What do you do when a close neighbor does not take care of their yard?

Catherine p
by Catherine p
  9 answers
  • Unless you live in an HOA community, there is not a lot you can do. I would try to befriend them to see if there is an underlying reason why they are not taking care of their yard, illness, short on funds, physical issues, etc. Then try and help them out. If they are just lazy and do not care, I am not sure what I would do. If it is a fire hazard, you can call your local officials to make them clean up their yard.

    • Chelie Chelie on Jun 06, 2018

      Could be the start of a never ending bunch of yard chores that you'll end up doing for free...

  • KrisR KrisR on Jun 10, 2017

    Don't care for the yard in what way? Do they cut the grass, etc? Are there health issues or can they not afford the equipment necessary to get the job done?


    • Catherine p Catherine p on Jun 10, 2017

      it is an unbelievable mess and the swimming pool is thick with stuff(only God knows what) carport is filthy with junk and overflowing with bagged garbage. They are not elderly and have sons who do the mowing, on occasion. Lazy and slovenly is my best guess. And yes, I have asked them nicely to take pride in ownership. I think the bottom line is......no solution.

  • Bel22067700 Bel22067700 on Jun 10, 2017

    Find out y.Then help.If they are sickly or old.If they are lazy, call twp.See about ordinances.

  • Rosalie Rogers Rosalie Rogers on Jun 10, 2017

    Approach your neighbor with concern, not criticism. See what happens then take it from there. Good luck.

    • Catherine p Catherine p on Jun 10, 2017

      thanks for your input...we have tried a number of things without criticism...none works

  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 10, 2017

    For our elderly disabled neighbor, the neighbors take turns mowing her yard. She lives next to me, so when I prune the bushes along my fence, I go over and we prune hers too. I deadhead all her rhodies each year, and get to see her glorious red ones each spring.

    For the cheap lawyer behind me who didn't mow for 2 years and spread his dandelions and blackberries all over the neighborhood, we turned him in to the city code enforcer, and he has cleaned up all the offenders in our neighborhood.

    • Catherine p Catherine p on Jun 10, 2017

      Not elderly....we are the elderly ones who keep a nice lawn and trimmed shrubs.

      young and lazy is my best guess.

  • Joan Gaspar Joan Gaspar on Jun 10, 2017

    My husband put up a very pretty lattice fence,not the cheapest kind either.Someone helped.Their was a nice 3 foot stone wall that still shows since he designed it to.It was way cheaper then the bids we got.Our neighbor is able to keep up his yard but it isnt his priority.We hinted but I opted out of asking further as we have always gotten along.

  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Jun 10, 2017

    It is a major frustration because you can't just do it without their written consent. You would be trespassing. My neighbor currently has a tree that hangs over our shed and we live a very windy area. I'll let insurance fight it out . I spoke to him and I told him that I would be in my right to cut those branches down but as a neighborly thing he needed to know that my arborist said that if cut incorrectly it can cause tree to die. He said that of course I could cut it and seemed OK about it but my arborist doesn't won't touch it for fear of tree dying. It's a huge tree but the way the trunk is it shouldn't fall on anyone's house, just decks and his own fence. So I do understand this situation I'm fortunate that he has a fence and I see how well he takes care of rest of yard and my other neighbor has no fence but his little boys rarely come into my yard and it wouldn't bother me to see someone using it since my children are adults and hang out in patio. I would report the person take photos and be done with it. I would come straight out and ask why it hasn't been done to make sure that it isn't due to health issue. Just ask and wait for answer don't give him an out if it's a health issue then I would offer to help. But get written consent. You don't want to be a bad neighbor but if there is no reason and he blows you off then wait and call city or town to handle it. But be prepared for him to be a pain in your side. Get your neighbors on board with you and all confront him together.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 10, 2017

    Oh for the young lazy renters on the corner, we shamed them by talking to them and telling them their yard is spreading dandelions all down the street. And lent them our mower the day we mow out front so they can get theirs done. We have also complained to the owner, and turned them in to the Code Enforcement.

  • Imp22013828 Imp22013828 on Jun 10, 2017

    Oh boy. Nagging situation. Is it an elderly person that can't keep up with the yardwork? Some Saturdays the church has volunteer groups here that do yardwork for people. I would ask other neighbors if they know that neighbor personally.