Hey yall! Recently I’ve had to fix my mailbox twice – once it was hanging in by a thread and the second time it was leaning pretty bad. My neighbor got a new truck which I’m assuming is what is hitting my mailbox – I haven’t accused him of it because I’m not sure. However today I noticed that he uses my tree lawn, side walk, and grass to back into his driveway. Since we’ve had snow and ice it’s beginning to become a muddied up mess. I watched him three different times today back in using my yard. He literally pulls into my yard to then back in instead of going past his driveway to back in like you typically would to back into a driveway.
Me being me, I know I reactive I am so I had my boyfriend simply ask him to not use my yard. His response was “it’s just hard to back in that’s why I do it.”
AITA for thinking he shouldn’t use my yard???
Mind you I keep up with my yard in the summer and it’s very well taken care of.
also a tree lawn is the strip of grass between the side and street.
It goes grass – side walk – tree lawn- street. He’s using the treelawn, sidewalk, and some of my grass to back in. Hope this helps 🤣
NTA, time to deploy a tactical boulder or two
NTA – dude is just being lazy. Time to put some big decorative boulders at the edge of your lawn. A lovely alpine garden just in that corner, I’d say.
I think that decorative yard boulders would make a nice boundary between his yard and yours. Also, a metal pole hidden in your mailbox post would prevent it from leaning.
NTA. Tell him to wreck his own lawn. Take pics / video of him doing this and ask for his insurance. When he asks why, advise him its to send them videos and a bill for a new mailbox and landscaping repairs in the spring. Bet he never uses your lawn again.
NTA him not knowing how to drive is not justification for damaging your property
NTA, *but* you need to be the one to tell him.
Just level with him: Your truck is ruining my yard. This has to stop. Period. I know it’s hard to pull your truck in. I know it’s more convenient for you to just pull up on my lawn. Too bad. You’re literally destroying my property. No more.
Time for tubular steel posts set in concrete.
Big ass rocks.
NTA
Get your mailbox bricked in. Then he’d be less likely to use your yard if he going to damage his truck.
Also add some boulders, fencing, or other landscaping to block his access.
It doesn’t matter if it’s hard for him. It’s not his property. He shouldn’t have bought the truck.
A couple of well placed landscape boulders should fix that!
NTA.
“But it’s literally not a driveway. It’s my yard. I don’t care how hard it is for you to park in a driveway, this is not your property and you’re ruining it.”
If he doesn’t stop go get some big ass boulders.
NTA. But you need to adult up, check your “reactive” tendencies (what are you, a dog? “I know I reactive I am”….that’s not a great thing to say about yourself if it means you’re unable to have polite conversations with people – work on that, it will improve your quality of life significantly) and have the conversation.
“Neighbor, your truck is damaging my yard. Please stop using it to back into your driveway.”
If he persists, you may politely give him one additional follow up. “Neighbor, do not use my yard as extra space to back into your driveway.”
And if he continues?
Boulders. Boulders are excellent. FAFO.
No arguments needed, no high-octane conversations, just a statement & a reasonable request, and if he fails to improve – a solution.
“it’s just hard to back in that’s why I do it.”
Yeah, so…it’s just ruining my lawn, so don’t do it. (smile)
NTA
If you’re unable to park your vehicle you either have too much vehicle or shouldn’t be driving.
NTA. Big rocks in that area of the yard.
Had to google tree lawn. I’ve never heard that term before. TIL.