Updated
Neighbour's Branches Overhanging My Garden
Branches from next door's tree hang well over the boundary, blocking light, dropping debris or scraping the roof.
Find a tree surgeon
What's happening?
Two rules sit behind this and they pull in different directions. Branches growing over your boundary are a trespass and you may generally cut them back to the boundary line — but the tree and the cut material still belong to your neighbour, so what you remove has to be offered back rather than tipped over the fence. Against that, if the tree is covered by a preservation order or stands in a conservation area, the protection applies to the overhanging parts as much as to the trunk, so consent or notice comes first. There is also no general right to light for a garden or to a view, which is why most of these disputes turn on nuisance and on what the branches are actually doing rather than on how tall the tree is.
What usually causes it?
- A tree planted close to the boundary that has grown to its natural size
- A tree that has never been pruned, so the crown has spread across the line over years
- Branches touching or scraping a roof, gutter, conservatory, fence or shed
- Heavy leaf, fruit, sap or berry fall onto a garden, patio, drive or car
- Shade over a garden, greenhouse or window increasing as the tree matures
- A dead or damaged limb overhanging your side after a storm
- Work done from the other side leaving a lopsided crown that now leans your way
Is it dangerous?
Usually not, and this is the one on the list that is normally about nuisance rather than risk. That changes if a branch is dead, cracked, hanging or resting on a structure, or if the tree itself is leaning or decaying — then it stops being a boundary question and becomes a safety one, and the owner needs to know in writing. Also treat it as urgent if the overhanging limb is anywhere near an overhead line, because nobody on either side of the fence should be cutting near that.
Can I fix it myself?
Start with the neighbour and the tree's status, in that order. Most of these are settled by a conversation, and a shared visit from one tree surgeon is cheaper and quicker for both sides than two separate jobs. Before cutting anything, check with the council whether the tree is protected or in a conservation area — the protection covers your side of the boundary too. Work only from your own land, cut only back to the boundary line and no further, and do not take out a limb in a way that destabilises the tree. Offer the cut branches, fruit and timber back to the owner rather than disposing of them yourself. Put your request in writing if the tree is dangerous.
When should you call a tree surgeon?
Call a tree surgeon when the work is above hand height, when the branches are over a roof or a structure, or when you need the cut made properly at a growth point rather than hacked at the fence line. It is also the right call when both households want one job doing: a specification agreed between neighbours avoids the lopsided crown that causes the next argument. If the tree is protected, they submit the application before touching anything.
What will the tree surgeon actually do?
- Establish the boundary line and what may be cut, and check the tree's protected status with the council
- Inspect the whole tree, including from the owner's side where access is agreed, before specifying work
- Prune back to the boundary at appropriate growth points, so the cuts heal and the crown stays balanced
- Rig and lower limbs over a roof, conservatory or fence rather than dropping them
- Return the cut material to the owner, or remove it with the owner's agreement
- Report any dead, hanging or decayed wood on the owner's side that needs their attention
Frequently asked questions
We’re happy to answer all your questions.
Need a tree surgeon?
Compare local tree surgeons on Tradehand — coverage areas, accreditations and phone numbers, no middleman.