Had a job yesterday with the significant reduction of some hawthorns which were growing in a dead space between a newly erected fence which was my clients and a hedge and fence boundary of 2 properties behind it.
The houses behind are a row of semis and all obviously have a common boundary line. There are even original concrete boundary posts intact to show the line.
Despite the hawthorns growing about 3 feet inside my clients property the man behind came out ranting and raving.
He told me if i didn't get out of there immediately he was going to get the boys to come round and i wouldn't believe the world of trouble waiting for me.
In northern Ireland unfortunately getting the boys round has a distinctly different connotation.
Anyway i try to remain professional and explain my feelings and my clients instruction regarding the boundary which he clearly disputes but i also told him there was no need for his threatening behaviour and i would cease works immediately until the issue was resolved.
TO which he replied ''I didn't threaten you son i made you a promise I'll hurt you badly and you may be 20 years younger than me but i'll march in there and you wont't know what hit you''
I being 6'5 and 16 stone was not intimidated by this short plump man but for the sake of my customer and because of the possible ensuing legal problems didn't want to inflame the situation so moved promptly.
I was close to losing my temper and can not stand when people like this get what they wanted by being bully's. If it had been my own property i would have stood my ground quite literally but felt it unfair and unprofessional to escalate things in a clients garden.
Part of me wants to inform the police in the vague hope he might get a letter or visit just to tell him to wise up but again it may just inflame the whole thing for my client.
Anyway rant over, just wanted to get it off my chest.
On a more practical note what are you experiences regarding shrubs or trees near a boundary? If there is no agreement between neighbours? I have another garden where a clemtis is rooted next door and grows up a tree on my clients property. The tree is to be removed at some stage and so the clematis will have to be severely cut back. I would have thought the overhanging the boundary rule applies but what if that would damage the plant?
Humourous stories welcome
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much as i have a lot of respect for the police, they won't do anything about trash like this.
move on to the next job and try and forget it.
after you've popped back and drilled and poisoned the hedge anyway.
glad to say i've never had one remotely as nasty as that. worst i've had is being threatened by an old boy with a walking stick - wasn't worried as if he did go for me, i figured he'd probably fall over before he managed to clout me with the stick. makes you wonder how some people manage to live as long as they do........
I detest people like that, bullies using the threat of physical violence to get their own way, I would like to think in the same situation I would be able to walk away, but fear in this instance I would of been so incensed as to end up inviting him over and having to kick him squarely in the soft under belly! and probably a couple of boots worth of afters as well.... and relax!
Well done for keeping your cool, you were the bigger man in both respects :-)
One of the golf clubs i worked for was in North Belfast & my boss at the time was threatened for telling off one of the boys, turns out the guy he was telling off was 2nd in command.
I'm guessing that your new friend is a chancer. Depending on the location... I would report it the police, unless it was in an area that was known & color coded and very one sided. It would take the smirk look off his face.
But the moral of the story is you never know!
The hilarious thing about it Robbie was this happened in holywood not far from where you were working the other day.
I know its very childish but you can't help think to yourself i hope he goes for me he deserves a punch in the face. It just makes your blood boil knowing he is probably smug with himself.
I also considered chatting to the other gardeners in our area to try and 'black-list' him but that's not very professional either.
Oh well, maybe i'll meet him down the pub sometime...
What's all this aggression? Winter's over, the sun's out and all(should!) be right with the world.
People have all sorts of issues and unfortunately we can sometimes walk right into them.
Have to say tho, we always get the customer to warn the neighbours prior to starting work if it effects them at all. If we need to cut back, encroach on boundaries, pick up fallen branches etc a knock on the door will work 99% of the time. We even warn them of possible dust if the washing's out!
In other words - get your retaliation in first!