Put up an effective fence.

A visual barrier just won't work with young kids--they really don't have a sense of boundaries. So you can either put up an "effective fence" (with the understanding that balls and various bits of effluvia will still find their way into your yard no matter how high the fence) or you can plant a shrub barrier inside your fence line.

A good, solid fence, a thorny barrier*, an active attorney on retainer or a move to an area with better neighbors - I'd suggest trying one of these.

A water cannon might be fun too.

(Back in Kentucky in the old days someone once tried to storm through my rugosa rose hedge).

Only once.

Thank you for all of your suggestions - I especially like the attorney on retainer... lol. Gee, I realize I sounded a 'touch' pessimistic there; but back to the drawing board. So far I've planted a couple of climbing roses on the fence. I've also got a border along the fence to which I'm adding more shrubs.

I would like to go for a more effective fence; and I'm seriously considering it. The problem is, the fence is only a few feet from their driveway, and we get a lot of snow in the winter, so I would worry about the weight of the snow causing a lean, or other damage.

I have a problem with the neighbor kids play basketball. They play almost all the time, and they are young, so the ball is in my yard more than anywhere else. I wanted to grow nice things on the side of the house faces their driveway, but it would have been futile. I planted yews and thorny old-fashioned shrub roses, which can take the pounding. That being done, I focused my attention on areas that I could keep relatively safe.

Kids live in the moment, so they donÂt think that you canÂt use the rhubarb patch as third base when the rhubarb patch IS third base. The discovery of little hidden rooms under the canopy of a large shrub border means removing some of the lower branches for more headroom. Kids donÂt always think that tearing off limbs will cause damage to the shrubs. These are examples from my childhood, and even though my love for gardening developed when I was a kid, I didnÂt have the appreciation growing things, or the understanding that I do now. It's not just kids, I know some adults who lack the appreciation and understanding of all things that grow.

If your neighbor kids are small, you could try bribing them with ice cream cones. While they are eating, talk to them about how much time and money you put into your garden, and that it is upsetting to you when stuff gets damaged. Although, it is likely that they will forget sometimes, thanking them when they are careful can go a long way witg helping them remember.

If the kids are being deliberately destructive, that is an entirely different matter.

I have kids and would appreciate if a neighbor came to me if they were being intrusive. I have already told them they are not allowed to throw a ball in the direction of a certain neighbor...and they don't, although one will fly over there accidently sometimes. This is very rare because I've forbidden them to retrieve their ball if it does go into that neighbor's yard--one lost ball and they became very careful.

Barberries are fast growing and thorny from the start. They make an effective barrier hedge.

I Have had amazing luck with a strong perimiter fence, with thorny things planted to climb on it. I have a variety of plants growing on my chain link, as well, sections of babmoo slat privacy screen. The chain link is almost covered. The view is varied and interesting. As well, I can use plants specific to the micro climate of the place it is sited. If you do go with a solid fence, be sure to get an effective hight. There are some that are so tall that they look like fortressing. Some are so short that they are not really effective. I love my 6 footer, and would have it again in a minute. I did leave one space open in the front (Fence only, no matting, no plants) just to make sure my house entry wasnt made so private that it was a safety hazard. If I am at home, and open for visiting with neighbors, (Kid or adult) the gate is open, otherwise, its locked. My dogs are safe, I have privacy and I can enjoy my neighbors at a polite distance. .

Thank you for all of your advice. The thing that strikes me the most is that it sure would make things a lot easier if parents taught their children about respecting other people's property. I do know of some parents like that; unfortunately, many seem to turn a blind eye. spunky, I'd love to have a neighbour that did understand, and one that I could feel comfortable approaching about the subject. Some parents are in some sort of denial, it seems.

A six-footer solid panel fence sounds like the answer. For now, I've already planted a couple more shrubs. I appreciate the suggestion about the barberries - I was looking at some today at the nursery.