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Morrow, GA on Jun 26, 2011

My property has a front & back yard, as well as other acreage underneath a high tension power line to the street

behind me. My neighbor planted holly bushes along his fence from his back yard to the back street. Every year they grow through his fence about 12 inches into my yard, thus making it hard to get close to the fence to cut my grass. Walter, is there something I can spray on my side to kill them without killing the whole plants.

7 Comments

Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Lanelle, it is too bad your neighbor did not take into account how large his holly were going to grow when he planted them, but I'm afraid there is nothing you can spray on them that will only kill your side of the plant. You would certainly be within your rights to prune them back, which you would probably only have to do once a year, so that you could mow more easily (and you could probably approach your neighbor and ask him to do this) or you could take advantage of the situation and ...»
plant your own border/hedge in front of the holly, creating a new clean edge farther away from the fence and giving yourself less grass to mow.

on Jun 27, 2011 · Like 1
Walter Reeves Decatur, GA

Doug is right. The only thing I can add is that you consider an electric hedge trimmer. A visit to the fence once a month would make short work of encroaching branches.

on Jun 27, 2011 · Like 0
Lanelle L Morrow, GA

I am afraid to use an electric hedge trimmer since what is over on my property has grown through a chain link fence. The first year I hand pruned them which I can't do anymore because of arthritis in my hand. I had clean up all the sticky clippings, which I really don't think I should have to deal with at age 70++. After I approached him last year, he did come over and trim them back, then threw the clippings over the fence into his yardand left them until he cut his grass (or should I ...»
say dirt) since he cuts his grass so short he has killed most of the grass he had. When he planted them, his idea was to take down the chain link fence, using the hollies as a fence.

on Jun 27, 2011 · Like 0
Chaya K New York, NY

Plant the hedges, Lanelle. What you don't see won't bother you as much.

on Jun 27, 2011 · Like 0
Lanelle L Morrow, GA

I don't have room to plant hedges. I have an established flower bed on that side of my yard and a garden on the lower part of the property which barely allows me enough room to run my lawn mower between them and his bushes. The looks doesn't bother me; it is the fact that I get stuck by the holly when trying to cut my grass.

on Jun 27, 2011 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

This sounds like a no-win situation then, Lanelle. As long as he is willing to prune and throws the clippings on his side of the fence and you don't have to look at them, that sounds like the best scenario. And good for you for still mowing at 70+!

on Jun 28, 2011 · Like 0
Shane Tallant Nashville, TN

Ooohhh! I wish I could be there to watch you trim back the hedges and then watch your neighbors reaction. Priceless. I would love to come down to Live Oak and do it for you. :-) Good Luck! Obviously, I am just joking around. Hope it works out for you and your neighbor.

on Jun 29, 2011 · Like 0