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How to prevent weeds from neighbours along fence line?

I am constantly battling grass and weeds from our neighbours side. No matter how many times I poison them, they keep growing back and it's extending into our vegetable garden and garden shed.

I've spoken to them multiple times (including the real estate agency as they are renters) but they don't do anything.

What is the strongest poison I can use to eradicate this once and for all.

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MitchellMc

Hi @Nessa77,

You can use strong herbicides like Yates 1L 490g/L Zero Weed Killer Super Concentrate for spot spraying on your side, but be aware that applying it could damage your neighbour’s lawn and cause large areas of die-back. Just something to be aware of. Bear in mind that since grass is very aggressive with spreading, even if you kill this portion off, it will come back. That's just the nature of a spreading grass.

I think a more permanent solution will revolve around blocking its access route. I see you have the silver edging over the area, but there are obviously still gaps present behind it. Are you able to remove the silver edging so we can see behind it and offer solutions on how you could fill the gaps?

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Nessa77

I'll have to take a photo when I get home, but it's just their grass abutting the fence/silver panel.

I've cut it back many times to tidy up the area, but then we're just back to square one.

Nessa77

MitchellMc

Hi @Nessa77,

Thanks for posting the additional photos. From what I can see, there is quite a decent gap under the fence and behind the metal edging. That gap is essentially giving the grass an easy pathway under the fence, and then it tracks up behind the edging toward the light. In situations like this, herbicide usually only provides temporary control because the runners and roots simply keep coming through from the neighbour’s side.

One thing I would strongly consider is installing a subsoil root barrier such as the Jack 600mm x 5m Garden Root Barrier. It does not need to go the full 600mm deep. Even installing it to around 300mm will stop the vast majority of grass roots and runners from travelling underneath your edging through the soil. I would leave roughly 200mm of the barrier above the soil line, so it also blocks surface runners trying to creep through.

That should address the underground spread.

For the grass that is growing up behind the edging, the main issue is the gap between the edging and the bottom rail of the fence. If you can fix it tightly against the bottom rail, it will greatly reduce the ability for grass to grow up through that space. Metal self-drilling tek screws work well for this. I would place one roughly every 300mm so the edging is pulled firmly against the rail and the gap is minimised.

Another option would be replacing the flexible metal edging with a treated pine plinth. Timber is much more rigid and makes it easier to create a tight connection against the bottom rail, so there are fewer gaps for grass to sneak through.

It is a bit of work, but without the neighbour installing a barrier on their side of the fence, physically blocking the pathway is usually the most reliable long-term solution. Herbicides alone rarely solve this type of problem because the grass just keeps reinvading from the other side.

Mitchell

Nessa77

I just bought the Yates 1L 490g/L Zero Weed Killer Super Concentrate and sprayed the grass on Monday (20mL in 5L), as trying to install the Jack 600mmx5m Garden Root Barrier is not possible due to limited space.

How long before I see results? Or do I need to spray again? These photos were taken today 11.3.26.

Some part of the fence just have the flexible green barrier, other parts metal, which are pop-rivet-ed and obviously can't remove.

This is very frustrating as it's an ongoing battle and the neighbour isn't doing anything, despite repeated requests.

MitchellMc

Hi @Nessa77,

That would be 4mL per litre, which would be right on the lowest quantity of poison per litre for grasses, 8mL being the higher range. For faster results, a higher dosage might have been better. I'd suggest applying the same 4mL/5litre ratio again.

I note on the Zero product pade it references: DO NOT disturb treated weeds for two weeks. Visible results may take longer than 48 hours on certain tough weeds or weeds in deep shade.

Adding additional pop-rivets to the steel section would help in keeping it taught against the fence.

Mitchell

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