Neighbours rhododendron

spose · 18-02-2023 11:57am #1

My neighbours have a rhododendron that is not being maintained and hasn’t been for probably 20 years. It has now consumed most of the garden and is probably 40m wide. Its at the point where it’s at the boundary now. Just wondering given the invasiveness of it is there any options open to me to try and compel them to deal with it. I know recommendation is to talk to them about it but that’s unfortunately not an option here.

Second part is how can I deal with it as it encroaches my garden. If I cut it back I don’t want to shred it and keep it on my property like I would with other clippings and not sure if it’s even allowed to put it in council compost bin

magicbastarder · 18-02-2023 12:18pm

a single rhododendron, or a hedge/forest of them?

there's no way (that i know of) of compelling them to cut it back; if you only cut back and shredded what grew into your property on an annual basis, it might remain a small enough job that it's not onerous?

The Continental Op · 18-02-2023 1:00pm

The maintenance regime for rhododendrons is DO NOTHING?

Why would your neighbour cut into it and stop it flowering for a couple of years?

Now if on the other hand this is Rhododendron ponticum, the invasive one, then there is nothing you can do, but it would be nice to see the back of it.

Calahonda52 · 18-02-2023 1:17pm

you are permitted to throw back the cuttings into their garden but I suspect you don't want to do that so think about killing it once it come through your boundary.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/kill-rhododendrons-23315.html

The Continental Op · 18-02-2023 1:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120256932#Comment_120256932

No you aren't permitted to "throw back the cuttings into their garden", iirc the wording is along the lines of that you are supposed to "offer" the cuttings back. However if the rhododendron is that big they probably won't even notice if you do push them back through the fence.

Calahonda52 · 18-02-2023 2:19pm

I stand corrected! Thank you

https://bccsolicitors.ie/overhanging-trees-and-hedges/

Seems odd that you can be left with the cost of disposing of your neighbours crap

standardg60 · 18-02-2023 10:51pm

If it is Rhododendron ponticum just cut it back to the boundary. The cuttings themselves are not invasive so just shred them as normal or put them in the compost bin.

Jim_Hodge · 18-02-2023 10:58pm

It's unlikely to invade your garden but just trim any overhanging your garden if you wish. Treat the clippings like any others you have. You're way over reacting tbh.

looksee · 18-02-2023 11:07pm

I suppose with all the nightmare scenarios of Japanese Knotweed and then finding that rhododendron (the wild one anyway) is invasive, and it taking over an entire garden, you could be excused for being a bit worried.

Pull up any seedlings and if it sends any suckers into your garden I would be inclined to cut them to the ground and put on some glyphosphate - even if the effect goes back to the plants next door it is unlikely to affect more than the single parent plant and by the sound of things next door won't even notice. Its no good just cutting back the suckers, once cut they will come again with renewed vigour.

18-02-2023 11:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058284821/neighbours-rhododendron

You mention invasiveness. Only 1 type of rhododendron is invasive

spose · 19-02-2023 12:04am

Cheers for the input. Thought I’d ask anyway in case there was any out there options

The Continental Op · 19-02-2023 12:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120259641#Comment_120259641

But is it "ponticum"?

spose · 19-02-2023 1:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120259742#Comment_120259742

I couldn’t say for definite. Flowers are the right colour and based on spread I think there’s a pretty good chance. Beyond that I wouldn’t be too sure what to look for to clarify. I can stick up a photo of a sprig tomorrow if anyone could confirm

The Continental Op · 19-02-2023 10:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120259894#Comment_120259894

If its spread like you say then the chances are its ponticum, but stick up a photo of it in flower if you remember so we can say for sure.

In "cultivation" it really isn't a problem weed plant as its easy enough to get rid of from a garden. It becomes a problem in the countryside because it easily out competes other plants and the easy control methods like bulldozing it just spread it.

spose · 19-02-2023 11:14am

as it is today. To be honest I’m probably just more annoyed at the prospect of having to keep cutting it back awry year. Highest point at the boundary now is about 20ft so not exactly easy each to clip back already so can only imagine how much fun it’ll be in another 5-10 years

The Continental Op · 19-02-2023 11:19am

No its not ponticum and its (sorry ROTFL) not even a rhododendron ;-)

Thats Cherry Laurel.

Edit> So you can check for yourself this is what you have https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_laurocerasus

As a "hedge" it can really get out of hand. I've cleared up near acres of the stuff in over run gardens and it really is hard work. Best you can do is just run a hedge trimmer over your side fairly regularly. If its at 20 feet then it doesn't get much taller.

looksee · 19-02-2023 11:33am

Most of the issues are the same though, it spreads like mad, if you cut it back it encourages it. Possibly doesn't seed quite as enthusiastically as R. Ponticum.

TherapyBoy · 19-02-2023 11:47am

We chopped the low branches off ours & it spends its time happily pretending to be a tree. Not sure how the neighbours would feel about midnight tree surgery though!

spose · 19-02-2023 12:43pm

Thanks for clarifying. Clearly I’m not too green fingered either.

brokenbad · 21-02-2023 10:58am

Roundup - problem solved

25-02-2023 1:19am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268891#Comment_120268891

It's illegal to kill another's plant.

Also roundup will not kill something that big. You'll end up with a defoliated section on your side and they'll know exactly what you did

Neighbours rhododendron

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