12 Landscaping Features Your Neighbors Secretly Hate
We all want to make our outdoor spaces perfect for our own tastes, but some popular landscaping choices can end up causing friction with the people living next door. While you may love that new fire pit or chicken coop, you might not realize your neighbors don’t feel the same way. So before sinking time and money into your next outdoor project, learn about how these 12 common backyard features could make you the annoying house in your neighborhood.
Trees Near Property Lines
Large trees can add beauty, shade, and privacy to your yard. However, trees planted too close to property lines are a common cause of arguments between neighbors. Overhanging branches may drop unwanted leaves, fruit, or sap onto your neighbor's property. Root systems can also cause damage to foundations, driveways, or underground pipes. Large trees may also block your neighbor’s window views or sunlight. To keep the peace, research how big your tree will be once fully grown and plant it well away from your neighbor’s property.
Fire Pits
It’s so much fun to host friends around a crackling fire on a cool evening. But your neighbors may not appreciate the smoke, noise, or late-night fun as much as you do. Fire pits can especially cause problems in areas with small yards or where homes are built close together. To keep from causing issues, position your fire pit away from property lines, burn dry hardwoods that produce less smoke, and be aware of the direction the wind is blowing the smoke. If you really want to be a good neighbor, buy a gas fire pit as a cleaner-burning option.
Outdoor Workout Equipment
Setting up a backyard gym can be a great way to stay motivated on any fitness journey. However, the sight of bulky exercise equipment and the sounds of grunts and clanking weights can easily get under your neighbors’ skin. Try to move your workout areas to where they can’t be seen from neighboring properties, giving you a bit more privacy too! You can even buy portable equipment that can be stored away when you’re not using it. And be aware of how much noise you’re making, especially early in the morning or later at night.
Water Features and Ponds
While a backyard pond can create a peaceful, natural vibe in your backyard, sitting water quickly becomes the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Make sure the water in your pond is being properly filtered and stays moving. You can add mosquito-eating fish like gambusia to your pond to stop mosquitos, or use mosquito dunks containing BTI, a natural bacterium that kills larvae. Your neighbors will thank you for your efforts to stop the spread of pests.
Year-Round Holiday Decorations
That giant inflatable Santa in your front yard may bring you holiday joy year-round, but your neighbors might find it less charming come July. While a few tasteful decorations are usually fine, obnoxious or off-season holiday decor can take away from the put together look of the entire neighborhood. Try to keep your holiday displays current to the season you’re actually in and take them down within a reasonable amount of time after the holiday celebrations are over.
Motion-Activated Lights
Motion-sensor lights can keep intruders out and make it easier to find your way at night. If the lights are in the wrong position however, it can trigger randomly or at the wrong time, shining straight into your neighbors' windows and waking them up. Adjust the sensitivity and range of motion detectors so that they only activate when they’re supposed to. Angle the lights downward and away from your neighbor’s properties, and use lower wattage bulbs or dimmable smart bulbs. Your neighbors will appreciate being able to get a good night's sleep!
Dog Kennels and Runs
Dogs need outdoor spaces to get enough fresh air and exercise. But the constant sound of barking dogs is enough to annoy even the most patient neighbor. If you keep a dog kennel outside, keep it away from fences you share with your neighbors. You can put up sound-absorbing materials and visual barriers, like fences, around your property to cut down on the amount of things that trigger barking. During quiet hours, like early mornings or late nights, bring your dogs inside. If your dog is barking at everything that passes, it needs to be fixed through training. Just like people, a quiet, well-behaved dog makes for a better neighbor than a loud, party animal.
Perfectly Manicured Lawns
Okay, so this one might raise some eyebrows, but let us explain. A carefully maintained lawn shows you care for your property. But overachieving lawn care can annoy your neighbors, especially if you’re using noisy equipment at odd hours of the day. Limit any lawn mowing and edging to reasonable times of day and consider buying quieter electric tools. And don’t be afraid to let your lawn grow a bit between mowings - it's healthier for the grass and gives your neighbors a much-needed break from the noise.
Chicken Coops and Aviaries
Backyard chicken coops are getting even more popular in cities and suburbs, especially as the price of eggs only seems to be going up. But that doesn’t mean your neighbors will be on board! Roosters crowing at the crack of dawn and hens cackling throughout the day can ruffle anyone’s feathers. Check local bylaws before getting chickens, as most cities have rules around how many chickens you can have and how to keep them. Position coops away from your neighbor’s property and keep a small flock. Look into getting quieter breeds if your house is close to other houses. Clean the chicken coop regularly to keep stinky odors under control. And if your neighbors are still getting annoyed, offer to share some eggs with them to sweeten the deal.
Swimming Pools
A backyard swimming pool can be a great way to cool off and entertain friends. While they are pretty common, neighbors may still worry about the noise, how safe it is, and chemical runoff. Follow local building codes for fencing and safety features you have to have at your pool. Use a pool cover to cut down on evaporation and how much chemicals you have to use. Be mindful of how much noise you’re making splashing around, especially at night. You can always invite your neighbors over for a swim - they may be more tolerant if they get to enjoy the pool too!
Bad Fences
The right fence can give you the privacy you need and make it easier to divide property lines. But the wrong fence can divide you and your neighbors for all the wrong reasons. Always check local laws and know exactly where your property lines end before installing fencing. Chat about your plans with your neighbors, especially for shared property lines. Choose materials and styles that match the neighborhood and take care of your fences to keep them looking neat for everyone.
Outdoor Speakers
Music can bring a lot to outdoor gatherings, but your taste in tunes may not be what your neighbors want to hear. Keep the volume of your music at a reasonable level, especially at night. In fact, if you want to have a good relationship with your neighbors, just don’t use your speakers late at night. Position the speakers to direct sound into your yard, not toward neighboring properties. If you’re going to put up loud speakers, you’re going to have to be open to requests from neighbors to turn it down. Headphones might be a better idea for solo listening sessions.
Creating the outdoor space you want doesn't have to cost you your relationship with your neighbors. With some thoughtful planning and consideration, you can enjoy your yard and keep the peace next door. When in doubt, talk to your neighbors about your plans. Open communication goes a long way in stopping conflicts before they even start. By being a thoughtful neighbor, you’re making your neighborhood a more enjoyable place for everyone living in it.