Nathan Stafford tells Yahoo News he’s often got to be the ‘peacekeeper’ between feuding residents. An Aussie gardener has been praised for his “excellent” solution to a common dispute between neighbors. Nathan Stafford, of Nathan’s Lawns and Gardens, said he received “a few calls” to help sort out the “dilemma” at a housing commission property in Sydney.
Social Media Presence Stafford, who has made a name for himself on social media by helping those who can’t afford to maintain their unruly yards, previously admitted to Yahoo News he’s often got to be the “peacekeeper” between residents arguing about a hedge or tree protruding over a fence. He published a video from the job on Facebook at the end of last year, and reshared it this week, showing his simple solution.
The Simple Solution “The property on the right, he loves his vines — fair enough, they’re nice and green. However, the property here on the left, her place is getting taken over by them. So what are we going to do?” Stafford said in a video posted online on Thursday, adding the two neighbors couldn’t agree on a solution. “Well, I just said, ‘let’s just cut it straight down the middle’. It’s not going to fix it, but it’s definitely going to get it away from the lady’s property for the time being,” he continued. “I hope this will keep the peace between the two of them.”
The Result Footage shows the gardener working to remove the vine that has grown up the side and onto the roof of the elderly woman’s home. After the job is done, the resident can be seen thanking Stafford with a hug. “Your gutter is now cleaner so the water can run through, and all of that stuff there is away from your house now like you asked,” he tells her.
Public Response Aussies applauded Stafford for the way he handled the “difficult” situation, which has long been a contentious topic — whether a resident’s foliage encroaching onto a neighbor’s property can be cut. “Vines can cause so much damage. The lady and you are right,” one person chimed in.
Stafford’s Stance As for his own stance, Stafford told Yahoo last month he believes it’s fair game if the plant is hanging over the border. “My opinion is if it’s over your side of the fence, you can do what you want with it, as long as you’re not hacking it or destroying it. For me personally, I think you’re able to trim it,” he said, advising “it’s always best to approach the neighbor first.”
