The neighbor behind my back wall sent me this letter: " I was wondering if you could please trim your trees, shrubs, and creeping ficus from the back wall. We have been paying to maintain them but my husband passed away and I can no longer continue to do this. Thanks, --Pat"
There is a 10' slope on my side up to that back wall. Beyond the wall is level ground with her pool and 2-story house with a balcony. Our lots are typical small California suburban lots, so her house is fairly close, and the plants along the wall give my privacy that I don't want to lose- privacy not just while I'm in the yard, but through 7 back windows (including a wall-of-windows in family room). Also, I would have to pay someone to do the work as I am in my late fifties with a leg problem and can no longer climb the slope.
POLL: Is it my responsibility to keep plants from going over the wall? What would you do?
PHOTOS:
1) My yard with slope and plants and trees in front of back wall
2) Another angle of my approx. 10' wide slope
3) Composite of neighbor's yard, taken over the wall in 1998 when I had no shame (It's only my 2nd house, I had just moved in and wanted landscaping ideas. )
Letter from neighbor about my yard -what to do?
You need to find out if the back wall is on your property line or hers. If it is on your property then technically it is your responsibility to keep your trees and vines from going into her yard. If the wall us on her property line then it is technically not your responsibility.
If you find it is your wall, then you might try to reach an agreement with her to split the cost of periodic maintenance since you are not physically able to do the maintenance and she can't afford the total cost.
Keeping the trees and vines from crossing the fence should not mean you lose all of your privacy.
I would contact my local city planning office to get help on identifying who's property line the fence is located on.
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