[trogg]

 The raspberry plants from neighbouring allotment are growing over the top of my beds, can I cut them back ?

There are no paths between us only some wooden posts to separate the plots and
in fairness to the plot-holder the raspberry's were already there when she was given her plot.

I know I'll have to speak to her at some point but I just wondered where I stand .  

thank you  

[Swing Swang]

If they're on your beds and you dont want them then get rid of them. You certainly won't do hers any harm. Don't cut them back though, pull them out and dig up the connecting roots - they're fairly shallow, so it's not too difficult.

[Digger Tom]

 I would presume that if they are encroaching onto your plot that you are quite within your rights to cut them back.
 I personaly would talk to her first & tell her what you are going to do.

[Slowgrind]

You could approach it with a sort of "Do you want those raspberries or are they mine? Only I've got plans for that stretch soon and they could do with moving" Then act on the response. It'll either be all out war or a pleasant surprise!
                                                                                                   

[trogg]

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear  I'm not having trouble with the raspberry's growing up through the beds, it's just that they are starting to get very big and bushy.

We are both new to all this and I don't want to fall out with her over such a small thing, everybody I've spoke to so far on the allotments have been very friendly to me, but I know a few people have fallen out with each other over what seems to me very petty stuff .

[Elcie]

You are not my neighbour are you! 

When I got my plot there was a small rasperrby cane right at the edge of my plot.  That has now increased and some are coming up in my neighbour's plot.  I spoke to them and explained the situation and said that they could either get rid of them or use them and eat any fruit that grew on their part.

They were fine about this and said that was great.  If I were you I would mention it.  No one should have to put up with their neighbour's stuff encroaching on their space.

[scabs]

I think if you speak to her politely and in a friendly manner, explain that they are encroaching on the bed and offer to dig out and if necessary help her relocate them, she'd be fine with that.

no point beating around the bush. Ahem.

I wouldn't do anything without having a chat first though, THAT's how disputes can start.

[stompy]

You have to ask permission to remove or to cut anything back.
It is classified as willfull damage to their property otherwise.

Try being polite to them and ask if you can cut them back or tie them in to a stake so they don't fall over onto your plot.
If that fails you will have to go through the site secretary or even the land owners, ie, council or private.

There is another way, but i don't like it when it's dark on the allotment on my own with a pair of secateurs 

[JayG]

No matter what the outcome of your negotiations (other than moving them out of the way) the trouble is that raspberries can and do spread - I have had suckers sprouting up 6 feet or more from the row which is unacceptable in my small plot.

They can be contained though; my solution is to use a sharp spade to slice vertically downwards a spade's depth into the soil about 18" or so away and parallel to the row to sever the roots and potential suckers at this point.

You will need to pull out the suckers and (shallow) roots which have already established but it will keep them in check for a while (not a permanent cure of course; some have gone for more permanent solutions like physical barriers sunk into the ground.)

[mumofstig]

I was really surprised by how quickly they sucker

I planted mine, as a stopgap, in the back of an overgrown flower border.
This year I dug them up to move them and so I could reclaim the flower bit.
A few weeks after removing them, with...I thought, all their roots...all the little bits of root left behind began to sprout I potted them up and now have 2 x as many raspberries as I started with

It did take ages to clear the bits from the boder before I replanted flowers though

A warning to us all I suppose....don't plant them near to a boundary...they are monsters

[trogg]

A bit of bad planning by me    I did notice what to me looked like some dead sticks in the ground, so I just went ahead and built my raised beds next to them    didn't realise they would grow faster than my weeds .

I have three beds that are effected, one has potatoes already growing in it, one I was going to plant some sweetcorn, so that should be ok, and the other was going to be parsnip, but what I think I shall do is to put some comfrey plants in the effected end of the beds.

And next year I'll shorted the beds a little and put my compost bins there.

Hopefully I'll see her the weekend and have a little chat and see.

[scabs]

If you are reasonable with her, I can't see she'd have a problem taking them back a way, especially if she has that many. 

[jhub]

Hiya,

if this situation arises in a garden you are entitled to cut overhanging branches etc but you have to offer the cuttings to their owner- strange but true!
Jane