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Some flowers are more thuggish than others. A neighbor's flowers can grow right through—or under—the fence and pop out on the other side, stampeding over your carefully curated garden. Digging and cutting back garden thugs is often necessary to preserve what grows on your side of the fence.
On the other hand, you may absolutely love your neighbor's bounty of wildflowers. You find yourself rejoicing at how much their black-eyed Susans have thrived, and you're tempted to cut a few that have grown through the fence so you can enjoy them in a vase.
When trees and vines cross over property lines, you can usually trim anything on your side. But what about flowers? If you're thinking of cutting a neighbor's flowers that are growing on your side of the fence, here's what to know.
Related: What To Know About Trimming A Neighbor's Tree Hanging Into Your Yard
Can You Cut Your Neighbor's Flowers?
Technically, you can cut whatever grows on your side of the fence and trim it right up to the property line. You can also dig out the daylilies that have sprouted on your property. Never dig or trim plants on the other side of the fence, which could be construed as trespassing.
You also shouldn't take matters into your own hands if you don't approve of the neighbor's thorny rose bush. Killing or seriously disfiguring a neighbor's plants can be grounds for a court battle. So do not, under any circumstances, spray a neighbor's flowers and shrubs with weed killer or cut it to the ground unless you have their permission.
Also, try to remember that the neighbor's prized peonies or dinner-plate dahlias required a lot of pampering and could be a point of pride. If you're tempted to fill your vases with someone else's flowers, it's a good idea to ask first—even when they're poking through the fence.
How To Keep A Neighbor's Plants From Growing On Your Side Of The Fence
When your neighbor's flowers grow wild, keeping them off your property can seem like an uphill battle. You may have to resign yourself to diligently pruning and pulling on your side of the fence. Doing this regularly will make the job much easier, since the plants won't have a chance to get established and grow larger. You can also install an underground barrier, like steel edging, to stop plants that have aggressive runners or rhizomes.
If all else fails, talk to your neighbor. There's a chance that they aren't paying attention to what's happening in the back corner of their yard. They may be open to removing plants that are invasive or problematic, especially if those flowers are taking over their yard, too. But if they aren't interested in tackling a thorny problem, you'll have to accept this graciously. Keep those pruners on your side of the fence.
Read the original article on Southern Living
