High Conifer trees between property
 

The villa next door to our property was sold a couple of years ago to a French couple who visit with family in August and rent it out during the summer,
We have a small boundary wall a couple of metres high which I had built some years ago on my side of the property line.
The previous owners who we got along with very well, planted conifer trees along their side of the wall and always kept them trimmed to the height of the dividing wall.
Since change of ownership however the new owners have just let them grow. I can understand a privacy consideration in their decision, but the top line of the trees is very ragged ranging from 1 metre above the top of the wall to about 4 metres at its maximum. Not only that but a lot of the growth sticks out over the wall onto our side,
Last year when I had a gardener in for some work he trimmed all the branches that were protruding over the wall, but now things are just as bad as well as the trees just getting higher.
On their last visit I tried to draw their attention to the situation, but was met with an uninterested shrug of the shoulders. They don't live there so I don't think it bothers them.
So, my question is what, if anything, can I do now? Am I just stuck with the situation?
Thanks.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Can you prove them to be a fire risk ?.
If so a complaint to the local council could work.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

We have a plot with older pine trees and according to council where we are, we have to keep around 20% of the trees and can't just cut down without permission. Obviously your case is different, as the owners planted the conifer. I know that in Germany there are laws you are not allowed to cut hedges between end of March to September and there are laws on height etc. As mentioned by EMR, fire risk is an issue in Spain and we also received a letter from council to cut grass last year. When you're not there you obviously don't know how long it is, but as soon as the letter comes, I just get a guy to do it for me.


If the letter comes from council, you won't be the bad one:rofl:.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

I had a similar problem at our last house in the U.K. and the neighbour there was not bothered about the amount of light blocked from our garden. However, when two of the trees right in the middle of the hedge, in line with neighbour's patio coincidentally, mysteriously died (!!) it wasn't long before he took them all down and erected a very tidy 6' fence instead.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

A bit of weed killer:lol:

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Not a bad idea methinks! I've heard that Salfumant agua fuerte is effective (and cheap). Can anyone confirm?

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Agua Fuerte is Hydrochloric Acid. It might kill the tree if constantly applied to a trench round the tree, but it isn't a particularly corrosive acid.

Far better is Glyphosphate weedkiller, such as Roundup. Drill a hole into the tree and inject it with full strength weedkiller. That will do the trick fairly quickly.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Killing stuff is wonderful.............but, ensure that u profile your opponents first to ensure that the likelihood of retaliation is low.

It is Spain, the wild west, so anything goes !!!

If my trees started to die, I would know who did it and they would punished severely. I've been here long enough to know how to deal with matters of this kind.

So, be careful.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

The end result of applying hydrochloric acid will be contamination with chloride salts, such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, iron chloride, etc, so pretty much the same as seawater, and therefore the ground will be toxic to most plants and it would be difficult to grow anything there, including grass.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

I can't believe people would kill trees on someone else's property :ohmy: Before taking such drastic action which will no doubt cause issues ....... You may not like looking at those trees but would you really want to look at dead and dying trees?


Why not ask your neighbour if he would allow you to prune them at YOUR cost.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Thanks, I agree that I wouldn't like to look at dead trees. The thing is, they have employed a gardener on a regular basis to maintain their garden whilst they are not here. From their attitude and the fact they have allowed the trees to grow higher and higher and because they are of such an uneven height, they look a mess. I could be accused of being stubborn, but I don't see why I should pay to maintain them.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

I think it would be the last option, but if the people are stubborn why should he pay for their maintenance. Other option would be to spray the conifers with vinegar to stop growing further and it won't kill the roots. As mentioned, I would probably contact council to see if there are height restrictions etc.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

I would agree OP could contact his Ayuntamiento, but I do hope he got permission to build that 2 metre high boundary wall? I doubt they will take action unless the trees are causing damage. The OP has given no information to suggest these trees are in any way endangering his property? He is perfectly entitled to prune any overgrowing branches.


IMHO neighbours are not being stubborn, they have no obligation to prune their trees and OP could be liable for prosecution if he damages them. Offering to pay for the pruning would seem an obvious solution to resolving his problem.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

I am not unsympathetic to OPs plight. I am guessing these are Leylandii (cypress conifer) trees? These do form an effective hedge when young but when left unchecked they can become a real problem.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

I am not sure that is the case, because once you cut a Leylandii or similar cypress to a certain height it doesn't grow much taller as the main trunk can't grow once the apex has been removed. The OP said they were previously trimmed to the height of the wall, but have now grown several metres higher than the wall.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

I believe they would continue to grow in height, see here "If you do not trim your Leylandii hedge each year, it will grow up to 3ft (90cm) a year" Care - Trimming and Maintenance | Leylandii


However, it really doesn't matter to me what they species they are or if they would continue to grow, I was just making a comment.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

The neighbours ARE being stubborn as well as selfish and ignorant
Why should the OP pay? This sort of work is very expensive, and he didn't cause the problem
Leylandii cause no end of problems , or rather their inconsiderate owners do
There needs to be more legislation, eg maintain at a height of no more than 2 metres

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Ok Biffta,

Whilst the place is occupied by people who rent it out, hire someone to cut the trees right back and when the owners turn up say you know nothing about it and assumed it was the owner who ordered it or the renters that did it. You will have your light and the owner will have there trees cut. Nobody dies much less the trees.;)

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Of course you do not have to do anything, you can just admire the view of the trees whilst gently hissing at them through your teeth.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Will the person hired be willing to take on cutting down trees on someone else's land without their permission?
Would probably refuse to do it in case he got into trouble. Could be construed as criminal damage

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Some can apparently develop new "leaders" if the top of the main trunk is removed, but not all do, and it appears to depend how much is removed - more brutal cropping may stop it growing taller.

My parents had one that had been topped, and it got wider and wider every year, but never grew any taller. ...... I the case of the OP, it sounds like they were all topped, but the trees had variable success in growing new leaders, so the hedge is now of very variable height.
"Could be"? :rolleyes:

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Thanks for the comments. Some weeks back I did cut back a few at the end of the row of trees as they were getting so high they were now blocking our side view from the from the front window. Only cut back a couple, but it made a difference. The rest all along the wall remain untouched. When the owners come over, will see if they notice that these two or three are shorter!
Thanks again.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

If all else fails or you do not like the intervention of traditional tree surgeons you can always go the verbal route. Square up to the offending trees and give 'em hell:D Tell them where they have been going wrong, do not suggest but insist that they change their ways:mad: Give them a target to reduce hight by and give them a date to achieve it by. This works for others who have many years of experience in such matters, please see link.:thumbsup:


Prince Charles has revealed he now 'instructs' his plants | Daily Mail Online

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Great idea, I will give them a severe talking to in both English and French.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Nice one. :goodpost:

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

If they really did "just shrug" I'd cut them down to size. Then shrug next time they arrive.

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Good idea, BUT, quite a cost to me as the trunks are quite thick and difficult to cut as are the branches by hand. Would need a mechanical cutter. Not as easy as you"d imagine. Then of course the problem if I was denounced for damage and traspass!
Thanks anyway!

Re: High Conifer trees between property
 

Get yourself a Bahco bow saw - those things are awesome - they cut like a hot knife through butter, seriously 2-3 strokes through a 5cm branch 4-5 through a 7.5cm branch. :blink:

Unless I am tackling something well over 10cm I don't bother with the inconvenience of donning my protective hat, gloves, and chaps and fetching my chainsaw, because my Bahco bow saws are so quick and effective. :)

I have a 53cm pointed (triangular) saw, which should be plenty for most homeowners, and a 91cm traditional-shape bow saw for larger branches, easily up to 15cm in most cases.