Don't forget--nettles aren't selective. They'll sting you, too. And they spread like wildfire. You might be better off spreading a rumor that you accidentally sprayed your garden with something toxic, so that eating the vegetables will result in severe digestive upset.

Why not just put up a sign that says "Please smile for the security cameras." with an arrow pointing to the camera? Most opportunistic thieves won't see this as an opportunity.

Honestly, is it worth a tomato to risk a small child getting caught up in your stinging nettles?

I've had to put chicken wire around a new sapling in my front yard to keep the neighborhood punks from swinging on it.

Works like a charm.

In a garden setting, I think I'd be more inclined to install trip wire just for giggles. It would sure beat showing those boring family vacation vids at the next get-together.

h.

I was a small child who grew up getting stung by nettles, its not a big deal. The security camera sign sounds more effective. But the nettles are edible.

Maybe you could get one of these. :)

Lynn

Here is a link that might be useful: Motion Activated Sprinkler

Can't you fence your garden in? I would be livid if I saw someone poking around my tomatoes! I'd be out there asking them what the heck they were doing trespassing! I would at least post a few signs as Kay suggested.

lol Nettles! Reminds me of this creepy cartoon here

I think the nettle idea is ok, but then again I live in an area where just about all the wild plants sting or poke or stab in some way!

Stinging nettle can't be worse than getting caught by a jumping cactus! And they aren't edible like nettles.

Don't know if the motion activated sprinklers will work. When I was a kid, sprinklers were for running into on purpose!

Ill know where I planted them and know what they look like so, ill be ok. My kids will know too. We have no trespassing signs, smile your on camera signs, beware of dog signs. We both water our lawn in our uniforms, walk our 200 lb mastiff puppy around...I dont know what more I can do.....NO one should be in my yard. Im getting sick of it. My boyfriend says no way to a fence...I dunoooo.....-cass

Get rid of the boyfriend and get a fence. :)

I have already, given my approval on stinging nettles, if my 4 year olds got stung in someones garden, then tough, they are somewhere they shouldn't be, they are old enough to know basic rules, such as don't go into other people gardens, and if at a friends, I am sure people would say don't go there, and if they ignore again lesson learnt!, until they where 3 and understood basic commands I used to keep them close, either in a stroller or using reigns (like a cat leash/body harness on a leash but for children! I am not sure you have them in America as when I entered the country a US federal agent was immensly kind, and talked to me in immigration, so I could wait around for my aunt who was helping me, and as he explained I wasn't allowed to hang around there unless he or another agent talked to me? and he said "hay I do like those leashes, I've never seen anything like that, what a good idea", he may just have been looking for conversation?)
but back to the point of this, in the UK we don't have poison ivy ect, so I would rather my children learn a painful lesson on stinging nettles than the Ivy, and I can't even help them by identifing it as I haven't got a clue what it looks like! I have heard the leaves of 3? is it? but even so still clueless, so plant your nettles, and two other pluses you can eat the small leaves, cook them like spinich, not like some of the nutters in the UK who eat them raw! and they have very pretty flowers

Here is a link that might be useful: stinging nettle comp-nutters and this isn't the only one? we are stupid!

My parents had a leash for me back in the 70's in Alaska. I had one for my daughter (who was walking at 8 MONTHS) and someone came up to me, told me how horrid I was for treating my daughter like a dog. My daughter (less than a year old at the time), cheekily eyed the nosy stranger and barked at him like a Terrier. Rwwwof! Rwooof!

I second/third the suggestion to get a fence.