Neighbour replanted my front garden while I was out - I can't believe what he said

A homeowner has voiced their frustrations after a neighbour redecorated their front garden while they were out - and without asking. Taking to Reddit, the social media user, who goes by the username WhisperingPineJ, posted about the incident on the r/neighborsfromhell subreddit.

They explained that they live in a duplex and share a front garden that is "clearly divided down the middle". In their part of the garden, the Reddit user says they planted a few herbs and flowers, "just lavender, basil, and some marigolds for colour", they said. However, they claim their "50-something" neighbour "acts like he’s running a botanical museum".

They added: "Without asking, this man just casually trims my plants. Like, walks out with gloves and scissors, snips a few stems, and sometimes even replants things he thinks would 'look better'. When I asked him to please stop, he said — dead serious — 'I’m just helping you maintain it. It looked a little… chaotic'." They fumed: "Sir. It’s lavender, not a jungle."

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The Reddit user then says that last week, they came home to find "little decorative rocks and a random gnome" on their side of the garden. However, they didn't put them there and claim the neighbour did.

"He says it 'ties the whole look together'," they said. "I’m polite, but I’m honestly one more unsolicited landscaping away from planting poison ivy."

At the end of their post, the Redditor asked: "Has anyone had to deal with a neighbour who acts like your stuff is theirs to 'fix'? Is there a nice way to say 'back off my damn plants' without starting a passive-aggressive war?"

It didn't take long for the comments to start pouring in as people shared their thoughts and advice. One suggested: "Be direct. 'Neighbour, I need you to respect that this is my property and stop altering my landscaping.' You are probably being too polite in the face of a guy who has shown he has no problem walking all over you."

A second put forward: "Get motion detection sprinklers." Another wrote: "My honest advice is to tell him that you know he's trying to help, but that you prefer to garden your own yard (while returning the gnome and rocks.)" A fourth said: "Start making alterations to his side. Just a little snip here and there."

However, not everyone was against the neighbour's interference. "Me personally I would like it - and would welcome this expert plant fixer like a lost maniac brother. Life is too short to worry about someone doing no harm," one person commented.

A neighbour can't legally change your front garden without your permission, as per legal guidelines. Your front garden is part of your private property and is subject to your ownership and control. Unauthorised changes might involve things like damaging fences, taking out plants, or putting up structures on your land.