The volunteer master gardener got this question from both sides of the fence. There are many descriptions of the problems caused by neighbors. What is the correct way?

First, talk to neighbors, they may not realize what they are doing is undesirable. Please use "me" language in your description, not "you should". If needed, cite or use a printed copy of the University of Florida IFAS study to back up your request.

For example, I live in a community with barbed wire. The former neighbor’s beagle kept climbing up the four-foot-long rusty wire chain fence, so we replaced it with a taller wire fence. We like barbed wire because they do not block the breeze and we can see the neighbors who are talking with them.

One morning, I went out and found that the new owner of the house sprayed herbicide on the local passion vines and scarlet honeysuckle I planted on the fence. He was surprised that I wanted to plant vines on my new fence. I explained that I planted vines on the fence for butterflies and hummingbirds, and asked him not to spray them. As a compromise, I trim the vines on the fence at least once a year.

It may also be a good idea to check the property survey to see who owns the fence. Neighbors with wooden fences may not want your vines to climb up the fence because vegetation retains moisture near the surface, causing mold and rot.

A yard in the city cannot be left naturally deserted; it will not revert to pine forests or oak hammocks, even if the land in high rainfall areas naturally transitions to forests, it is only a short-lived wildflower meadow. There are too many dormant seeds from aggressive or invasive trees and weeds in urban areas that will sprout.

Most saplings that grow will be in the wrong location or unpopular. It is recommended to evaluate any saplings before letting them grow. The narrow side yard has no space to accommodate the big tree, and your neighbors may not want it to grow on the property line.

Most cities have legal codes that prohibit nuisance vegetation and storage of rubbish that may harbor rodents. The maintenance landscape of Florida native plants does not meet the conditions of nuisance vegetation. If you are doing local landscaping, follow some of the following suggestions to assure your neighbors that the yard is managed:

• There are clear wildflower beds with trails and clusters of similar plants.

• There are some clear architectural elements, such as bird baths, bird houses, or resting areas.

• Plan a wildflower flower bed like a perennial flower bed, put some low-growing plants in the front, plant plants repeatedly or in groups, and plant taller wildflowers or shrubs behind or in the center of the flower bed. I kept some folding decorative fences that can be used to scoop up spreading wildflowers.

• Trim or pull plants that sprout on your lawn or trail.

You or your neighbors may want to trim or edges along the property line to confine some locals within the boundary, perhaps with a boundary path. I don't want to use herbicides on my lawn, so my neighbors follow the edge of their property line to prevent my Florida betony from invading their lawn. After the frost, her lawn was brown and mine was green.

Another landscape style that bothers people who like trimmed hedges and monoculture lawns is permaculture or food forest landscapes. Landscape design principles still apply; besides your fruit trees, you also need some sunlight to grow low-grade crops. You still need to manage food forests or sustainable agricultural landscapes. No urban landscape is unmaintained.

Urbanization and the overuse of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers are seriously affecting pollinators, wildlife and our environment. These alternative landscape styles help mediate some of the impact on our environment.

A judicial decision in Florida stated that the general rule is that property owners can use their property freely and reasonably. If you live in a community managed by HOA, you will have another level of property management. Florida friendly gardens like wildflower beds should be allowed, but work with your homeowners association to get their approval.

If you prefer the appearance of expansive lawns and trimmed hedges, you need to follow the labels on herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. The Florida Friendship Principle allows this kind of landscaping, but there is a direction to protect the environment.

Labels for herbicides and insecticides usually specify that they should be used on calm days so that the wind does not blow them to other plants or the yard. Labels often state to spray earlier or later in the day when most pollinators are not out. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers can enter waterways or seep into our groundwater (aquifers are our drinking water) through rain or irrigation. Please do not spray neighbor's plants even if they encroach on your property.

You can trim plants at the property boundary. This also applies to unwanted branches and roots. Dead trees that are harmful to property or people need to be removed.

Low areas that pass through the front or back of the yard should not be filled in. Today’s drainage swale has the same function as yesterday’s ditches. They drained the water from the house. The slope is shallow, facing the pond or storm drain, and should not be changed by filling the area or blocking water flow. I know that when we poured heavy rain for several days, they didn't seem to be draining water. But their purpose is to keep the water away from the house.

Usually, there is also a shallow depression between the houses. If both neighbors irrigate the same area, the irrigation system can cover the area. If the area gets extra water from rooftops or downpipe runoff, you may not even need to run an irrigation system. You can also grow plants through drains, which like to wet feet and evaporate excess water. Just don't block traffic.

It's great to have good neighbors. Sometimes we need to compromise a bit, but we can still have a yard and garden that satisfy us and increase the interest of the neighborhood. Introduce yourself to your neighbors and have a friendly conversation about gardening.

For Florida Friendship Principles, please check this link: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/publications/. If you want to learn more about Jacksonville's municipal regulations, you can check this link: https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances.

Brenda Daly is a volunteer master gardener at the Duval County Extension Services Center and the University of Florida/IFAS. For gardening issues, please call (904) 255-7450 from Monday to Friday from 9 am to noon and 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm to call the Duval County Extension Office and request to be a volunteer gardener master.