Are You Responsible for Your Neighbor's Leaves?
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While we adore autumn's vibrant fall foliage, the leaves are a whole lot less picturesque when they've fallen off the trees and are cluttering up our yard. Raking throughout the season is a necessary task to help maintain the pristine look of our landscape, even if it's no one's favorite chore. But what do you do if your neighbor's tree is littering your lawn with leaves?
One person got so frustrated that leaves from their neighbor's tree were falling into their yard that they scooped the foliage and dumped a big pile onto their neighbor's lawn to return it to their “rightful owner.” Sure, the tree causing the mess is on someone else's property, but is that the right thing to do?
Security footage that displays the petty act has been making the rounds on TikTok, and the comments section is erupting with hot takes. Some people agree with the fed-up neighbor: It's not their tree, so why should it be their problem? “He has NO trees,” one person commented. “So they belong to YOU.” “Dude just returning his neighbors leaves,” another reasoned. “Clearly not a tree in his yard!”
However, other viewers are quick to call out this behavior as downright rude. “Welcome to Earth where trees are all around the neighborhood,” one commenter said. Another person quipped, “If he went through the trouble of canning them then lifting over to dump over the fence, why not just bag them and throw them away?” A third simply wrote, “I would call the cops.”
The internet is torn, so what is the proper etiquette in this situation? According to Jodi RR Smith—author, etiquette expert, and owner of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting—it is not polite to dump leaves that fell on your property onto someone else's. While Smith says there are relevant laws that may vary from state, town, or county (she emphasizes that she is not a lawyer) she points out that neighbors get the benefits of each other's trees when in full bloom.
“Leaves that fall to your property are your responsibility; just the same as you can enjoy the shade during the summer,” she shares. “And, if it was a fruit-bearing tree, the fruits that hang over your property.”
Smith agrees that cleaning up leaves from someone else's tree can be frustrating, but a passive-aggressive dump is not the answer. Instead, try having a casual chat with your neighbor. The key, she stresses, is to go into the conversation with positive intent. “You should presume your neighbor has no idea their tree is leaving leaves on your property,” Smith says. “With a kind tone of voice, you can open a conversation.”
While you shouldn't be surprised if your neighbor is unwilling to help—“your lawn, your leaves,” Smith says—they might offer to split the costs of a clean-up service or bring over a leaf blower. Or, if you're OK with some temporary yard clutter, you don't even need to rake your leaves in the first place! The United States Department of Agriculture says leaves turn into a natural mulch, which can create a vibrant habitat for animals like lizards, insects, and frogs.
Proper etiquette suggests it's best to keep your lawn as tidy as possible and clean up the leaves—regardless of where they came from.
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