If a neighbor's hedge is growing taller or its branches are encroaching onto your property, the law allows you to ask them to trim it. According to the Civil Code, there are specific rules about how high a hedge can be and how far it must be planted from a property boundary. For hedges up to 2 meters tall, they must be planted at least 50 centimeters away from the boundary. For taller hedges, the minimum distance from the boundary is 2 meters. These measurements are taken from the middle of the shrubs' trunks to the property line and from the ground where the hedge is planted, respectively. However, local regulations or the thirty-year prescription may affect these rules. If a hedge has been over 2 meters tall for more than 30 years, the owner is no longer required to trim it under this rule. If branches from the hedge hang over onto your property, your neighbor is legally required to cut them back to the property boundary, as stated in Article 673 of the Civil Code. You can ask them to do this, but you must not trim the hedge yourself without their permission. If you trim your neighbor's hedge without their consent and cause damage, they may be able to claim compensation from you. However, you are allowed to cut roots and brambles that extend onto your property at the boundary. If the hedge is planted exactly on the boundary between two properties, it is considered a shared hedge and belongs to both neighbors, unless a property title proves otherwise. Each neighbor can trim their side of the hedge whenever they wish, without needing the other's permission. If your neighbor does not maintain their side, you can ask them to trim it or suggest hiring a gardener for the entire hedge and splitting the costs equally. If your neighbor refuses to trim their hedge, start by discussing the issue with them. If this does not resolve the problem, send a registered letter with a receipt that reminds them of the relevant rules, describes the problem, and sets a deadline for trimming. Include dated photos as evidence. If the issue persists, contact a free court mediator through your town hall before considering legal action. As a last resort, file a lawsuit with the judicial court. If you are right, the judge can order your neighbor to trim or even uproot the hedge, with a penalty meaning a sum to be paid per day of delay.