We've had a 4-6 yr old child repeatedly vandalize my SFG. 3 times the same size foot has repeatedly stepped into the garden or gone along and stepped in each and every square of a box. The boxes were just built though and nothing was ruined. That was until yesterday when a child stepped onto some newly planted (and marked) squares and some herbs with long germination periods that I've been tending the last 2 weeks! In one square he managed to miss the 4 sprouts as the footprint is in the exact middle of the squares. His parents have been talked to (we don't have a fence) but we'll have to see what happens with the child. All the other parents in the neighborhood have been put on alert as well that this is happening!

Anyway, what should I do about my squares? Some were only a few days old since planting the seeds. The herbs should have come up this week. Are they dead now? Does anyone know if a growing seed that hasn't sprouted at the surface (but I assume has a nice root structure growing) can survive such treatment? The foot prints range from 1 - 1 1/2" deep in the soft soil.

Also, can I carefully fluff the square that the sprouts are untouched or will it hurt the little sprouts. I don't want to look at that footprint all summer, but I don't want to harm my sprouts!

Thanks for any help or advise. I'm heartbroken over this!