Gardeners have been warned they could be fined £1,000 under a little-known law if their hedge is allowed to grow “unchecked”.
Under the Anti-Social Behavior Act 2003, people in the UK who suffer with neighbors who have pesky hedges next door are somewhat protected.
Sean Bunyan, Head of Sales Operations at home improvement specialist Eurocell, spoke with Birmingham live on what this law could mean for the British.
He explained: “Part 8 of the Act (Anti-Social Behaviour) states that it is the ‘owner’s responsibility to maintain their hedges.’ If a neighbor has a problem, they can complain to the local authorities.”
He went on to explain that if your local council finds that your property has suffered from a high hedge, they have the power to issue the owner of said hedge a formal notice and a fine of up to £1,000.
Gardeners have been warned they could be fined £1,000 under a little-known law if their hedge is allowed to grow ‘unchecked’ (stock image)
Sean also warned that the legal maximum height of your hedge is two metres, or 6’6′.
But while people in the UK who are bothered by someone else’s coverage are urged to report it to their local authorities, the UK government website urges those considering doing so to be careful with this option.
The site says: “If a hedge grows unchecked it can cause problems. If you’re troubled by someone else’s coverage, the best way to resolve the issue is to talk to them about it.
“Calling the local council or going to court, especially without first speaking to your neighbor yourself, could make things worse.
“It’s in both of your best interests to try to clear things up.” After all, you have to continue to live next to each other, so it’s better if you’re on good terms.
Elsewhere, Gardeners’ World star Monty Don issued a warning over a particular spring gardening practice, explaining that it could give your garden a less-than-perfect lawn if not done correctly.
The British broadcaster and horticulturist, 68, detailed the do’s and don’ts of the season in his March blog.
He advised that when it comes to your lawn, the grass will need to be cut in March – but he crucially warned: ‘don’t cut it too short’ before summer as it could suffer when the weather warms up.
Elsewhere, Gardeners’ World star Monty Don issued a warning over a particular spring gardening practice, explaining that it could give your garden a less-than-perfect lawn if not done correctly.
The expert insisted: “Just give it a light trim for the rest of this month.” This will promote good root growth and, as a result, the grass will be much healthier and better able to withstand summer drought.
In agreement, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) suggests that “it is important to vary the height of cut to help keep your lawn in good condition.”
“A higher cut also allows smaller wildflowers to thrive, for a flower-rich lawn. Try to mow regularly, so that you only need to remove a small amount each time – never remove more than a third of the height of the grass.
The 68-year-old presenter also gave some tips on how to get a ‘good lawn’ – and that’s not what most gardeners expect.
He wrote: “You must think positively. Focus your efforts on a healthy lawn rather than battling perceived “problems” like daisies, moss, ants, worms, moles, plantains, dandelions and fairy rings.
“Nine times out of ten, if the grass is healthy, everything else will take care of itself.”
According to the BBC star, it’s also bad news if your garden is covered in moss, as it’s “always a symptom of poor drainage, made worse by shade.”
Monty’s solution is to work on the lawn at least once a year by “sticking a fork into the soil, stirring it and repeating the process every 6 inches or so.”
He advises gardening enthusiasts to mix equal portions of sifted topsoil, sharp sand and leaf mold or sifted compost and spread them over the area, brushing it with a broom and filling any holes you have pricked with the mixture.
The broadcaster added that it’s “worth giving the lawn a good scrape with a metal rake” as we head into the warmer months.