Aerial View Maps

My backyard neighbor keeps mowing part of my yard that they think is theirs? How should I tell them to stop?

When we moved into our home over 4 years ago we were told by our back yard neighbor that the lot line stops at two large trees in OUR yard and not at the ditch that seperates our yards. We are on 1/3 of an acre and they have just about 2/3... I located the pins in our yard and have an aerial map (that I know is NOT a legal document) that shows outlines that the lot line stops at the ditch line. What would be the proper verbage to tell (ask) him to stop mowing our lawn from the ditch (that he has to travel over to get to our trees) to the trees? And I believe it is the brother of the lady that lives in the house (which we have never met, btw). They only mow about 4 times during the summer (we live in WI) but we mow 2-3 times a month and when he does mow, he cuts it so short that it burns the grass. I just don't want him to be able to claim our portion of the yard and am just tired of him mowing it when it really is our yard. Yes, it is kind of him, but he thinks it is his property.

Public Comments

1. If it's your property, tell him to stop mowing your yard, if needed show him the corner markers for the property. If all else fails put up a fence! good luck
2. Try introducing yourself first and making small talk. If things go okay, mention the yard and ask if they had a survey done. See if they think it is their property or if they are just making sure their lawn is all cut. Ask them to stop cutting your lawn as you are trying to keep things manageable in your own way. If they dont want to talk or insist it is their property, you may have to pay for a survey yourself to prove it is yours.
3. We had a similar problem with the neighbors using part of our land as a driveway. We put out a lovely row of azaleas. No more problem.
4. Go to your city and ask for a "plot drawing" of you property. With luck they will have one and all the measurements will be on it. Then its a simple matter or taking a tape measure and measuring it out. If they do not have one your going to have to pay for a survey. Why be worried about him mowing it. The land can't suddenly change into his ownership regardless how much he does to it. If he likes mowing that much he can come and mow my lawn. Ask him if he knows where the property line is because he may just be doing you a favor by hauling his mower over the ditch. Tell him your thinking about putting up a fence.
5. well there are a few things you can do 1. you need to tell him how you feel about the situation, which is what you did here. you just need to restate it into the conversation. tell him you appreciate what he's doing, and show him the map you have. however, make sure you tell your neighbor in a way that you don't lose his trust or friendship. we all probably hate our neighbors, but you never know when you might need something from him. 2. if that doesn't work or if you just don't want to try it, put either a fence or a row of flowers around the perimeter of your property. that should work :) good luck!
6. plant some shrubs along your boundary line leaving a gap for him to pass to his ditch a fast growing and cheap way is to plant laurel as it grows you can shape it into a lovely private hedge
7. Wait a minute, yes he can claim it and get away with it. I bought this place 22 years ago, and have taken care of about 10 feet of the neighbor's yard all this time. It started because neither of us knew where the property line was. Then when I had mine surveyed, we found out. But the lady over there was old, and asked me to continue. Then she moved to assisted living and sold the place. The next old lady saw that the security light was on her property, not mine, but I was paying for it. So she paid half, since she wanted it to stay on. Then she put up a chain link fence, fencing the security light onto my side. Okay, until she went into assisted living. The next to buy it was a real estate agent, buying it for his son. I told him where the property line was, and he didn't care. When he sold it, he told the man that the fence was on the property line. I told him where it was, and he suggested that we share that section. Then he sold out. Here I am, trying for years to get them to care for their own property. So I decided it was mine. Last month another real estate lady bought the property next door. And I had a huge elm tree removed from that section. Only about 6 inches of the base of the trunk was really on my side. Yesterday the new owner yelled at me for removing the tree, said the only reason she bought it was for that tree. I told her what has been happening all these years, and if I had known she wanted it, I wouldn't have removed it. She replied that in fact it was mine to do with as I pleased. It's mine. But now I need a new survey, which she will get. No problem. I've been fortunate to have such agreeable neighbors. I know that section has to devalue their property, but they don't seem to care.