You need to extend your landscaping to the street creating a border between you and your neighbor. Either that or plant 2 or more small trees or bushes staggered at your border. He won't be able to cut his crisp line on your property that way.

How about a hedge of knock-out roses? They grow pretty quickly, they're incredibly easy to maintain and you can keep them as small or as large as you'd like.

seems like it would look even worse to have a row of rocks there.

ask your neighbour first? why assume he won't do it?

Monkey grass might be a good option. It could be planted right on the property line, and it's easy to mow up to and under the grasses. Harder landscaping could be pavers or landscape timbers, again with monkey grass in the middle. Or if you want some privacy as well, there are flowering bushes that grow to 3 or 4 feet in height, including azaleas or hydrangeas. Or you could just lay a line of bricks marking the property line. That would be easy to mow over, and it would separate the yards with little or no muss.

Gotta say that both houses are really nice with lovely yards. I think yours is the one on the left, based on the taller grass.

Hmmm.... this gets tricky. Before you put anything (plants, stone or other) close to the line, make sure you know where the line actually is. You may need to have a survey done (it cost one of my neighbors $700 for a survey on a 4000sf lot) to ensure you put the plants or stone in the right spot. In our area outside Boston, the property lines are not known even by the town, hence the need for surveys before any work is done.

Personally, I would create a bigger planted bed, that continues with what you have going on in the bed next to the front of the house. It will provide continuity & look amazing, plus be less lawn to water & mow. Think plants that will be about 3 feet tall in the back, max 2 feet in front of it, then about 1 foot tall in front of that & then ground cover to the edge of the grass. The plants will fill in over time & you won't have to weed or mulch much if you use perennials good for your zone & sun/ shade mix. Take your time with this so you can build it slowly (goodness knows, plants are expensive!!!).

And do have a discussion with the neighbors. Tell them you aren't certain of the property line & that you want to make sure both lawns remain looking amazing. If you approach them nicely, you can hope for a good reply :) You can tell them of your plan to have a survey done (if necessary) & of what you'd like to put in to create a border of the lawns.

Good luck & let us know what you end up doing.

I've seen this done in other similar neighborhoods, just make a small plant bed that matches the ones next to your entryway/home at the 2 front corners of your property. One example use fencing and flowers to show where the corner is: http://www.paintideas.com/Paintideas/projects/232/all-fenced-in

You could try to define the edge with mowing. Schedule your mowing two days after theirs and mow all of your property. Another thing you could do is use a nicer grass than them. Your lawn looks really nice already but if you used a richer shade of green that separated your lawn form theirs that would define the line.

Now that my post has trailed on to bore the do gooders. Throw cheap seeds into their yard to degrade the quality of their lawn. you could use weed killer or round up, but that is overkill. The point is to make each lawn look different to separate space.

Good fences make good neighbors.

One more thing, go in with them to have your lawn mowed together at the same time so that there is no difference in lawn, It might look nicer.

You're complaining about your neighbor stepping on your grass? {{rolling eyes}} Landscape the border all the way to the street if it bugs you that much.
I once saw two of my grandmother's neighbors fighting over a tree that grew on the border between their two properties. It escalated to a screaming match on a frequent basis until one of their sons took and ax to the offending branches. Problem solved. The son kept most of the fruit tree in his mother's yard; the neighbor got nothing.
Good luck

If yours is the house on the left in the pic the simple thing to do is extend that mulch planting bed I see curving out all the way to the curb. Make sure to keep it all on your side of the property line (and make sure you know where the actual property line is). Plant with some dwarf evergreens or that monkey grass for a nice division.

A lowish white picket fence?

Good fences make good neighbors, and lawns are a huge waste of water and resources (watering, fertilizing treating with pesticide and herbicide...then mowing and discarding the clippings in landfills). Install a fence and use your lawn to grow food.

I love the band of darker grass where your neighbor clearly mowed into your yard... oh suburbs. I agree with everyone who suggested planting something at the property line. I think that pavers in a line may seem a little passive-aggressive.

our neighbor put in a pea gravel path that extends from the landscaping in front of his house down the property line between our houses, and planted a variety of tall grasses throughout the gravel. It actually looks really good (almost looks like it's ours because we have a lot of nice landscaping), and does the trick of defining the property line AND adding some privacy. He cuts it down at the end of the season, and it comes back beautifully every year. Simple and nice.

@ Rural And Rueful -- hah! I was thinking fences make for the best neighbors, and this complainer's neighbor would benefit from a fence to make Stefan a better neighbor.

Stefan, if you won't put in a fence or extend your perennial bed or put in some kind of hard scaping -- all obvious solutions, then it sounds like what you really wanted was to have your indignity over your neighbor's lowly lawn validated.

I think a cocktail would do you far better than any of the above.

Your neighbor probably believes his property extends further, and that's why he is continuing to maintain it. In TX, if you maintain/improve upon a piece of property for ten years without anyone else contesting ownership, you can claim that property through adverse possession. It's always a good idea to be aware of your actual property boundaries. Good Luck!

First, have someone from the city come and mark the property line. You don't want to do something and find that you're actually a foot off -- this can and does happen to people.

Extend that rounded planted area into a point along the edge of the line. It doesn't need to go all the way to the front of the lawn, it just needs to provide a flat edge to indicate where the line is. I photoshopped a quick example here. It can be whatever shape you like, but the key is giving it a straight edge along the property line.

razor wire, spotlights and guard dogs! actually, i agree with @lowbrowlawnparty.

Don't do pavers, bricks, or anything too low- it will just look like a strange path between the houses. If you would like a visual separation then I agree with @stationeryfiend - a white picket fence running around your entire property could look very pretty.

Tell you neighbour that you are planning some landscaping projects and are having the property surveyed to ensure that you don't encroach on *his* land. That will explain away the surveyors and any markings you put down. Then just plant whatever you like or put down stones or whatever.

Be prepared for some backlash or resentment when the survey shows that your neighbour is mistaken about where the line is and that his property is smaller than he thought. Document everything really well, just in case.

just ask him to stop? This seems kind of petty.

I think MELISSAPAULINE has the best advice for what to say to your neighbor in conjunction with getting a survey, which is definitely necessary. And I like KCJONESEVANS's suggestion of some kind of landscaping that marks the corner of your property. It's less aggressive than lining the entire property line, but it would mark it clearly -- your neighbor's mowing would be obviously wrong if it dipped in past the corner you've marked.

#firstworldproblems

@melissapauline wins for "most constructive comment" as it seems the property line is more the issue than how to distinguish it.

I like the idea of getting the lawn mowed together so there are no lines. Every time I have seen a yard that tries to define their space, it looks like that's what they are trying to do and in my opinion always looks worse.

How do you know he mows 2 feet into your yard? Maybe your tall grass is encroaching two feet into his yard? He might be complaining about his neighbor right now who doesn't mow his lawn enough and leaves it too long! (Not everybody is aware of the advantages of leaving grass long).
There is a reason they say fences make good neighbors.
If you build a fence, his side and your side are clearly defined and you can let this go. Put one on the other side of your property too, before they start mowing your lawn as well. Discuss the location of the fence with your neighbors, buy something that looks nice (no vinyl) and then move on.
If they fight you about the fence, have your property surveyed and find out how close to the property line you can put a fence and put it there.
If you plant shrubs, he will start trimming them and you will get annoyed with him for that.
Putting down a line of stones is way too passive aggressive and will just make the situation worse.

Get rid of all the grass and make a nice flower garden with stones or mulch in between and a white picket fence.

get a survey ASAP., as you clearly have different ideas about where the line is, you need to settle that as quickly as possible. As for what to put, give him a list of options/ideas, and let him decide what options he likes best, so you can make a mutual decision. Don't let it be a unilateral decision, because that feels too possessive for a boundary marker.

maybe a split rail fence??? like this one http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-homesteading/cedar-split-rail-fence-zm0z05zsie.aspx

Boundaries matter. Regarding the post an adverse possession, I remember reading about a couple in Boulder, CO, who bought and held --for years-- an undeveloped lot that they hoped to build on some day. A neighbor to that that lot was consistently mowing into one side of it and using that cleared strip as access to part of his home. When it came time for the property owners to build on the lot, the neighbor claimed the strip was his by adverse possession and that made the lot too small for development, and made it worthless to sell.

Mark your boundaries.

How about a nice hedge row of forsythia between the lawns? My mother had a similar situation in her yard and planted a forsythia border. Provided beauty and privacy as it grew and thickened over the years.

Amicably settle the property line with your neighbor like melissapauline suggested, and then monkey grass, a hedgerow or a picket fence will do the trick nicely.

Stefan - if you live in a subdivision your property line "PL" may likely fall on the crack/seam between segments of the sidewalk. During construction the sidewalk is usually poured from PL to PL in the construction sequence of each home. It is also likely that an iron pin "IP" or piece of steel re-bar marks the property line just behind the curb or just behind the sidewalk. The IP will be below the turf but easily found with a metal detector. If you were to schedule a consultation for a fence quote the salesman would likely search for the IP in order to confirm the property line and fence dimensions. In addition to this you may also consider dividing the distance between the walls of you and your neighbors house and the "Drip Line" or overhang of each roof to find that the connected line from here to the IP is suitable for determining the property line. If you intend to install a fence or modify the Landscape then you'll want to confirm this line before construction. Also, check your closing documents for your home. A survey of the property should be included and will provide some helpful measurements as well as the surveyor's contact info who created the survey should you need to call them. Lastly, perform a Google search to see if your county/municipality has a GIS system that's available online and may provide you with GPS or other coordinates for your property corners.

Once the PL is defined any of the solutions offered above are suitable. If you choose to install landscaping be sure to allow for growth so that your new plants, in time, do not encroach onto your neighbors property.

My yard is about the same size as those in the picture. We have two small flowering trees planted right on our side of the property line that have been here since we bought the house. There is a very clear line of where the neighbor's property ends, and if they go any further, they have these two little trees to mow around. It doesn't overwhelm our yard, and it's also not offensive to the neighbor, which is a plus. It's actually a nice little touch to our plain front yard. Hope this helps.

Could it be, just maybe, that your neighbor thinks he is being nice by mowing that extra strip of land - trying to save you a little time when you mow? People's thought processes don't always make sense to the target, but it's possible. I guess I say this because when I was a teenager and mowing my lawn twice a week, I always went over the edge to try to "do a little favor" to our kind neighbors. After reading this post and subsequent comments, I never dreamed that maybe I was just making them mad all that time!

Follow MelissaPauline's advice, as well as consider landscaping the corner. That is, if a reasonable civil discussion with your neighbor doesn't sort it out to your satisfaction.

In some places, it's customary to mow a couple of feet into your neighbor's yard. Your neighbor is probably wondering why you aren't following suit when you mow.

Oh no. Headline in 5 years: "Neighbor strangled over trespassing mower."

Both homes are gorgeous and well kept, but I do recognize that the slight difference in lawn shade could stand to be corrected. I agree that some type of flowering plant would work best as a divide--maybe rose bushes? That way, both you *and* your neighbor will benefit and will be an act of good will. However, since your neighbor is already overstepping his property I'm afraid a survey is a necessity -- so get the property line marked out before planting and let your neighbor know what's going on. Try to keep this from devolving into a territorial dispute if you can.

Is your house on the left or right? Either way I would extend the bed to the sidewalk and create a big bed. This will then show between the sidewalk and street for your neighbor not to mow your lawn there. Something like this...

l = bed/landscape

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
llllllllllllll
llllll
GRASS lll NEIGHBOR'S YARD
lll
llllllllllll
lllllllllllllllllll
SIDEWALK-SIDEWALK-

ALL GRASS-ALL GRASS

ROAD-ROAD-ROAD-ROAD

I agree with those who suggested extended the mulched bed to the sidewalk and planting something there. I would probably go for decorative grasses as they visually pleasing even in winter, and they are quite drought resistant.

Do you have a survey and do you actually know where the property line is? Did you ever talk to your neighbour about him cutting your 2 ft of lawn? Is the neibhbour approachable?
I would try to maintain good neighbourly relations and talk to him first. If you need to have a survey done, then Melissa's suggestion was great.

I believe that here in Ontario, or at least in my municipality, is a law that says if the property line is undisputed for X years it becomes legally valid. I.e. if the neighbour is in the wrong and really cutting 2 ft of your property it may become an issue down the road. Find out.

@NDprairiegirl: to assume the neighbors is doing him a favor or "being nice" is a big mistake. Get a survey and KNOW where the line is. Nobody needs to be doing favors.

@Rural and rueful: are you really serious about your belief that "lawns are a huge waste of water and resources (watering, fertilizing treating with pesticide and herbicide...then mowing and discarding the clippings in landfills..." Where the hell do you live that people are doing that? How is open green space bad for the environment? Who puts lawn clippings in the garbage??

Maybe I'm lucky but neither I or any of my neighbors do things like that, first of all it's cost prohibitive, second - it's more work than anyone has time to do!

I used to live in a townhouse where we had to mow our own front lawns. My roommates and I would always mow our lawn and the neighbors' on either side as an act of goodwill. They both appreciated it.

I agree that before you put anything up that you should make sure that you're on your own property and not jsut where either of you think your PL is (he probably thinks it's further over or you might be thinking it's further over).

I think the easiest would be to add a headge on either sind of your property. Depending on your zone Cotoneasters make great hedges and they're realitively cheap and grow fairly quick. You can cut them to any height, width and shape.

Or once you've found your PL continue the planting bed you already have down the side of your property. You can always add a stepping stone into the bed if you need to get the the grass on the side of your house past the planting bed.

He probably mows that part of your grass because he figures it either belongs to him or that you wont mind because it's behind your planting bed (and then he goes forward in a straight line)

Something like this might look really nice. It would add some colour and interest to your front yard. You could tie in the new bed with your old one by adding some rocks to your old and putting the same mulch in the new.

http://allanbecker-gardenguru.squarespace.com/storage/IMG-1499.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1249338082468

If you do put in a hedge, fence or planting bed it's better to be safe an go a couple inches into your proprty for the edge. That way he can't complain if it's directly over the property line.

strange, the image I've linked to wants you to download the picture. If anyone wants to look at it but not download the original is here:

Under August 2009 - The Big Brown Fence

http://allanbecker-gardenguru.squarespace.com/journal/tag/achillea

sorry for another post ---- in the photo above, ignore the brown fence, I'm jsut talking about the planting bed. (it's half way down the page)

@ShellyIN and @NDprairiegirl I agree that it's totally possible that the neighbor is doing this to be nice or because it is customary. My neighbor and I do this in the part of our yards that aren't separated. I always support thinking the best of your neighbor and trying a friendly chat first!

Another thing to consider - adding any barrier between your yards will increase the amount of maintenance (weed-whacking, edging, trimming, weeding, etc) that you each have to do. If you are particular about how this border looks, keep in mind that your neighbor may not maintain their side in the manner you want.

My neighbor and I used to have a split rail fence between our yards, but it was a pain to mow under/around and always looked weedy. Now we have a landscape bed between most of our yards. We discussed it and both wanted to have that area - but it does mean that we both have to edge/trim there and weed the beds.

Gee, the neighbor's property has a much larger appearance because of this stunt. Since this neighbor mows 2 feet into your yard, he is sending you a message about the property line, otherwise, he would mow your entire lawn. He has stopped right at the outer edge of your flower bed, but left plenty of space around his own. You could ask why he mows so far into your yard or you might ask/tell him to stop doing it on your property.

I agree with @TALLSARAH: Get a professional survey done. This may seem like a silly problem to some AT readers. However, there are some cities/towns where neighbors "take" your property because they either install fences or home additions on a neighbor's property by a few inches or sometimes a few feet. Surprisingly, many get away with it. Just look out for permanent changes to the property line by your neighbor.

BTW, nice house and yard!

PS My dad often mowed the (senior citizen) neighbor's yard, along with his own. Said it was no problem, since he was already in the yard for the morning.

jess13

Lawns are a waste, there is no arguing this. They serve one purpose, that is they look nice when properly maintained, few people will actually sit out on their front lawn, in the majority of cases it goes unused. A garden provides more ecological benefit to all living creatures. Most areas of the united states do not have the right climate to naturally support a lawn in the first place, you have to water and water and water. It's estimated that 50-70% of residential water use is used on watering lawns. Even if you live in an area which high rainfall, the pollutants from maintaining a lawn (mowing, fertilzers, pesticides) are extremely high, again multiply this by nearly every home in the united states having a lawn and you see how it's a huge waste.

Certain cities/counties are offering rebates to homeowners who remove their lawns. I took advantage of this in 2010 in Long Beach in removing my front lawn and replacing with a drought tolerant rock garden filled with native plants, cactus, and succulents. I only water it once a month during the hot dry summer months. My water bill dropped almost $100/mo, and the maitenance is extremely low (I trim back a few plants 1-2 a year). Not to mention the city gave me $2.50/square foot that I converted. Honestly I would have still done it without the cities help.

Anyways, I'm not advocating everyone rip out their lawns, but you are delusional if you come to the conclusion that it is not wasteful having an expanse of grass on your property that must be regularly mowed, watered, fertilized,

Ha! Nice to affirm that I am the bad neighbor in my neighborhood! My two neighbors and I mow a few feet over each-other's lawns as a friendly custom. Same with raking and snow removal. I have a low-ish impact lawn with no sprinklers or pesticides...so my meadow isn't as manicured as their fairways. But we've talked about it, and they are cool...shoot...I'd be willing to give them my lawn--take it, please!

First, talk to your neighbor about the situation and see what you can agree to before renovating your yard. Maybe take turns mowing each other's lawns. If you feel you need to do something more, found out where the property line is before going forward. Then extend your landscaping with native plant materials that will require less maintenance. Or, install a short fence along the property line. If there is a swale between properties, you can install fabric, gravel, and smooth, rocks to help with drainage and erosion and still create a seperation. I have even seen property owners install a 4"-6" wide concrete "mow strip" between yards- a bit drastic and can seem as though the neighbors are anti-social.

I'm with all the other posters. Why the brouhaha when there has existed a perfect solution to this for centuries...a fence. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Just make a fence of it. ;-)

@jess13 Are YOU really serious when you say "How is open green space bad for the environment?" While lawns can certainly be the easiest landscaping to maintain, they have significant issues with the inputs/resources they consume. Look into:

Lawns as the US's biggest "crop"
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/050516/16lawn.htm

Water Use - Nationally, outdoor irrigation accounts for 30% of residential water use. http://www.epa.gov/watersense/outdoor/landscaping.html

Fertilizer Use - Homeowners are likely to over fertilize and this fertilizer pollutes the streams/rivers/lakes downstream. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-fertilizers-harm-earth

Air Quality - Gas powered lawn mowers cause air quality problems. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/19-yard.pdf

Grass Clipping - While many communities don't allow grass clipping to go in the trash, some do and there are still education efforts to get people to stop doing this! http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2718&q=325364

I completely agree with getting the survey done to make sure everyone knows where the property line is. As for the comments about "good fences make good neighbors"... I would like to direct you to Robert Frost's poem Mending Wall. Here is a quick synopsis of it from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mending_Wall

Unless your neighbors have exhibited bad behavior in other ways, I think they are actually trying to extend a nicety. My neighbors and I regularly do things like this (and no, we're not best buds, just amicable neighbors) even shoveling extra snow where sidewalks overlap and such in the winters. Unless you have your heart set on some new landscaping (which is doesn't sound like you do) I would try to relax about the whole issue and think of ways to extend the favor in this or other ways. It might make you feel good! And I mean that sincerely, not in a snide way. Boundaries are best kept fungible unless there is a serious problem.

@Jess13 - Why would it ever be a "big mistake" to think the best of someone and give people the benefit of the doubt unless they prove you wrong?

Get over it and spend your energy on something else.

Or have a survey done and then install a fence. Let your neighbor know in advance though, through casual backyard conversation. People don't like surprises.

If you could get some nice logs I think this could look really nice, and with some muscle it is portable in case there is a dispute about property lines :)

http://media-cache-ec8.pinterest.com/upload/79376012152703722_l0P84oVp.jpg

@jess13-- yes, I am serious. Yes, lawn clippings from urban and suburban lawns (and commercial) largely get hauled to landfill. Some communities have green waste pickup, but by no means all. Some people compost lawn clippings, but if you think most do you must believe fairies live at the bottom of your garden. In a backyard or in a more rural front yard you can get away with using a messy mulching mower, but those manicured lawns in the photo are being mowed conventionally (that, the clippings hauled away). Homeowner associations can be absolutely fascist about such things.

Most lawn clippings are laced with so many chemicals anyway, that I would not compost them. I keep my property natural, browning and greening with the seasons, except for one small shaded lawn of clover. That's for the dogs to lie on.

As for the link to the Frost poem, MarekL: get back to me when you've had a property line dispute. It's so easy to pass judgement on something when you haven't experienced it yourself.

Fences...good.

Fences....clear.

Resentment...bad.

Passive aggressive mowing...bad.

Hasta's are another nice border plant that are easy to mow under, require minimal upkeep, and look nice!

Yeah, this screams for the need of a survey and a nice fence.

Meh? You really love this space? - go out to your lawn and play some frisbee or something - use the space, heck, use your neighbor's space. No problem? Then it's either the first time you've ever considered this entitlement issue, or it's just that two strangers can get along in the same half-acre: GIVE ME A BREAK. What are you so desperate to use for that front yard? What have you actually used your front yard for in the last year?

REALLY, how bad is it? Do you use every square inch of your front yard and you're worried you don't have enough? Has your neighbor decided s(he) is going to drill for oil in the area shared and get rich?

If your neighbor was building a giant wall into your property, I'd understand, but it appears that they are just mowing the grass they think needs to be mowed. Seriously, the self-entitlement attitude is such a waste of time and space. This is *not* a topic for apt therapy (although it did generate a lot of comments lol)

We don't have a "lawn" per se, as in something we fertilize, water, and/or primp and preen over, but we do have some grass. We mow it w/a hand mower and the cuttings just stay put where they lie.

I agree w/those who advocate for a veggie garden in lieu of a lawn. I think it would look really cool, and would project a good message (i.e., grow your own food while making good use of available space/resources). A combo flower/veggie garden would be nice also.

Try it, and -- who knows? -- you might start a trend.

Looks like a pretty large tree between the houses. If he is on the right (assuming, based on the way the picture looks) and is claiming that extra two feet, you might want to just be grateful because then the tree is in his yard if part of that tree falls on your roof and causes damages.

a couple of big rocks should do it

You would be amazed at how quickly you can grow a hedge. I planted one between our house and our neighbor's house (and unsightly garbage cans that she never puts away) and in less than two years, that hedge is now five feet tall!! I'm thrilled. I planted Pittisporum Variegated Mock Orange and it is such a pretty hedge. An even faster hedge is Photinia. Honestly there are lots of types of plants that will grow very quickly into a lovely tall hedge. The key is watering very well in the first year to establish the roots. After that, hedges don't need much water and they are great for privacy.

If this has already been mentioned, I'm sorry. It seems he is lining up his mower with the edge of the planting bed next to the house. If you enlarged it (move it towards his house to the property line) he would have another visual to aim for. I did this with my house (not for the same reason) and neither neighbor mows into my yard. Also, some people consider it polite to mow or shovel snow or whatever tedious chore a little into their neighbor's yard making sure they aren't leaving behind some work. They may be from this era and are thinking they are being nice not annoying. Good luck.

definitely #firstworldproblems who ever said that above lol

Agree with first commenter, Duane. Extend your landscaping and your border all the way down across the sidewalk to the street. I think this is also an opportunity to introduce curves into an otherwise "boxy" looking frontward.

frontward = front yard

i cannot believe this is a real problem that someone felt the need to ask the public about

he's mowing in line with the edge of your garden bed - just extend the curve of the garden bed a tad.

This is not a judgement on the poster, but an honest, putting myself in someone else's shoes comment: if my neighbor came to me and asked me to stop mowing one mower's width into the perceived boundary of their yard, I would not think highly of them.

How about a line of duct tape to mark off the border?

"i cannot believe this is a real problem that someone felt the need to ask the public about"
--AART

Amen to that.

Looks like the space you're worrying about is the space between your flower bed and his. He may just figure that it's easier to edge his flower bed using the mower, and then extend the line to the curb to make it look even, and not think it's a big deal.
If you have a good relationship with him, mention casually that you've been thinking of doing some landscaping and are going to get a professional survey done so you don't encroach on his land - so he doesn't think you're being underhanded. (If you have a REALLY good relationship, just mention that you're trying to mow your lawn a little less frequently and ask if it's more convenient for you to edge that bed for him.)
If you do decide to go for a divider, make sure that:
1. Whatever you plant or install requires no maintenance on his side and won't shed on his lawn.
2. Whatever you do on that side, you mimic on the other.
Personally, I might opt for a row of low ornamental grasses; alternately, do a straight line along the property line and then curves on your side for a garden that uses herbs as the plants (clumps of thyme and well-pruned basil are actually really pretty, and would match with the aesthetic of your existing beds). Plus, bonus, you can offer them access to your herbs as a way to soothe bruised egos.

I have no opinion about the lawn issue itself, but it seems unnecessary to insult the original poster by calling this a "first world problem" or suggesting that he "get over it." Obviously, this is a "first world problem"--it's a question posed on a design blog! If you find these kinds of questions upsetting or irritating, don't go to the website in the first place! As for people saying, "Get over it," it seems to me that the OP asked a simple question and received many straightforward answers. He wasn't asking for value judgments or "tough love" therapy. If you don't like the question, don't read the post--but don't insult people who seek or give advice in a perfectly appropriate venue.

Thanks to everyone for the advice! Lots of great feedback. Thanks to Splitty in the comment above, those were my thoughts exactly. The main problem wasn't just wanting my neighbor not to mow over the line, but a clear visual separation. It is a rental property, where the only upkeep is mowing the lawn short. No nice sidewalk edging or anything like that. I do know where the property line is, running almost directly through the middle of the tree between our house, so he is definitely mowing into my lawn. I like the idea of the small beds at the corners of the property. I might combine a paver line with something like that, to still separate the root systems of our lawns. Thanks again for all the advice everyone, I'll let you know what we decide!

First of all get the property checked by a county official to make sure both you and your neighbor know where the property line is. Either of you could be off.

Afterwards a short rock wall could look nice and would be a definite boundary of where the neighbor needs to stop mowing. :)

First, plant a nice tree. In a few years, when it is large enough to cast shade on the area in question, place a wonderful, bulky and heavy, white wooden bench right on the property line. Be sure to make a little seating area with some chairs. Add appropriate seasonal accents. No way a neighbor is going to move your stuff around in order to mow.

I would make a flower bed about 18" wide (onto your side, unless your neighbour agrees, then centre it), and make a little hedge of boxwoods. They are only a couple of feet high, and look nice and neat and "tailored".

We had exactly the same problem in our new home. Our neighbor likes his grass golf-course-short and we're trying to encourage a healthy lawn (that we want to convert to no grass at all eventually) and minimal mowing. We knew the look of a traditional suburban lawn was important to our neighbor because we had our lawn mowed for us one day whole we were out. We wanted to respect our neighbor's values as well as ours so we talked with our local garden center about what would work in our area (we live in the Northeast). We planted three hemlocks (very cost-effective) on a staggered line right inside our side of the property line's boundary. Not only did this work for visual separation, but it also tricks our eyes into thinking our front yard is bigger (thank you, perspective). The key: of course, we talked with our neighbor before we planted! Good luck, and remember, mutual respect is king.

Oops... WHILE we were out. Sorry!

I agree about a survey. You also need to check with your city/village on restrictions. Fencing usually needs to be set back a certain number of feet from the street. I would not plant anything that is going to grow into or over his yard(trees) that will be in his way when he wants to mow. Really the first thing you should do is talk to your neighbor and explain what you are trying to accomplish with your yard. Ask him to please try to not mow into your yard and let him know how much you would appreciate it.

I agree with you and that is what I am wish to do too! but there's no one done this in my neighborhood and built a fence for growing in the front which i feel so outstanding!