# You catch your neighbor dumping clippings in your woods, what do you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120 "2009-05-02T21:24:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/21 "2009-05-03T13:12:15Z")
How obvious is it that this is your property and not just city-owned land or open area? Is she new to the area? If it is undeveloped woods, not fenced or marked in any way, is it possible she doesn’t realize it belongs to you? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/22 "2009-05-03T13:39:47Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > However, he (she?) could still lose certain property rights by establishing a practice of quiet acquiescence. The OP won’t lose ownership of the land in question, but he (she?) could lose the right to tell the neighbor to quit dumping on his (her?) land. How does this work, though? If you give verbal permission, certainly you reserve the right to change your mind in the future, correct? Why is it any different when you give “silent” permission? Maybe it isn’t a problem now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t ever be. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/23 "2009-05-03T13:54:12Z")
Grass clippings are stinky after a while on their own. I would ask her not to. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/24 "2009-05-03T14:18:52Z")
> [@Jodi](#): > > I say to her, “Hey, please don’t dump your grass clippings in my woods,” and then I go on with my life. I would amend this to say, “Hey, I almost shot you before I recognized you. It is not safe for you to be coming unannounced onto my property, and please don’t dump your grass clippings on my property.” ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/25 "2009-05-03T19:07:01Z")
I’d make a big sign that said: OMG LOL WTF? And stick it in the middle of the pile, facing her house. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/26 "2009-05-03T21:00:23Z")
See, this is what makes me glad that I know all of my neighbours on a very friendly basis. I know none of them would think of such a thing, but if they did, well we’d have to have a couple of beers together and come up with a solution. Jeez, people are typically friendly creatures, aren’t they? Couldn’t you just have a nice little chat about where the property line ends and take it from there? A slight hijack, but over the years here I’ve noticed you folks in the U.S. seem to place way more importance on property rights than I believe we do here in Canada: I mean to the point of actually suggesting that legal action or firearm displays are necessary for even the smallest little infractions. I remember a previous thread about a neighbour dismantling a piece of another neighbour’s fence without permission and by God all Hell was about to break loose because of it. Relax. Your first action should always be a civil and friendly discussion. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/27 "2009-05-03T21:57:18Z")
Apparently, I should not be pointing the lawn mower discharge to my neighbors yard? FTR, I usually discharge the lawn mower to my neighbors yard, and then mow down my neighbors property so it discharges back into my yard. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/28 "2009-05-03T21:59:10Z")
Personally, I wouldn’t give a shit. It’s the fucking woods, for God’s sake. It’s supposed to be covered in decaying plant life. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/29 "2009-05-03T22:23:39Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > See, this is what makes me glad that I know all of my neighbours on a very friendly basis. I know none of them would think of such a thing, but if they did, well we’d have to have a couple of beers together and come up with a solution. > > Jeez, people are typically friendly creatures, aren’t they? Couldn’t you just have a nice little chat about where the property line ends and take it from there? > > A slight hijack, but over the years here I’ve noticed you folks in the U.S. seem to place way more importance on property rights than I believe we do here in Canada: I mean to the point of actually suggesting that legal action or firearm displays are necessary for even the smallest little infractions. I remember a previous thread about a neighbour dismantling a piece of another neighbour’s fence without permission and by God all Hell was about to break loose because of it. > > Relax. Your first action should always be a civil and friendly discussion. I think a lot of the suggestions of violence are not meant to be serious … unless the bitch keeps dumping her trash in the OP’s yard. 😛 Sure grass clippings are biodegradable and not that big a deal but what about when she decides to dump her old couch in the woods, or the dead raccoon she found on the lawn, or her old toilet? Something has to be said before she thinks it’s okay to dump anything without permission. Sure it’s best handled as nicely as possible since it’s not that big a deal, yet. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/30 "2009-05-03T22:28:09Z")
You people have your own plots of _woodland_? With more then one tree? Large enough for someone to dump clippings, without some of it falling on a flower bed or a garden path or porch? Lucky bastards. Signed Maastricht, living in the Netherlans, one of the most densely populated area’s worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/31 "2009-05-03T22:40:43Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Apparently, I should not be pointing the lawn mower discharge to my neighbors yard? > > FTR, I usually discharge the lawn mower to my neighbors yard, and then mow down my neighbors property so it discharges back into my yard. It has simply never occurred to me to mow a lawn so that the discharge goes onto anyone else’s property. I don’t even remember my dad ordering me not to when I was a kid, though he may well have. But where I grew up, it was simply inconceivable. ---
**Author:** ![palacheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e57/32.png) [@palacheck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palacheck)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/32 "2009-05-03T23:47:38Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > You people have your own plots of _woodland_? With more then one tree? Large enough for someone to dump clippings, without some of it falling on a flower bed or a garden path or porch? > > Lucky bastards. > > Signed Maastricht, living in the Netherlans, one of the most densely populated area’s worldwide. We’re spoiled by all the space, but we’re paranoid it won’t last very long. That’s pretty much why we’ll shoot someone for walking by our property. We don’t want to end up in spacious 200 sq. ft. studios like you unlucky folks. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/33 "2009-05-03T23:59:34Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > You people have your own plots of _woodland_? With more then one tree? Large enough for someone to dump clippings, without some of it falling on a flower bed or a garden path or porch? > > Lucky bastards. > > Signed Maastricht, living in the Netherlans, one of the most densely populated area’s worldwide. Same here in Canada. City lots are postage-stamp sized, but all you need to do is go a few kilometres out of any city and lots become bigger. I’m literally a 30 minute drive from the parliament buildings in downtown Ottawa, yet I’m on a 2.5 acre lot with plenty of lawn and a small area of untouched bush. All my neighbours have at least 2 acres; that’s the code for septic systems here. One acre is about 376 square meters according to Google. On the plus side, lots of land. On the negative side, it takes an entire afternoon to cut the lawn (even with a riding mower). ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/34 "2009-05-04T00:21:44Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > A slight hijack, but over the years here I’ve noticed you folks in the U.S. seem to place way more importance on property rights than I believe we do here in Canada […] Relax. Your first action should always be a civil and friendly discussion. Shhhhh… quit giving away our secrets, or we won’t have anything left to be smugly superior about – especially now that we’re starting to make a respectable showing in the over-the-top fat-arse department. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/35 "2009-05-04T00:24:56Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > One acre is about 376 square meters according to Google. That’s way off. An acre is 43,560 square feet, or about 4,000 square meters (0.4 hectares). I can’t figure out any way to get 376 meters out of the conversion. My neighbors dump their grass clippings on my compost pile, but I’ve asked them to. If they dumped anything else, I’d be more than a little put out. ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/36 "2009-05-04T02:08:26Z")
How much of a hotie is your neighbor? Maybe it might be a good idea to work out a pro-quid-pro. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/37 "2009-05-04T02:27:16Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > That’s way off. An acre is 43,560 square feet, or about 4,000 square meters (0.4 hectares). I can’t figure out any way to get 376 meters out of the conversion. > > My neighbors dump their grass clippings on my compost pile, but I’ve asked them to. If they dumped anything else, I’d be more than a little put out. By golly, you’re right. I don’t know which source I stole that from but I’m way off. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/38 "2009-05-04T09:25:24Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > You people have your own plots of _woodland_? With more then one tree? Large enough for someone to dump clippings, without some of it falling on a flower bed or a garden path or porch? > > Lucky bastards. > > Signed Maastricht, living in the Netherlans, one of the most densely populated area’s worldwide. Maybe I shouldn’t mention that we have a house in the suburbs…but my husband also has a hunting lodge on 44 acres of West Texas scrublands. I keep telling him that he really, really needs to either rent out the farmland, or plant trees on it. I don’t know how many Dutch families could or would live in that acreage. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/39 "2009-05-04T09:27:23Z")
Oh, and we have half a dozen or so good sized trees on our plot in the city. We have quite a few more trees that are just saplings now. And every spring, I insist that we try to plant a fig tree. Every spring, we do plant one. And every year, that fig tree DIES. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120/40 "2009-05-04T09:45:04Z")
While it wasn’t exactly “neighborly” to do it without your permission, as others have mentioned, it is biodegradable clippings in the woods. Hardly a bio-hazard, although I admit a pile of grass clippings do stink after a short while in a bag, I would imagine outside it might not be so bad. Slightly off-topic: Why do people find it bad to have your garbage collector pick up bags of your bush/grass/tree clippings to take to the dump? Here in Las Vegas, re-cycling does NOT pick up clippings, so there isn’t really an alternative. Yes, I know it takes up space in landfills, but isn’t it about the best use of landfill - real bio-degradable vegetation? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-your-neighbor-dumping-clippings-in-your-woods-what-do-you-do/495120.md?page=3)