Neighbors walking through my backyard

[Anonymous]

This is sort of passive aggressive but what if you say you’re trying to get grass to grow there and it’s not growing so the landscape company is going to block it off for yardwork and you just want to let them know in advance because you know they use it. Then block it off and see if grass grows then.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We will try to work on it this weekend. We wanted to reseed. We'll have to bring in soil too because they ripped the top layer off and grass doesn't grow well in clay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. No we haven't discussed with them. We aren't confrontational and they are extremely confrontational. Any reasonable person wouldn't cause this much damage to their neighbor's lawn, so now we're pretty upset.

Well, you should talk to him. This is the obvious easy solution.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We will try to work on it this weekend. We wanted to reseed. We'll have to bring in soil too because they ripped the top layer off and grass doesn't grow well in clay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Double check to see whether it's really on your property, and whether anyone else has right of way.

2. Talk to neighbors: "Hey Neighbor, our grass can't grow where you access the trail. See, look at it. How can we find a solution together?". This is evidence of goodwill and you trying to seek a friendly solution.

3. If they don't comply, you can put up a fence. How bad is the tree encroachment?

OP here. It really is our property. We just paid for and had a survey done so we could get bids for the terracing. We foresee issues when we build the terrace walls because they've used our lawn for so many years and this will cut off their access, so that's why we had a survey.

Tree is probably 2ft on our lawn. Several huge evergreens. We don't mind the trees at all, but that's why they don't have access to the trail. Their backyard is terraced and their only access was a small path that the trees were planted on.

OK.
Could you and the neighbors live without those trees, to recreate their trail access? Did they plant those trees, BTW?
An easy solution would be to build a fence or wall further inward on your property and thus allow access to the trail, however you might be setting yourself up for a possible relinquishing of property rights, depending on the laws in your area.
Tough call. My husband wouldn't care less about the neighbors' feelings and he'd push them to take away the trees on the grounds that they encroach on his property

[Anonymous]

Geez - forget the grass and put down some native plants and paving stones for people to walk on.
Don’t you also walk to the trail?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez - forget the grass and put down some native plants and paving stones for people to walk on.
Don’t you also walk to the trail?

OP here. Yes I walk to the trail, but I use the sidewalk in the front of our house since I have a stroller. It's a bit longer than using my backyard.

Paving stones wouldn't work. We need stairs because the slope is too steep. Which is a lot of money we aren't ready to spend for something we never use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Double check to see whether it's really on your property, and whether anyone else has right of way.

2. Talk to neighbors: "Hey Neighbor, our grass can't grow where you access the trail. See, look at it. How can we find a solution together?". This is evidence of goodwill and you trying to seek a friendly solution.

3. If they don't comply, you can put up a fence. How bad is the tree encroachment?

OP here. It really is our property. We just paid for and had a survey done so we could get bids for the terracing. We foresee issues when we build the terrace walls because they've used our lawn for so many years and this will cut off their access, so that's why we had a survey.

Tree is probably 2ft on our lawn. Several huge evergreens. We don't mind the trees at all, but that's why they don't have access to the trail. Their backyard is terraced and their only access was a small path that the trees were planted on.

OK.
Could you and the neighbors live without those trees, to recreate their trail access? Did they plant those trees, BTW?
An easy solution would be to build a fence or wall further inward on your property and thus allow access to the trail, however you might be setting yourself up for a possible relinquishing of property rights, depending on the laws in your area.
Tough call. My husband wouldn't care less about the neighbors' feelings and he'd push them to take away the trees on the grounds that they encroach on his property

OP here. The trees were planted 30 years ago by the prior owners. They're taller than our houses and are nice evergreens. We don't mind the trees encroachment on our property (although we might trim the branches on our side). But I assume my neighbors are bothered by the trees because they can't get to the trail. They'd be $$$ to remove.

[Anonymous]

You are friends with these people. Just say "Hey, do you mind avoiding the cut through in our yard? We want to get that patch filled back in with grass." It's not at all a confrontational request. You guys have been stewing over it for a while, but I assure you they aren't dedicating much thought to it.

[Anonymous]

You need a fence solution. Google Image "building fence around tree."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Double check to see whether it's really on your property, and whether anyone else has right of way.

2. Talk to neighbors: "Hey Neighbor, our grass can't grow where you access the trail. See, look at it. How can we find a solution together?". This is evidence of goodwill and you trying to seek a friendly solution.

3. If they don't comply, you can put up a fence. How bad is the tree encroachment?

OP here. It really is our property. We just paid for and had a survey done so we could get bids for the terracing. We foresee issues when we build the terrace walls because they've used our lawn for so many years and this will cut off their access, so that's why we had a survey.

Tree is probably 2ft on our lawn. Several huge evergreens. We don't mind the trees at all, but that's why they don't have access to the trail. Their backyard is terraced and their only access was a small path that the trees were planted on.

OK.
Could you and the neighbors live without those trees, to recreate their trail access? Did they plant those trees, BTW?
An easy solution would be to build a fence or wall further inward on your property and thus allow access to the trail, however you might be setting yourself up for a possible relinquishing of property rights, depending on the laws in your area.
Tough call. My husband wouldn't care less about the neighbors' feelings and he'd push them to take away the trees on the grounds that they encroach on his property

OP here. The trees were planted 30 years ago by the prior owners. They're taller than our houses and are nice evergreens. We don't mind the trees encroachment on our property (although we might trim the branches on our side). But I assume my neighbors are bothered by the trees because they can't get to the trail. They'd be $$$ to remove.

OK. I agree it's nice if the trees stay. Could you clarify whether the neighbors would have another access to the trail? You mentioned the other side of their house?
If they are confrontational, I would mention it to them out of neighborly duty, and if they are not willing to cooperate, go ahead and build whatever obstacle you need.

[Anonymous]

It does sound petty because it is. I grew up like this. We didn't like when people walked through our yard. But, I mean, wtf? Are you trying to use that corner of your yard for something else? No? Then let it go.

[Anonymous]

Hey Bob,

Would you mind not walking on my side of the lawn when it's raining. I just reseeded and I need the grass to grow.

[Anonymous]

Why not rope off the area you're trying to regrow and flag the stakes? Seems to be the least confrontational way though I'd mention the reason you're doing it to the neighbors either ahead of time or in passing afterwards.

BTW If you like the neighbor's tree, be sure the roots aren't damaged. My neighbors had this done around their own HUGE, old trees, and the trees started dying soon afterward. The pavers were several feet from the trunks, but the shallow digging still damaged the roots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez - forget the grass and put down some native plants and paving stones for people to walk on.
Don’t you also walk to the trail?

OP here. Yes I walk to the trail, but I use the sidewalk in the front of our house since I have a stroller. It's a bit longer than using my backyard.

Paving stones wouldn't work. We need stairs because the slope is too steep. Which is a lot of money we aren't ready to spend for something we never use.

1) You won't have a stroller forever.
2) When you discuss with them, perhaps goad them into offering to pay for some steps/gravel/pavers.