Our neighbors on one side of us share a row of trees that run between our houses and up into our front yard. It's sort of a tiny forest. Some neighbors mulch the trees in their front yard and some don't. We like the more natural look and our trees seem healthy and don't seem to require mulching to stay that way. Our neighbors that share these trees prefer mulching. A few years ago they put a little mulching around the half of the trees that is theirs. They even cut down some of the new trees in the area without asking us. Oh well. They were obviously hoping we would mulch the other half and we did not. I asked some friends and they also said it might be hard to match the color of their mulch. Now they have recently mulched their half again but with much more mulch this time, spreading it out into their yard much more this time. It looks really odd to have this wide area of mulching around one side of the trees. They have not talked to us and we have not talked to them. What do I do? Give in and try to find matching mulch and put it on our side? Btw, we are not friendly neighbors but not unfriendly either. Many years ago their son was mad at our son and threw away the invisible fence collar on our dog. It cost us $80 to replace it. We have gotten over it, but they may not have gotten over us asking their son if he knew where the collar was. Another kid in the neighborhood said he saw him do it. We did not accuse or anything though. Hmmm, maybe we are unfriendly neighbors after all, now that I think about it... Their mulch is brown. Some friends jokingly suggested that we should mulch it with red mulch on our side. lol I wanted to add something since some people are responding that I am being petty and why is this an issue. It is not a big concern, that's for sure. I just wanted some nice feedback. We really do prefer the natural look though.
Good fences make good neighbors... same goes for the tree line. Is there actually an issue here? If it doesn't bother them and it doesn't bother you then leave it alone.
If you don't like the way it looks, then mulch it. If you want to mulch it, but want a uniform color, talk to the neighbor and offer to share the cost.
I wouldn't do anything, you didn't do anything last time. And anyone looking would know that clearly you "share" that area so I don't think its a big deal. If you want it to match, just knock on the door and ask them where they got the mulch and what brand it is so the trees will match. Good luck.
Hi K.,
Use it as an excuse to have an "olive branch". Knock on their door and tell them that it looks nice and you want to do your side to match. Ask them where they got it so you can match your side. If they were offended by the dog collar thing maybe this will be what puts you back to "friendly" neighbors.
You live that close to one another so getting along well would probably make everyone more comfortable.
Best Wishes!
Mulch fades so don't worry about matching the color beyond don't put in cypress if they used hardwood.
Still if you don't want to much then don't. We get along pretty well with our neighbors so when we are doing yard work and it seems they may need the same work we offer to do their spots as well. It doesn't take that long to throw out extra grass seed, ya know? That was the last big thing we did to our yard which is why I used it as an example. We don't ask for, nor would we accept money as well. I do everything for Karma. :)
Welp I would say if you like the natural look then keep it. It's your landscape and do what makes you happy :o)
I would suggest that it might be a good idea to get the property line survey, so that you and your neighbor both know exactly where the line is. It is always better to know, and you might both be surprised.
I would bring it up the mulching politely with the neighbors, and see if you can come to some kind of agreement, if you care enough to do so.
I share a "tiny" forest of trees with my neighbors as well. At first it was hard to know what to expect and what should be considered "allowed" with this area. I simply went and talked to them about it. Now we are great friends and help eachother with this common area! My response to you is that life is already too stressful, and always too short, to let something like this to cause you any grief! If talking to them though is just not an option, then possible some small decorative fencing to put against their mulch line and make the best possible situation for yourself. Usually lowes have some rod iron pieces you can line up that are a foot high and very affordable. No need to let the hostility go on though, there is humor to find in every situation!
If you prefer natural look in your yard without mulch...keep it that way...if the neighbors prefer mulch...as long as they are keeping in their yard...fine...if other people think it "looks" funny...oh well...there are two pieces of property that belong to two different sets of people and that explains the difference between the yards. But, I honestly wouldn't spend to much mental energy on this issue....it is about personal taste. About cutting down the new trees...well...that probably helped the other trees stay healthier and grow stronger:) It is all good:)
T.
I think if the trees are on your side you should just do whatever you want to do. It might look odd but as long as you are ok with that, who cares? Your neighbors might have a problem with it, but it's not their property. If they're really bothered by it they have the option of asking you to mulch, or offering to mulch for you. Until they do that, I say leave it natural.
Plant weeds or bamboo on their side, put pretty rocks or crushed shells on yours ;)
Teasing!
Do you belong to a HOA? If so, address it with them, and see what their rules are.
If not, I wouldn't even worry about it, but since you are, maybe drop a little note in the neighbors mailbox and ask them if they care ;)
I don't really understand why this is an issue or why you would consider somehow trying to stick it to your neighbors. This whole thing just sounds petty to me. I think you're assuming an awful lot about their intentions and their thoughts about the situation yet you don't speak to them and haven't spoken to them at all about this. How about manning up and going over there to talk? Be a good neighbor. Stop making negative assumptions when you have no reason to.
