Neighbors lawn people blow their leaves into our yard...

[Phentex]

here we go again. The leaves are falling like crazy and everybody is trying to keep up with getting them off the lawn. I'm talking about a ton of leaves.

We don't really have a lawn. And we don't use a leaf blower so it's harder to get the leaves out of the planted areas that have either mulch or straw. It's been raining for a couple of days, too, so it's not like we're going out any time soon to rake.

So every year my neighbor's lawn people stop in once or twice a week and blow their leaves. And sometimes I am home and happen to catch them blowing them into my yard. It's obvious too because there's small piles that magically form where they have blown them. They don't know that I can SEE them doing it. When I have gone out while they are in the act, they act all sorry and start blowing them back into the neighbor's yard and onto tarps like they should have done from the start. This often blows our mulch around and isn't all that helpful.

I could speak to the neighbor about it but they aren't home when it happens and I don't think they can do anything about it unless they are. I suppose I could call the landscape company. Or I can just vent and move on which is what I usually do.

Any suggestions?

[eShirl]

1. fence, or some kind of temporary barrier for leaf season

[Phentex]

6. I'm not sure what would work...

It would have to be tall enough to keep them from just blowing them over...but I like the idea.

[DoBotherMe]

2. I would ask the neighbor to remind

the lawn people to remove the leaves from his/her yard. Not blow them in the street (which is illegal) or blow them in the neighbor's yard. Dana ; )

[Phentex]

7. I have often just wanted to thank her

for all the extra mulch.

I could probably ask her but I think she is the kind of person who would get all offended.

[DoBotherMe]

16. Maybe you can catch them in the act

with a pix, show that to her. My neighbor's crew was blowing leaves into the street, I told him, he had the crew pick up ALL the leaves on the street in front of my house. LOL! Dana ; )

[Phentex]

34. I could take a video with my phone...

If I just stood outside and videoed them while they were blowing the leaves, they might stop.

[WinkyDink]

24. Where I live we're supposed to pile up the leaves in our gutters for the town crews to take away.

[NYC_SKP]

3. First, talk to the blowers, then talk to their employers/supervisors.

If you have to, talk to the neighbors.

There's no reason you should have to just accept it, or have to put fencing up.

They are doing it wrong and they need to be corrected.

If you can get them to "get it right" maybe, just maybe, they'll behave better at the other houses they service.

Good luck.

[Phentex]

8. Makes me wonder

what they do at other people's houses. I could be paranoid but I think one issue is we don't have a manicured lawn. I don't think they would do this to one of those perfect lawns.

[antiquie]

4. So screaming "Use a Broom!" is the wrong approach?

[Phentex]

9. LOL! Don't you ever

have those fantasies where you imagine yourself standing outside with a sandwich sign on with the words "Keep off my lawn!" or "Keep your own leaves, thanks!" Or I could be raking the leaves back on to the neighbor's yard while they are blowing them off?

I may try standing on the property line with my hands on my hips while giving them the stink eye.

[avebury]

5. Is there anyway that you can put up a temporary chicken wire fence

between your lawn and your neighbor's lawn during leaf season? That might prevent the leaves from coming over to your property.

Edit to add: If anyone complains about the temporary fall fence, show them pictures of what happens without the fence.

[Phentex]

10. Don't know about chicken wire

but I kinda like the idea of something temporary like silt fence.

Or I could just realize it's not the end of the world and rake a few hundred extra leaves.

[leftyohiolib]

11. get a leaf blower and just blow them back on to the nbors lawn after they leave

[Phentex]

12. I despise leaf blowers...

but you wouldn't believe what has fallen since they were gone. All that exhaust for nuttin!

[Major Nikon]

13. I did it before they left

It only took once and they took the hint.

[Earth_First]

14. The contractor I work for has a 3' buffer zone...

When leaf removal is our top priority for the season, our crews are instructed to use a 3' buffer and remove those leaves from the adjoining property so as to avoid disputes.

Although. You'd be surprised how many neighbors this offends and ends with "Well aren't you going to finish now that you alteady started MY lawn?!"

Good grief!

[Phentex]

25. HA!

I can see that.

[benld74]

15. I toss broken branches and gum balls back into my neighbors yard constantly

[Phentex]

26. Great neighbors, huh?

The branches fall from the trees naturally here.

[benld74]

39. His tree his gum balls. His wife refuses to trim the tree since it provide shade

on their patio. NOT EVEN a trim. SO he gets the ones that fall on my side of the fence, plus he is younger than I

[BlueJazz]

17. Dig 5X12ft deep hole in your yard, put twigs and grass across hole. Call neighbor over to talk.

If neighbor falls into hole, say "Oh, I dug this for you to put your leaves in it"

[Phentex]

27. THIS

is why I LOVE the lounge!!!!! You indulge my fantasies!

[Incitatus]

18. I would tell them if they do it again, they will find roofing nails in their mower tires next time

they mow the lawn. But that's just me.

[Phentex]

28. I wouldn't have the nerve...

and somebody's security camera would probably make its way to the internet.

[IrishAyes]

19. Definitely call the landscape company.

They might even appreciate knowing the mess their employees are making. If they're mistreating you, then you're not the only one. They could be costing the company big time in public relations.

[Phentex]

29. It may come to that.

There's still one giant tree full of leaves. I expect another week or two of this.

[IrishAyes]

37. Much as I love to bash big business, since they usually need it,

Smaller companies aren't always so bad. I like to give them the benefit of the doubt when possible. Alerting them to this illegal and adverse behavior of their employees might be very much appreciated, trying to put myself in their shoes. I know that even as a private citizen, I didn't appreciate it when neighbors I'd known for several years never said a word to me that my dogs barked a lot when I was gone for several hours and had left them outdoors. Maybe the dogs weren't barking until Neighbor Bob moved in on my south side and started harrassing them so he could call the cops on me for it. He hates chows worse than anyone I ever met, because he's a lifelong loud bully and no decent chow will stand for that.

I don't always like waiting for Karma, but she does arrive eventually. Neighbor Bob always had a big crush on me, to the point where I get teased about it by his friends, but I don't like him any better than my chows did. So now they're dead and gone - lived to 16 - ol' Bob hasn't got the first chance with me, not that he ever would have anyway. And he's also suffering from severe health problems. At almost 68, I'm virtually certain to outlive him, which I've always found to be the very best revenge against an enemy.

[we can do it]

20. Did you just read my mind and write this for me?

[Phentex]

30. Yes.

Have you decided what we do?

[Munificence]

21. Do any of

the leaves from your trees fall into their yard? I'd call it even.

I had a neighbor where the wife did not work and they had 2 acres of immaculate lawn and landscaping. Each day she spent at least 4 hours in the yard....very hard to keep up with these folks.

Both our properties were about 2 acres and theirs was "decked out" over the entire 2 acres. One day between the 4 acres (our property and theirs) there were 14 different skunks. At the time I had 3 young kids that loved to play in the yard and if you know anything about skunks they are pretty much blind and are really bad for rabies...young kids and skunks are not a good idea. I approached the neighbor about us going together and getting something done about the skunk problem (they were living under her "out building" at the back of her property. I suggested we get animal control to come in, remove the skunks and re-locate them. She'd have nothing to do with it and said "they are beautiful creatures of nature and I love watching them frolic around our yards".

Come fall the wind was blowing and my mature trees (Had 10 or so 50-75 year old trees on my property) were dropping leaves like crazy. She lived west of me so all the leaves were blowing into her yard and a lot were going right into her $25k Koi pond/waterfall combo. She approached me about the leaf problem a week or so later and my response was:

"Leaves are beautiful remnants of nature and I love watching them frolic and blow around our yards".

[avebury]

23. That is so funny and a great response! nt

[Phentex]

31. That was a perfect response! However, it's hardly even...

I haven't tagged the leaves to know which trees they come from. And as I said, we ALL have tons of leaves to deal with. What I do know is I don't put leaves back into their yard.

[JimDandy]

33. Ha!

And the law is on your side too.

[B Calm]

22. I would thank your neighbor for the free compost. Buy a chipper/shredder

and chop them up for your compost pile.

[Phentex]

32. We already compost...

the stuff is black gold.

[JimDandy]

35. You must live in a southern-most state.

Here in CO the last of our leaves hit the lawn the first few days in Nov.

Call the lawn company, if it happens again.

[Phentex]

36. GA...

We had stuff blooming until the freeze near Thanksgiving.

[Baitball Blogger]

38. Leave a sign out.

Get one printed up on cardboard for lasting power.