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I am moderately fond of other people's children. But my next door neighbors have a couple of monsters I just can't negotiate with. I've tried for 3 years to get along with them but I'm out of patience.
I'd like to put a fence across the back of my yard and grow big thorny raspberries on it to keep the hoodlums out. How much support will they need? Any suggestions on an extremely thorny variety. The ones I have now are Brandywine.
I'd like to put a fence across the back of my yard and grow big thorny raspberries on it to keep the hoodlums out. How much support will they need? Any suggestions on an extremely thorny variety. The ones I have now are Brandywine.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Mon, May 25, 2009 - 7:38 PMOuch!
I have known Blackberries to be exponentially more thorny than raspberries.
I harvested at a farm one summer,
and I remember my white t shirts getting blood-stained as much as berry-stained during blackberry season.
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Mon, May 25, 2009 - 8:24 PMWhen i lived in Ireland Blackberries and Raspberries grew everywhere and they are sort of woven together to make great hedges between farms. The farmers just train them to grow together by pulling and sort of tucking them around each other. I was just telling my husband that I wish we could grow a thorny hedge in the parking lot between us and the horrible new neighbors we have. I mean if you are going to party 24/7 at least put your bottles and cans in the recycling not the trash. -Freya -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Mon, May 25, 2009 - 8:30 PMThat's a great idea, but I need something very quickly. Everytime I leave the house, even for an afternoon, they have a party in my back yard. In the past week I've cleaned up 8 (very cheap) wine bottles, a case of soda, several cigarette boxes and a few meals worth of fast food and poptart wrappers. Saturday they were messing around up right next to the back door. I found some of my gardening tools out back in the alley. I've also caught them peeking in my windows. I have to keep the doors locked because they just walk right in. Last spring they pulled up an entire bed of grape hyacinths, bulbs and all. Arrrrgh!
I'm thinking chain link on the outside and then a 4' tall "horse fence" a few feet inside that. The berries will be trained on the horse fence, creating a no man's land inbetween the fences.
Sorry about the rant. I'll be better soon, really. -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Mon, May 25, 2009 - 9:37 PMyou have a right to rant--and venting can be good medacine--blackberrys are the thorn barrier your looking for.,sounds like you need a nice little electric fence for your neighbor brats to sit on.,and a pair of pitbulls.,some people do not care about their neighbors feelings-TV does not help at all-teaches people how to be prize jerks--good luck-- -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Tue, May 26, 2009 - 8:10 AMExactly. Chain link fences are ok to start, but I would definitely add some blackberry bushes. After they get used to the fence they'll probably either jump it or cut it...unfortunately. -Freya
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Tue, May 26, 2009 - 10:09 AMI also recommend the blackberries over the raspberries. I also find that they grow a lot thicker and faster, not to mention much more dangerous! -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Tue, May 26, 2009 - 10:20 AMWhat horrible little children. I suggest razor wire on top of your fence too. -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Tue, May 26, 2009 - 2:12 PMI agree - blackberries are thornier than raspberries, and faster-growing.
(I like my motion-detector sprayer that is triggered by the deer, poopy cats, and bratty children...or me when I forget! you might try it out -- it is called a Scarecrow by Contech-Inc) -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Tue, May 26, 2009 - 2:47 PMScarecrow, huh? That's a good idea too. One kid is 19 and out of school the other is 6. They live in 2 trailers cobbled together. The 19 yr old is married now, she and her husband live in a shed attached to the side of the parent's trailer. I've spoken to them many times, and to their parents many more times. They aren't poor, they just prefer to spend their income on cell phones, cigarettes, new cars and parties. I've tried very hard to get along but it just can't be done.
Last spring I put cinder blocks across the back of the garden to keep them from driving their riding lawn mower through it.
I'll start researching varieties of blackberries. If I plant raspberries and blackberries side by side they won't cross pollinate, will then? Will chain link hold the weight of the canes? -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Tue, May 26, 2009 - 2:54 PMRaspberries and blackberries won't cross pollinate. Also, the canes aren't exactly vining, but they will definitely grow up and through a chainlink fence, so don't expect the fence to really contain it. -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Sun, May 31, 2009 - 1:28 AMaargh amy, I am so sorry you have this problem (too),.. I keep fishing left over kebaps out of my fence.. and tools or objects go missing.. they kick the football against things and plants, destroying my pumpkin crop last year.. and my antique japanese lantern got smashed..
Depending on how high they are at the time,- I feel very edgy just to be in the garden..
One time they jeered lude and sexual remarks at me and my daughters, while we were just sitting on our patio eating lunch.., for at least a half hour..- if dad is not in, they really do as they please..
I tried telling their dad, but he just laughed and thinks "thats kids.."
I cant stop them from getting in, as the front of the property is an open drive ,- but I will admit I have left any bushes that come up to grow, including my brambles..
On the positive, it seems like the older they are, the lessinterested they are to cause mischief,- give it another couple of years and they will have better things to do..
bleh -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Sun, May 31, 2009 - 5:06 AMPoor little Orange kitty, how awful for you.
Unfortunately one of them is only 6 years old, so its only going to get worse.
I've pretty much decided on vinyl coated 2 X 4 inch horse fencing across the back. Its very damp here and I'm concerned about air circulation around the raspberries. But around the sides and the front I'm going to use white lattice. 4 X 4 inch posts for the whole thing...I think. I'll probably change my mind again a few times before I get it done. -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 9:17 PMsounds like what you need to grow is poison oak !!!
grrrrr! muahahhaha! -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 7:27 AMI'd prefer to grow something I can eat. 1. so its not so obvious that the goal is to keep them out. and 2. I like to eat. -
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 9:46 AMhaha, I know you were kidding. But it did make me stop and think for a moment.
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Tue, May 26, 2009 - 1:56 PMHave you talked to their parents or are they young adults? High school aged? It's just sad when you have such a nice peaceful garden to have all the enjoyment taken away by some rude kids. It looks really big and nice from your photos. Wishing you the best of luck with the fences and hedges. Hopefully they will grow fast and give you some peace. -Freya
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Re: Raspberry hedge?
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 1:33 PMHave you considered growing something non-edible, or only semi-edible. The most terrifying hedge plant I've ever encountered are the extra large species of Rugosa roses. They grow about six feet tall, thicker even than blackberries, and every bit of cane is absolutely covered in a mixture of tiny needle like thorns, and large, sturdy hooked ones. They grow quickly and spread. They have medium sized semi-double pink flowers, and a pleasant, mellow rose fragrance. They also grow an abundance of large, shiny, red hips in the fall. Oh, and they bloom all season. My mother has some, and we've abandoned the centers to weeds. they're really rather out of control, we're just afraid to have a go at them. I know that I can find my way through blackberries and raspberries easily enough, but only the threat of death would make me want to try to go through these rose bushes.
