What To Do If Your Neighbor Has Invasive Plants
Invasive plants can cause significant problems in communities, and it’s important to know what to look for. Discovering invasive plants in your neighbor’s yard can raise some serious red flags. You’re not alone if you wonder what to do about your neighbor’s invasive plants.
Check your local banned plant directory to confirm whether your neighbor's yard has invasive plants. From there, you can either approach your neighbor or write an anonymous letter to inform them about the plants. It’s also worth digging a small trench and filling it with gravel or mulch to keep your neighbor’s problem plants out of your yard.
Planting invasive plants intentionally is illegal, but your neighbor may not realize they have them. That’s why you must be patient and understanding or you may create an awkward situation. Follow along as we explore what to do if your neighbor has invasive plants.
What Can You Do About Your Neighbor’s Invasive Plants?
Dealing with a neighbor who has invasive plants is tricky, but there’s no reason to avoid the situation. Firstly, many people don’t know they have these plants in their yard, and so, you can’t assume tthey are intentionally sabotaging the greenery in your neighborhood. Approach the situation with a cool head and take the following steps:
1. Refer To The Banned Plant List
Local, state, and federal government agencies probit invasive plants to protect communities. They publish lists of invasive plant species, usually through the local department of agriculture. If you suspect your neighbor has invasive plants in their yard, refer to this list. However, things get tricky when you realize that the lists don’t necessarily account for every invasive plant.
This can happen if your neighbor bought a plant online and discovered it was contaminated with the seeds of a foreign plant. Similarly, birds can eat seeds in Florida, migrate to your state, and spread the seeds through their fecal matter. Your local banned plant list may not include every invasive plant present in your area, since anyone can import invasive plants, intentionally or not. However, you can identify many plants by taking pictures on your smartphone and tapping the “info” icon.
2. Contact Them
It may be awkward, but you should contact your neighbor if you discover invasive plants in their yard, since the growth can cause problems for you and your neighbors, and that’s just the people nearby. However, invasive plants can spread far beyond your neighborhood through wind dispersal and bird migration. That may explain why your neighbor has them and may not even know that they have invasive plants in their yard.
Contact your neighbor and politely express your concerns about the invasive plants in their yard. You can always write an anonymous letter if you’re worried about creating an awkward situation. Don't be accusatory. A well-expressed message should be enough to make your neighbor understand the situation and get rid of the plants.
3. Inspect Your Yard
You don't want your neighbor’s invasive plants to cross into your yard, but you may not have much choice if they are growing rapidly. Inspect your yard to look for signs of problematic growth. Keep in mind that invasive plant seeds may have made their way into the soil, but haven’t grown yet. That’s why it’s a good idea to repeatedly inspect your yard over a few weeks or even months.
Research the invasive plant in question to see what it looks like in the early stages of growth. Many plants look different when sprouting from seed than they do when mature. It’s easier to get rid of invasive plants before they grow and start dropping seeds. Stay vigilant until you know nothing has spread to your yard.
4. Block The Plants
If your neighbor cannot or will not remove their invasive plants, at least try to keep them out of your yard. The best way to do so is to dig deep edging to stop the invasive plants. Some people dig small trenches at the edge of their yards and fill them with gravel and mulch to deter invasive plants and weeds. This is a good option because you can easily dig and fill a trench without hiring a landscaper.
You may want to hire a landscaper if you have a huge yard and lack the necessary tools. You can also install a fence that runs 6” to 12” below the ground to keep your neighbor’s invasive plants out. Deep edging and fences won’t keep invasive plants from entering your yard through wind dispersal and bird droppings. That’s true even for invasive plants miles from your home, as birds often consume and excrete invasive plant seeds.
Should I Report My Neighbor For Having Invasive Plants?
Ideally, you should avoid reporting your neighbor for having invasive plants unless the problem gets out of hand. Many people are reasonable and will understand when you inform them about their invasive plants. That’s especially true if you’re polite and approach the situation in a kind and informative way.
You should only report your neighbor if they’re being contentious and don’t care that they’re negatively impacting the neighborhood's environment and ecosystem. It’s worth reporting your neighbor if their plants have spread all over the neighborhood and they don't care. Even then, you should only report them for violating local ordinances as a last resort.
Summing It Up
Approach your neighbor politely and tell them about the negative impact their invasive plants can have on the community's ecosystem. Inspect your yard to see if the plants have spread, and install barriers to keep them out of your yard. Don’t report your neighbor unless the plants have rapidly spread throughout your neighborhood and your neighbor refuses to do anything about it.
Related Guides:
Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
More by Nick Durante
