AITA for trimming my neighbor’s tree branches that were hanging over my yard?
AITA for trimming my neighbor’s tree branches that were hanging over my yard?
I (35F) recently moved into a house in a quiet suburban neighborhood. The property itself is beautiful, and one of the main reasons I bought it was the backyard. It’s fairly private, but my neighbor on the right side has a line of large trees planted close to the property boundary.
When I first viewed the house in winter, the trees didn’t look like a problem. They were bare, so I didn’t really notice how much they extended over into my yard. But once spring and summer came, I realized just how much they actually overhang my property.
The branches stretch quite far over my side of the fence and create a few issues. They block a good amount of sunlight from my garden and patio, and they drop leaves, sap, and sometimes small branches onto my yard and even my outdoor furniture. I’ve been cleaning it constantly, and it’s become really frustrating because I spend a lot of time trying to keep my space tidy.
After a few weeks of dealing with it, I went to speak to my neighbor politely. I asked if they would be willing to trim the branches that extend into my yard, since they’re causing shade and mess on my side. They told me the trees are healthy, they like the privacy and shade they provide, and that trimming them would “ruin the shape” and potentially harm them. They basically said no.
I left it alone for a while, but nothing changed and the branches kept getting worse. Eventually, I decided to trim back the parts that were hanging over my property line myself, just the sections that were clearly on my side. I didn’t touch anything on their side of the fence.
A few days later, my neighbor confronted me and was really angry. They said I had no right to touch their trees, that I could have damaged them, and that I should have asked again or gone through some official process instead of doing it myself. They also said I was being disrespectful and trying to “control nature” on a property I don’t fully own.
Now things are tense between us, and they’re still upset about it. I genuinely thought I was within my rights since the branches were overhanging into my yard and affecting my space, but they clearly see it differently.
So AITA for trimming the branches myself instead of leaving them alone?