EXPERTS have revealed the five little-known gardening mistakes that could land you with a fine or even prison time.
While the majority of people are sprucing up their green spaces for summer, and the decent weather, there are a whole host of laws in place that they could be accidentally breaking in doing so.
And now, the home insurance team at Compare the Market have put together a list of the most commonly-broken garden laws, and their potential penalties.
First up, growing Japanese Knotweed.
This fast-growing invasive plant is notoriously difficult to get rid of.
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While it's not illegal to have Japanese Knotweed on private property, planting it or allowing it to grow in the wild is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In fact, you could face fines of up to £5,000 if you allow Japanese Knotweed to spread into natural areas.
In addition, "if contaminated soil or plant material from any waste transfer leads to the spread of Japanese Knotweed in the wild, UK residents could face a prison term of up to two years".
A similar situation could occur if you grow any non-native plant species.
According to the The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, a resident may receive an unlimited fine or up to two years' imprisonment if they - either accidentally or intentionally - introduce plants where they don't belong.
This is because these kind of plants can end up having a detrimental impact on the ecosystem.
The final offence is to use a hose in the garden during a hosepipe ban.
If there's a ban in place, and you are found to be using your hosepipe unnecessarily, you could face a fine of up to £1,000.
However, there are a few exceptions - such as watering a lawn that's been freshly laid in the last 28 days.
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You should also be careful with erecting excessively high fences and hedges.
Under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, you could be hit with a £1,000 fine if your local authority issues a notice to you to reduce the height of the fence or hedge - prompted by a neighbour's complaint.
To keep your neighbours happy, it's also worth keeping noise nuisance in your garden to a minimum as much as possible.
The Environmental Protection Act of 1990 states that noise is a statutory nuisance if it "unreasonably and substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises".
If a complaint is made, the council can issue a warning to stop or reduce the noise.
If the warning is ignored and the noise continues, fines can be issued for £110 for homes and £500 for licensed premises, which increases to £1,000 if not paid within 14 days.
Anna McEntee from the home insurance team at Compare the Market, commented: “Before you start working on your garden this summer, make sure to check all the regulations involved with the work you’re carrying out.
"You can find more information on government websites, or contact your local planning authority.
“Home insurance policies usually include coverage for structures like sheds, fences, and decking, but changes to these structures can affect coverage. Make sure to review your policy terms to understand what is covered, and check the exclusions and conditions.
"If you're planning to make significant changes in your garden, inform your insurer to ensure your policy still meets your needs."
