Parent of young kids finds neighbor trimming their trees, turning their back yard into an "absolute botch job"

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 5, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

The way that this neighbor "trimmed" their neighbors trees (with 0 permission granted!) has to be seen to be believed

Nobody wants their neighbors snooping around on their property, and yet so many people do it! They truly seem to believe that if they can see something wrong with their neighbor's home, that that gives them the permission to fix it according to their own desires. 

For example, some people will decide they don't like a neighbors hedges, so they'll trim it themselves to improve their view. They truly think that they're entitled to fix up their neighbors property just because! And that is simply not how anything works. 

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  • Child runs along path full of trees.
    via Nadia Clabassi

    Child runs along path full of trees. 

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • What would you do?

    My neighbor, whom I hadn't met until this week, came over the fence and into our yard to trim our trees, without saying a word. I caught
    via smellerkeller23
  • her when I got home, and ran out and asked what had happened to our tree. She said she was trimming branches that were going over the fence and took too much. She
    via smellerkeller23
  • apologized, cleaned up and left. I didn't see the full extent of damage until she left, and I was devastated.
    via smellerkeller23
  • Parents and 2 kids play outdoors with trees in the background.
    via Getty Images

    Parents and 2 kids play outdoors with trees in the background.

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I'm at a loss for what to do. Our yard was so private, which is what I care about the most. It now feels so open and exposed. We have this huge eye sore that will
    via smellerkeller23
  • take years to grow back. I plan to confront her this week to let her know how upset we are. I don't know if it's worth getting someone out to assess
    via smellerkeller23
  • the damage first, so I can let her know how bad she messed up. Or if I just need to let it go. Please help
    via smellerkeller23
  • Photos shown are before and after, along with the absolute botch job she did on the branches
    via smellerkeller23

    This parent added in a comment that the neighbor's husband helped her do this "tree work" over several days, while their family was out. But when they returned and saw it, this person wrote that they "ran out and confronted her." THAT was the only reason she even stopped trimming the trees! The audacity is truly jaw-dropping.  

  • Here's the before! What a lovely backyard with an array of plant life and different color trees.

    Cheezburger Image 10629190656
    via smellerkeller23

    Not to mention that lovely lawn, toys for the kids… looks great. 

  • And this is what they're left with!

    Cheezburger Image 10629190144
    via smellerkeller23

    That is so unfortunate. As many commenters advised, it might be prudent to get a lawyer involved rather than trying to work things out with these incredibly thoughtless neighbors. 

    After all, what are they going to do? Glue the branches back on? No, no. There's got to be some financial compensation for this. 

  • Just another look at the awful "trimming" going on here

    Cheezburger Image 10629190400
    via smellerkeller23
  • Child plays in nature.
    via Getty Images

    Child plays in nature.

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • If you don't like something on your neighbor's property, you can tattle to an HOA. You can call around to local authorities and see if they'll give out a citation or something. But in general, you simply cannot change a neighbor's property for aesthetic reasons. You can't just go paint their purple door white because you don't like looking at it each day. You cannot pull up their flowers because you dislike the scent. 

    We call this kind of thing, “Learning to mind our own business.” It is an unpleasant lesson for entitled people!

    Now, these neighbors created an awful eye sore. They truly ruined this person's backyard experience. And as a parent, this could compromise her kids' home and potentially even their safety. 

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