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You want to be a good neighbor.
If anything, you want the same treatment in return.
But certainlandscaping featureslike fire pits, motion lights, and water features are guaranteed toannoy your neighbor.
Jacky Parker Photography / Getty Images
We spoke with real estate professionals to learn the top landscaping features that annoy neighbors.
“The problem is generally how they are used and maintained,” Chervenka says.
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Motion Lights
Motion lights are another common annoyance for neighbors.
“They can shine directly into an adjoining house,” Ameer says.
When Chervenka had a neighbor issue, she adjusted the motion sensor’s sensitivity.
She also adjusted the beams and their brightness while maintaining light on all four corners of the home.
An unused water feature can breed mosquitos or fill with algae and debris.
During rain, the pond may overflow.
Fill in a garden pond with sand andxeriscape it into a rock garden.
Or fill it with gravel to turn it into a dry well, to help withyard drainage.
If the structure isn’t used or otherwise maintains property value, tear it down.
Architect-designed, contractor-builttiny housesintegrated with the property and neighborhood are exceptions.
Above-Ground Pools
Above-ground poolscan be fun, but generally they are landscaping eyesores, Chervenka says.
Pools kill the grass.
When in use, they can be noisy and frustrating for neighbors.
When not in use, they are a safety liability to the property.
Always add safety fencing.
But too much concrete can be bad.
Neighbors may complain when the front of the home resembles a parking lot, she adds.
Crushed gravelor mulch are natural solutions to concrete overload, Chervenka says.
They allow for better drainage and have a more gentle appearance that eliminate neighbor complaints.
Invasive Plants
Healthy trees planted away from the property line enhance a yard.
But trees planted near the property line can damage plumbing and structural elements.
Take care whenlandscaping property lines.
