With the arrival of warmer and hopefully sunnier weather many of us are looking to spend more time outdoors pruning bushes and mowing lawns.
However, not many people know that there are a few important gardening rules which can't be ignored. Some of these rules could even land you in trouble with the police if not followed.
Despite many taking up gardening as a relaxing pastime, we can be vulnerable to falling foul of a series of offences according to The Mirror. From picking fruit from a bush to even accidentally trimming someone else's tree, there are rules you need to know about.
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It may be done with the best of intentions, however, there are strict rules when it comes to crossing over someone else's borders. Plants shading your property or leaning into your own garden can often spark a neighbourly dispute.
In order to avoid getting involved in legal disputes and even police action, Birmingham Live has created a list of the most common infringements which can see people get in trouble. Here are four garden rules to be aware of: -
Planting
If a window has received natural light for 20 years or more, neighbours can't black it with a new tree under the Rights of Light Act.
This rule also applies to fences and new garden buildings such as summer houses or sheds. If you do decide to put anything up that could block light from your neighbour's window, they have the right to object.
However, other than that you are within your rights to plant what you wish within your own property so long as they're not an invasive species. Although it has been advised to speak to your neighbour before making any drastic changes to your garden.
Ultimately, if any damage is caused by plants from your garden such as trees or hedges, you'll be liable.
Fruit
Collecting someone else's fruit is probably the most law most often breached between neighbours when it comes to gardening. Even if the fruit is going into your garden by overhanging branches, you're not able to pick the fruit.
Essentially, this is seen as stealing as the fruit does not belong to you but the plant owner. If any of the fruit drops into your garden then you're still not allowed to keep it.
As it still belongs to your neighbour, you have to either leave the fruit or offer it back to your neighbour.
Pruning
When it comes to overhanging branches that go into your property, you're able to cut them so long as you don't trespass to do so.
You don't need to get permission to cut the branches from your neighbour either or give them advanced notice. Once you've cut or pruned the branches, they should be offered back as they are still part of the owner's property.
Although it must be noted that you are not allowed to cut further than the boundary even if it is to prevent regrowth. Any damage that you do to the tree, such as it dying as a result of your cutting, you will be liable for.
Ownership
It gets slightly more complicated when the base of the tree sits on the boundary of two properties. When this happens, the tree is owned by both parties.
This means that one owner is not allowed to perform any sort of work on the tree without getting the other's permission as it would count as trespassing. Although when it comes to climbers, the plant will then belongs to whoever's soil it is growing in, not the property it is growing on.
That being said, you are still able to remove it from your property's walls so long as you do not kill it or remove its roots from your neighbour's garden.
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