WIBTA If I plant thorny bushes around the edge of my property to keep children away

Living so close to the elementary school, every day the quiet rhythm of children’s footsteps passing by became a part of their lives. What started as a simple project—a small brick retaining wall—soon turned into a silent battleground between preserving their new creation and protecting the innocent energy of the kids who unknowingly challenged it with every climb.

Faced with the dilemma of how to safeguard their handiwork without causing harm, the couple wrestled with a choice that felt heavier than bricks and mortar. Would planting prickly bushes to deter the children be a necessary shield or a cruel barrier? The question lingered, stirring a mix of concern, responsibility, and the fragile balance between community and property.

WIBTA If I plant thorny bushes around the edge of my property to keep children away

I live close to an elementary school. Every day a small parade of children walk in front of my house on their way to and from school. My girlfriend and I just finished building a small retaining wall of brick along the sidewalk and have noticed it regularly being walked/climbed on.

The wall is about three feet tall.

Originally we were going to plant a lot of flowering bushes along the top of it but we’re pretty sure they will be destroyed slowly by the daily coming and going of the kids. We also don’t want to be liable for anyone falling and getting hurt.

We were at Home Depot to buy flowers the other day when we saw some neat looking bushes that are also a bit pokey. That’s when I got the idea to use them as a deterrent. So, will I be the asshole if I plant them along the top of the wall?

There seems to be a minority rising that think I’m out to fuck these kids over and that is very much not the case. I just don’t want them climbing all over the wall, which is already happening.

I used the term “pokey bushes” intentionally as I just want a deterrent. Something that is more scary than damaging but will be effective if they actually try anyway. (lol, the people suggesting cholla catus!)

Due to demand, I’ll try to post pictures when it’s done. Weather permitting and plant availability it should hopefully be done by Wednesday.

Here are the pictures of before and after. Sorry they’re a little late; it was just my GF and I working on it. The pictures aren’t super great and unfortunately, the plants are still quite small as they have just been planted.

We’re also not done landscaping this portion. Need more fabric to stop weeds and we are going to put something over it(mulch or my GF wants some small black rocks). As for the pokey plants, the plant nearest to the camera is wild rose and following the wall we planted a few lantana.

Both of which should grow out over the wall in the next two years or so. Behind those we have some random white flowers, some salvia and lavender. We then planted a little fig tree and two lilacs on either side of the front door.

In the background to the right we planted a jasmine to grow alone the fence. If someone wants to remind me, I can take pictures again next year for some plant growth progress.

Here’s how people reacted:

Muad-Dass

NTA! I had this group of neighborhood kids (maybe 6-10 in age) who got off the bus at the corner where my apartment was at the time. There was a grassy/gravel lot where other tenants and myself parked. I came home from work three days in a row at the beginning of their school term (I’m guessing, because I’d never seen them there before) to see them all just hanging around the other tenant’s cars. I went inside, decided quickly whether to scare the shit out of them or politely ask them to leave. I go outside and my neighbor is already telling them nicely to leave.

Not fifteen minutes later THEY ALL RETURN ON BICYCLES and start doing circles around all the cars, and I only knew because a rock hit my kitchen window. I’d had it. I screamed at them to get the fuck away, and if they came back I’d let the monsters out of my basement – never had another problem.

Edit: clarifications

Truffle0214

NAH. Walls, ledges, curbs – any raised ground like that is a little kid climbing magnet. Add in the fact that you live next to an elementary school, you might as well be the witch from Hansel and Gretel with a candy house.

I don’t mean to say you should just deal with it, either. I always tell my kids they can’t walk in people’s yards, but they often forget and are lost in their own little world of adventure when something attractive like a wall comes along. They’re not trying to be dicks, they’re just playing. Putting up prickly bushes that cover the ledge of the wall would definitely help keep them off.

Rocksteady2R

don’t know where you live, but if it’s anyplace that cactus can live, then i highly suggest a cholla cactus. meanest goddamn plant I’ve ever come across.

I’m a yankee, we don’t have those back up there. my wife’s a desert native – she hates these buggers, and refuses to let me plant them even as security plants near our 1st floor windows. Bad memories.

[Video of a guy jumping into a cholla for your amusement.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1JIVTRrYBk)

WackyXaky

I’ve got to go against the trend here and say YTA. They’re kids, they’re not hurting you, and you shouldn’t presume they’re going to destroy the flowers you plant. Everyone flips out about personal property, but living in a neighborhood is about interfacing with your local community. Do your part to make a pleasant neighborhood.

Feet_Strength2

YTA. You wanted flowers! You assume the worst of children (that they would destroy your plants, fall off your wall and then sue you) so you decide to buy spikey plants to spike them with. You’re within your rights to be an asshole, but this is some Roald Dahl shit.

drone42

NTA, but word of advice from an HVAC guy that has to deal with all manner of prickly landscaping-

Get holly bushes. They are hands down the worst plant I’ve had to deal with. They’re pretty, sturdy, and very fucking prickly.

toooldtocareagain

I’m concerned about all the people being okay with hurting kids. Geez. There are other ways to deal with it. Plus don’t live in the city if you don’t want anyone possibly going through your lawn. It happens to me too.

nan_adams

I fully support OPs efforts to become the wicked witch of the school district. If the thorns don’t work perhaps a nice moat?

Best wishes on your Maleficent meets Boo Radley landscaping.

toooldtocareagain

Sorry but YTA. Say what you want but intentionally hurting people especially kids makes you an asshole. I feel like you can accomplish what you want without hurting a kid.

Wonderful_Dream

YTA. You may be in the right, but you’re generally contributing to making the world a less inviting and more sterile place. Try adding some wonder instead.

TheTruthoftheNBA

NTA – at all. its your wall, you do what you want. (i’d maybe put a sign there for liability, not sure how those laws work)

sashy311

Definitely NTA at all. If they get hurt they can explain to their parents they were hurt trespassing on private property.

AJKlicker

NTA. Kid gets a poke? Tells mom and gets told “well you shouldn’t have been climbing in places you’re not supposed to be”

danbirc

NTA fuck them kids

Edit: I’ve realised that less people know that Micheal Jordan meme than I thought.

Conclusion

The original poster (OP) is feeling frustrated because children are using their newly built retaining wall as a pathway, creating a risk of damage and potential liability. The conflict centers on the OP’s desire to protect their property and prevent trespassing versus the perceived right of the children to walk along the public sidewalk area.

Is it acceptable to install thorny or prickly deterrent plants along the top of a low retaining wall bordering a public sidewalk to prevent children from climbing, or does this action prioritize property protection over community safety and goodwill?