Need some ideas

[sunshiinedays]

Here's the situation: I live right beside a park/playground/soccer field. My propert borders on park property. My shed sits very close to this border, among some big trees. Lately I've had a lot of problems with children running around th back of my property, close to the shed. Some have thrown rocks and banged it with sticks and it's been dented (it's aluminum, not very durable). Some of the kids who have done it have done it repeatedly, after I've asked them to stop several times. I've talked to one boy's mother. The others, I have no idea who their parents are or where they live.

I can't afford to fence the area in. I don't want to complain to Parks & Rec because I don't want them to put up an ugly chain link fence up either. I don't know if putting a provate property sign would do any good (I doubt half the kids could read it anyway). If it weren't for the trees I might tie my dog up out there, but he'd get hopelessly entangled, and might encourage the children to hang around even more. It's not practical or possible to be out there every soccer night, when it usually happens, or other times.

What I need are some creative ideas to keep the kids out of there.

 

[Linnis]

DO NOT tie up your dog. The kids would just tease the poor thing to no end or worse attempt to hurt it and if he/she tries to protect itself, the dog ends up being put down.

Try the sign, if that doesn't work, you may have to speak to Parks and rec even if you don't like the idea of a fence.

If any of those kids get hurt on your property, you may be liable, so it may not be such a bad idea for a fence.

My parents live right in front of a park, they too didn't want the chain link fence until they learned they could be held legally responciple for the children on their property even without their knowledge.

 

[sunshiinedays]

I've thought about that and it scares me! If I have to get one, maybe I could grow some ivy along the fence or something to make it look nicer.

 

[lucypevensie]

I've thought about that and it scares me! If I have to get one, maybe I could grow some ivy along the fence or something to make it look nicer.

Great idea. I know someone who has a backyard pool and they of course have chain-link fencing around it. But you can hardly tell there is a fence there because she grows such beautiful flowers and greenery around the whole thing.

 

[Neenie1]

I've thought about that and it scares me! If I have to get one, maybe I could grow some ivy along the fence or something to make it look nicer.

That's what I would do too. I think as much as you hate the idea the fence would be the best solution.

Tieing up your dog out there wouldn't be a good idea because some kids cannot resist teasing animals.

 

[Linnis]

Get parks and Rec to put up a fence then invest in different kinds of climbing plants, even certain types of roses will work. Depending on the climate you live in, look for ivy which can live through the winter and fill out more and more each year.

 

[bliz]

You could put up a sign that warns of poision ivy in the meantime. That might help cut down on the traffic. Or plant some things that really attract bees. Or plant some pricker bushes.

 

[£amb]

Grow some barberry bushes on your property line. They're easy to maintain bushes with pricklers in them which will deter kids and maybe teenagers looking for trouble. I have one and it's a very attractive bush.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/57827/index.htmlhttp://www.freeplants.com/crimson_pygmy_barberry.htmhttp://www.freeplants.com/crimson_pygmy_barberry.htmhttp://www.freeplants.com/crimson_pygmy_barberry.htm

 

[sunshiinedays]

You could put up a sign that warns of poision ivy in the meantime. That might help cut down on the traffic. Or plant some things that really attract bees. Or plant some pricker bushes.

Poison ivy... good idea, but some of the kids may be too young to read it. I've got some raspberry plants back there, they're very thorny, but not along the property line. That's something to look into.

Grow some barberry bushes on your property line. They're easy to maintain bushes with pricklers in them which will deter kids and maybe teenagers looking for trouble. I have one and it's a very attractive bush.

I looked at the link - those are very pretty plants. The prickly plants are a great idea

Thanks everyone.

 

[GolfingMom]

I wouldn't assume that your P&R dept. would put up an ugly fence. All the fences in my town are really nice, wooden, tall, fences...I'd talk to them to see what options you have...
And if it is an ugly fence...ivy or other plants can cover it right up...like stated already...

 

[GolfingMom]

I wouldn't assume that your P&R dept. would put up an ugly fence. All the fences in my town are really nice, wooden, tall, fences...I'd talk to them to see what options you have...
And if it is an ugly fence...ivy or other plants can cover it right up...like stated already...