their rights and should carry out any work strictly from their side of the boundary. Blythe Liggins Solicitors said: "There is a right to cut overhanging branches without the need to give any notice to the owner, although this must be carried out without going on to the adjoining land, since otherwise this would be to commit trespass."
Legally, after any trimming, you must check with the homeowner about what they want to do with the branches. The Royal Horticultural Society said: "Once branches are cut off, they should be offered back to the tree owner.
"If the owner doesn’t want them, then you will be responsible for disposing of the prunings. You can’t simply throw them over the boundary into your neighbour’s garden."
How to approach the problem
Simple measures can help homeowners resolve any disputes before involving the local authority or legal representatives, according to Citizens Advice. Begin by speaking with your neighbour and keep a record of any discussions or arrangements made.
Citizens Advice guidance said: "It's often best to find a compromise, for example, sharing the cost of pruning a hedge even if you think your neighbour owns it. It could help you keep a good relationship and might be cheaper than paying a solicitor to resolve the disagreement."
Should an agreement be impossible to reach, an impartial mediator trained in dispute resolution can be brought in to help. Look for a mediator via Gov.uk, though this service may cost.
Homeowners can find themselves embroiled in neighbourly disputes - from disagreements over bins, parking and beyond. A property lawyer recently clarified how to establish which garden fences belong to you.
Understanding this can prove useful, as individuals may face trouble for damaging property if they alter a fence they don't technically own - even when it's situated within their own garden boundaries. Studies reveal that six out of ten Britons have encountered garden-related conflicts with neighbours that could potentially put them on the wrong side of the law, with painting their fence being one such potential cause.
✍ Andrew Nuttall
