Kids using garden as shortcut what can i plant?

xmaslolly76 · 28 June 2010 at 6:24AM

Hi everyone

As the title said the local kids keep walking or riding their bikes across my front garden to get to the alley at the side of the house. Now we have two rather useless strips of land which measure about 2' x 5' either side of the front door and a very small patch of grass right at the front measuring 5' x 7'. Now i dont want to do the kids any damage but want to put something in that will deter them or make it awkward for them to use the front garden as short cut. It needs to be quick to establish (as they would just tear tiny plants out or squish them) and easy to look after ( i am a curse to plants of anykind).

We have spoken to the parents and the big kids have stopped doing it but the littlies do it without thinking obviously caught in the moment with their games and i dont want to make to much fuss as they are normally quite well behaved children and besides my garden does need some TLC too so this gives me the excuse :-)

kimmee · 28 June 2010 at 6:39AM

I had this problem so I planted 3 pyracantha (got them at a fairly good height) planted them, pinched them out so they got bushier and they did put on lots of growth. They are very prickly but as an added bonus for me they have lovely flowers in May and then they produce loads gorgeous berries in the autumn which the wildlife love. I have never had to prune them and this was 3 years ago, although I guess at some point I may have to, but they really are very low maintanence.

So, problem solved and something lovely to look at too.

HTH

soul619 · 28 June 2010 at 6:39AM

largeish rose bushes perhaps?

LilacPixie · 28 June 2010 at 6:43AM

Could you maybe edge the garden off with some low fencing like the little 2 foot high picket panels. If the garden was edged off they wouldn't be able to walk over it.

kimmee · 28 June 2010 at 7:09AM

LilacPixie wrote: »

Could you maybe edge the garden off with some low fencing like the little 2 foot high picket panels. If the garden was edged off they wouldn't be able to walk over it.

I tried that one and the little loves just either stepped or jumped over it!!

dogstarheaven · 28 June 2010 at 7:50AM

im not sure whether this is allowed, but having googled this, thought OP might be interested. gives you all the details about each plant (strange that they don't have the plant names listed?!!??)
http://www.dgsecurity.co.uk/spiked_plants/spiked_plants_domestic.htm - seems like the rosa rugosa is the prettiest and the thorniest and one of the most fastest growers.. or grow a mixture of differing plants for your hedge.

what i'd do, is to put up a mesh fence all around your garden secured with some posts that you can buy from the timber yard (there'll be some offcuts that you can buy cheaply). the mesh can be a chicken wire kind, or something similar (maybe cheaper).. altho' you may find a couple of attempts of them running it the fence, but after a while you'll find they'll adjust their route. the plants can be grown inside the fence. hope this helps

EmptyPockets · 28 June 2010 at 8:26AM

I agree with the above post re using some mesh fencing or similar. If they are cheeky (and, I have to say, disrespectful) enough to be trampling your garden, not to mention jumping OVER your low fencing, then I would go for using something higher while your plants get established. Otherwise, what's to say the 'little loves' :mad: won't just trample and destroy anything you put in..?

I have to say, you seem very patient and understanding. I think I'd have blown my top long long ago

But then, I am not a parent, have no experience with children, and don't seem to 'enjoy' little people very much lol!

floss2 · 28 June 2010 at 11:34AM

I would go with pyracantha or berberis - both are evergreen, have berries for the birds in winter and are thorny. They are also very good at giving tough yet attractive ground cover.

Kay_Peel · 28 June 2010 at 12:10PM

Get the local kids used to the idea that the short-cut is no longer available by making a temporary barrier.

You could stick four or six short posts into the ground and run some string between the posts. If you can get some of the plastic tape used by builders or crime scene examiners all the better!

Or

Place a few large pots, rocks etc in their path

Or

Put up a sign saying: 'Danger - Weedkiller at work'

Something like that.

Then plant some barrier shrubs like:

Berberis

Rosa rugosa: makes a fast growing impenetrable hedge, growing 3ft-4ft high in 12 months.

Pyracantha: excellent for hedging, growing under windows or around doorways, with a beautiful display of red or orange during winter.

Holly: many attractive varieties.

Hawthorn: makes a good hedge or pruned bush.

Mahonia aquafolium