Hello.
We want to plant a Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) in our garden in October. Our neighbor and we have both recently built new houses. I spoke with him because I wanted us to place the hedge directly on the boundary line and share it between us.
He then told me that he wants to have both a fence and a hedge because he is planning to get a dog in the future.
He implied that he will now only install a fence. We are already planting the hedge. Additionally, we are supposed to keep enough distance so that the fence will not be damaged by the hedge.
How should the border setbacks be maintained now? The development plan doesn’t really specify anything about this. Online, I only found that in Lower Saxony (Nds) a distance of 50cm (20 inches) from the boundary should be kept for hedges. If he installs the fence on the boundary line, I would still need space behind my hedge to trim it. That would mean I have to stay at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) away from the boundary, right? Besides the significant loss of space, this would be inconvenient because our garage is already built on the boundary line. I actually wanted to start the hedge close to the garage. Is he even allowed to put the fence directly on the hedge?
We want to plant a Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) in our garden in October. Our neighbor and we have both recently built new houses. I spoke with him because I wanted us to place the hedge directly on the boundary line and share it between us.
He then told me that he wants to have both a fence and a hedge because he is planning to get a dog in the future.
He implied that he will now only install a fence. We are already planting the hedge. Additionally, we are supposed to keep enough distance so that the fence will not be damaged by the hedge.
How should the border setbacks be maintained now? The development plan doesn’t really specify anything about this. Online, I only found that in Lower Saxony (Nds) a distance of 50cm (20 inches) from the boundary should be kept for hedges. If he installs the fence on the boundary line, I would still need space behind my hedge to trim it. That would mean I have to stay at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) away from the boundary, right? Besides the significant loss of space, this would be inconvenient because our garage is already built on the boundary line. I actually wanted to start the hedge close to the garage. Is he even allowed to put the fence directly on the hedge?
M
Martial.white24 Sep 2020 12:04If I were you, I would wait or carefully bring it up again.
If you both want a hedge, I find the neighbor a bit cheeky. But maybe it wasn’t meant that way after all?
However, I would try to avoid as much conflict as possible with the neighbor over a hedge.
If you both want a hedge, I find the neighbor a bit cheeky. But maybe it wasn’t meant that way after all?
However, I would try to avoid as much conflict as possible with the neighbor over a hedge.
Tx-25 schrieb:
Or I might wait another year or two and have him plant a hedge. Then I’ll have space and peace. I thought he wanted a fence first—so why a hedge afterwards?
Could it be that both your plots are quite small, and he’s hoping that you’ll give up the roughly 1 meter (3 feet) wide strip for the hedge on your side, while he keeps his half meter (1.5 feet) right on the boundary for himself? A fence hardly takes up any space...
I find it a bit unfair that the one who comes first also has to deal with the disadvantages. Why? What would have been different if you had come first...? Besides, from your description, there’s nothing there at the moment anyway.
I already knew the neighbor beforehand. There should and will be no conflict because of that. But he is a teacher. So basically, whenever we are on vacation, he is at home. He loves the garden and wants to spend all his time outside on the terrace. Therefore, we both want a privacy screen in the form of a hedge. Only for possibly adding a dog later does he also want a fence. In my opinion, a fence and a hedge do not work well together. Even if we share the hedge along the boundary, he will not place a fence 50 cm (20 inches) in front of it.
No, nothing is built yet. I mean that I find it unfortunate that we both actually want a hedge. If he starts, he gets the hedge and the loss of space on his property, and I am happy. If I start, I have to place the hedge on our property, and he is happy.
Our plots are each a little over 900 m² (9700 ft²). I know that with this size, you can tolerate the loss of space caused by a hedge. But still, I want to maximize the space savings—for both sides.
Scout schrieb:
Why, what would have been different if you started first...? Also, based on your description, nothing is built yet.
No, nothing is built yet. I mean that I find it unfortunate that we both actually want a hedge. If he starts, he gets the hedge and the loss of space on his property, and I am happy. If I start, I have to place the hedge on our property, and he is happy.
Our plots are each a little over 900 m² (9700 ft²). I know that with this size, you can tolerate the loss of space caused by a hedge. But still, I want to maximize the space savings—for both sides.
Scout schrieb:
Could it be that both your lots are quite small, and he is counting on you giving up the approximately 1-meter-wide (about 3 feet) strip on your side for the hedge, while he keeps his half meter (about 1.5 feet) on the property line for himself? A fence hardly takes up any space... Yes, I believe that is what he is trying to achieve for himself.
I have to admit, I might have done the same if I wanted both a fence and a hedge. But I don’t find the whole approach entirely fair. For me, it’s mainly about understanding what you are required and allowed to do in this situation.
By the way, I have already talked to him about this issue several times.
I don’t think you need to leave enough space from the property line for the hedge to be trimmed from the back. I would simply plant the hedge at the distance required by law. If it then grows through the neighbor’s fence, they can trim it back themselves or allow you onto their property to take care of it. Alternatively, they could install a solid fence that the hedge can’t grow through.
By the way: Cherry laurel is quite ecologically unfriendly; maybe you can find another hedge plant that both you and your neighbor like.
By the way: Cherry laurel is quite ecologically unfriendly; maybe you can find another hedge plant that both you and your neighbor like.
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