Hey folks, I could really use some outside opinions on a situation with my neighbors. I live in California, and there's this old wooden fence that I share with them, which has been covered in thick ivy for years on both sides. The ivy has provided us with privacy and helped hold the fence together, but the wood itself is quite old and deteriorating.
Recently, my neighbors, who are new to the area, decided to cut down all the ivy on their side without discussing it with me first. I only found out when I noticed the ivy on my side starting to die. When I approached them, they were polite but mentioned they cleared it out because they wanted more sunlight and gardening space. I explained that much of the ivy on my side was dying too because we shared roots and stems.
With the ivy gone, my side of the fence now looks worse, and I'm worried it may need repairs soon. I even brought up the possibility of splitting the costs for a new fence, as per California's Good Neighbor Fence law, but they didn't seem to think it was important. I'm feeling quite frustrated, especially because a simple conversation could have avoided this mess. Am I overreacting for feeling annoyed? Should they have consulted me before making these changes? Have any of you dealt with something similar? Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Honestly, it sounds like the ivy was on their side of the fence, so they had every right to clean it up. When I have plants from my neighbors encroaching on my space, I usually take the initiative to trim them back too without asking. They might not have known your preference for the ivy, and since they’re new to the neighborhood, they’re just trying to make their yard look nice. It’s definitely not ideal, but sometimes you just have to let it go, especially if the fence was already in rough shape.
As a horticulturalist, I can tell you that ivy isn't the best choice for fences; it's tough on the structure. Sure, it would have been courteous for them to talk to you first, but they likely wanted to improve their landscaping. Perhaps you could negotiate with them about the fence cost, and consider planting another vine that’s less invasive on your side. That way, you can maintain some greenery while preventing future issues.
I get where you’re coming from, but I think you might be overreacting a bit. If the fence was already old and falling apart, perhaps the ivy was just speeding up its decay. They probably didn't realize how much it affected your side since they’ve just moved in. In the long run, maybe this gives you a chance to put up a new fence that’ll last longer without that invasive ivy. Just keep open communication moving forward!