Neighbors White Cedar is growing into my fence. I have dogs so I got to keep a fence. The neighbors likes the privacy from the trees and so do I.
I got their permission with one rule that trimming will not kill the trees. Can I just trim all those branches back off my fence?
by fumodsbb
11 Comments
I would trim the little branches sticking through the pickets on the bottom portion of the fence.
I would not trim the pieces hanging over above the fence.
The trimmed side is often the ugly side. The cedar isn’t going to regrow so if you aren’t carefully you’ll be left with it looking much worse than it is now.
I would suggest cautious trimming. Go back 2-3 inches all the way down. Can you do another two inches without hitting blank spots and yellowing?
Cedar looks like ass after you trim it. Those aren’t your trees. You can choose to make it look like ass, forever, or not. Those are your choices.
Good trees too make good neighbors
Having done landscape design on the side, we never touch a job without a property survey. If you know the trees belong to your neighbor, do not touch them without permission. These trees are extremely susceptible to aggressive pruning and I’m pretty sure it’ll lead to a lawsuit (people are really weird about this kind of stuff).
Approach your neighbor with pictures and solicit their help. If you’re willing to pay for it, or split the cost to hire a professional who knows what they’re doing, you’re much more likely to resolve this peacefully.
I can’t tell you the number of jobs I’ve personally turned down because the owner refused a property survey.
Yes. Let your neighbor know your intentions. Get an extendable adjustable head cordless hedge trimmer. I have a Greenworks 40v. Use long vertical sweeping strokes shaving off a small amount each stroke. Trim back green growth only. don’t cut through to bare branches. Reset the head at a slight angle and trim the higher growth to blend inangle and walk along tapering higher parts. You can fit it behind the fence and trim the lower part back a few inches from the mesh fence. I have done this every other year for 30 years to keep the growth off my neighbors property.
Yes do it now before it’s too late
You may have some bare spots now but the longer you wait the worse it will get
YES… I would do it at least 6 inches back away.
Why not let it engulf the fence ? You kinda have free, great looking trees and the fence will still serve its purpose for your dogs.
You can prune it, just don’t shear it. Leave green behind your cuts and you’re good to go. I do this for clients all the time.
The comments here are wild. If you shear those back to bare interior wood, they’re not going to sprout green growth back out and you’ll be looking at the inner brown twigs for a long time. Will it kill the shrubs? No. Will it look like shit if you go too far in? Yes. Go lightly dude.