We live on a wooded lot, so of course when the leaves drop, it is a lot of raking, blowing and mulching which we try to

Question

do once a week. How do you keep nosy neighbors from complaining because the leaves are blowing into their yards??

Paul M · Answer

I grind mine up with a mulching mower and never have to touch them or move them. I find that to be the most reasonable and least time consuming solution for me.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

Offer them a home made apple pie and friendship over a nice cuppa hot tea...

If you can - find some common ground (lol pun intended). It is easier to sometimes to nice someone to reason- ability.

If that doesn't work-build a living fence of Emerald Arborviteas.

Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping · Answer

Perhaps explain to them the life cycle of trees, and when you have the time, you can help them rake.

3po3 · Answer

I like Four Seasons' ideas. A plate of cookies or a nice pie can go a long way. You might also ingratiate yourself by loaning them tools or helping with a project.

Hudson Designs · Answer

Ask them why they pay people to do the job, when it is good exercise.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Do what I do, wait until they are all down and do mine last.  
No matter what you do, there are always going to be someone who is going to complain about something. They must not be very neighborly if they complain about something as natural as mother nature. 
Hows Dacula?  I have several great friends that live there and have been in the local airport many times.

Harold M · Answer

If the pie doesn't work, tell them to move to a condo.  Some people just want to complain about anything.

HandyANDY - Handyman & All Repairs, LLC · Answer

You're always going to have some idiot in the neighborhood.  Just wave hello and otherwise ignore them.

Douglas Hunt · Answer

I am glad I don't have your neighbors. I would be inclined to tell them that you'd be happy to leave out a rake for them if they feel it should be done with more regularity than your schedule allows, but I can be snippy that way.

Natalie W · Answer

Haha Douglas, I like snippy .... but I try to be nice and friendly at first, however, I know it doesn't always work.  People like to complain, and when it's about somethig natural, like trees, branches, or even how much rain their yard collects VS yours (my neighbor!)well..... sometimes you just have to smile and ignore them an let them steam about it on their own.  Eventually they stop griping at you.  ...if they don't, I like the living fence idea.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

When a customer comes into the nursery and says 'I want to screen the neighbors' I start with  'We can do that! Do you want an in your face screen or do you like them?'

If I get the time, I will go shoot a pic of a crazy neighbor feud living fence.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Do they have trees too?...how can you tell your leaves apart from theirs? I'm my neighbor hood everybody has 'natural' landscaping...leaves and trees blowing into each others yards is par for the course. http://www.networx.com/article/the-art-of-surviving-a-colorado-wind-sto

Mike and Anne · Answer

Anne's stock answer to such complaints is to tell them the reason they are called 'leaves' is because you are supposed to leave them alone.

Jeannie M · Answer

My neighbor actually blows her leaves on my lawn on purpose.  She even walks on my lawn and blows them further so they won't get back to hers.  I take the high road and when I suck them up with my mulcher I even do some of hers.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

You could send her a thank you note for the mulch she provides for you :)

Cheryl A · Answer

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I have done most of all the suggestions in the last 21 yrs but one neighbor takes it upon herself to go door to door and complain about something she feels you need to be taking care of in your house or yard.We started at 9:00 this morning using a blower, mower and raking and now my husband is pressure washing. Hope all the noise calmed her down about the leaves that blow all over and unless we do DNA testing not sure they can prove they belong to us...
Thanks everyone

Hewitt Remodeling Services LLC · Answer

God Bless America. If your leaves in her yard are all she has to complain about, then I would say that life is pretty good for her. Keep smiling and overwhelm her with kindness...nothing takes the bitterness out of one's words like unexpected and undeserved kindness...:)

Sherrie S · Answer

If not the leaves, people like that will find something to complain about.

Natalie W · Answer

She lives in a neighbrohood and therefore she thinks she can take it upon herself to tell everyone IN that neighborhood what to do.  
Gotta love the bossy people.  
I agree, kill her with kindness ..... it's usually the only way to handle such busy bodies.  No reason to give her more of a reason to make your life miserable..... I would just make it very clear that you have NO intention of bending over backwards or jumping through hoops for her.  People like that seem to like to push their limits, so stand your ground where you must.  She has no right to push anyone around.

3po3 · Answer

Maybe you could start anonymously leaving friendly brochures from local volunteer agencies on her porch. Put some free time to some productive use (assuming there is some way she doesn't have to actually interact with other volunteers).

Erica Glasener · Answer

she would not like being my neighbor, I don't get around to raking until the last minute, I agree just smile and carry on.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

A few years ago one of my neighbor a block or so away had a 'whinny' neighbor.  They were new to the neighborhood a complained about all kinds of things...they even whined to the police...after a couple of unrealistic complaints even the cops started to ignore them.  I remember hear one of the police guys commenting about how 'some folks are not meant to live in the mountains'.  After 2 years they moved back to the city / flats.

Johnavallance82 · Answer

I think you are reasonable folk, you should appologise to your neighbours for the noise and hear what they can suggest you could do, other than what you are doing to help solve the problem ammicably. If they suggest you cut down the trees, then I think they are being unreasonable, especially if they moved to the area after the trees were planted. Maybe you could invite them to join you in the task and offer them a BBQ etc. after, as a thankyou for their efforts.

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We live on a wooded lot, so of course when the leaves drop, it is a lot of raking, blowing and mulching which we try to

Suggested Project Book