It’s not fun living next to someone who has a different idea of what should happen to your yard than you do. If you’re facing this problem, then you probably want answers to the following questions:
- How to keep neighbors out of my yard?
- How can I make sure that they don’t come over and mess up the place where I live?
- Should I call the cops on trespassers?
The good news is that there are some simple things you can do both inside and outside your home in order to discourage people from entering your yard uninvited. In this blog post, we will discuss those steps for keeping away pesky neighbors.
Is It Legal for Your Neighbors to Enter Your Yard Uninvited?
It is never legal for someone to enter your property and use it without your permission. Sometimes, however, people may not realize that they are crossing a boundary.
That’s why having an open conversation with them about the situation will help you understand their intentions better. You can also make sure that there is no confusion on whether or not they should be entering your yard in the first place.
7 Friendly Ways to Keep Neighbors Out Of Your Yard
Here are seven friendly ways to keep your neighbors and any other uninvited guests out of your yard.
1. Talk to Your Neighbors
If one of your neighbors enters your yard frequently, then you should make it a point to talk with them about the situation. The best way to do this is by having an open and honest conversation in person or over the phone, depending on your comfort level.
If you want to approach them politely but firmly, then you can say something like: “I noticed that we keep crossing paths around my yard. How are we going to solve this problem?” That will give them a chance to explain why they keep entering your yard without your permission and fix any trouble they might have caused — for example, if one of their children entered your backyard and broke something.
It’s important for both parties involved to discuss boundaries between yards because it ensures there won’t be any future trespassing issues.
2. Put Up a Sign
If you are comfortable putting up a sign, then this is one of the best ways to keep your neighbors out of your yard. You can set boundaries by writing messages on it like:
- “No trespassing”
- “Keep out!”
- “Private property – no entry allowed unless invited.”
You should put these signs in a location where they are visible from both public and private properties. This will give everyone in the neighborhood an idea that entering without your consent could be considered trespassing.
You may also want to consider including contact information for yourself or local law enforcement on the signage as well. Doing so will help in case someone enters your yard even after reading the sign. That’s because thanks to the sign, people nearby will know exactly who to call when they notice any suspicious activities going on around your property.
3. Install a Fence
Installing a fence is one of the most popular ways to keep neighbors out of your yard. It’s also a great way to create boundaries between properties because it allows you to control who enters and leaves freely.
You may need professional assistance when installing a fence depending on its size, material, and location. Sounds like a lot of work, right? But it’s more than worth it because once everything is set up properly, it will serve as an excellent boundary marker for years to come!
4. Set Up a Motion Detection Camera
An easy way to scare troublemakers away is by installing a motion detection camera.
Motion detecting cameras are easy to set up and can be placed anywhere around your home, including the front or backyard. The best part is that you don’t have to monitor them personally because they will alert you whenever someone enters their range of vision. Most models even record everything so it’s easier for law enforcement agencies to identify trespassers.
If there seems to be any suspicious activity in the vicinity of your house, then this is definitely one way how you can keep neighbors and any other uninvited guests out of your yard with little effort on your end.
5. Buy a Motion-Activated Sprinkler
Motion-sensing sprinklers are a good way to keep neighbors away. Since they work automatically, your work is done as soon as they’re set up. They are a great tool for warning people that they should not enter your yard.
6. Leverage Plants as Natural Barriers
You have plants in your yard, right? Then why not use them as natural barriers? But how can you do that? Well, it’s pretty simple.
Just plant thorny shrubs at the line that separates your property from a neighbor’s. It will serve as a physical barrier to prevent anyone from crossing over, especially when they’re in full bloom and have thorns out. Here’s a list of plants that work best for this purpose and also look good in yards:
- Blackberry bushes
- Rose bushes
- Raspberry vines
- Bougainvilleas
- Barberries
7. Get Guard Dogs
If you are not a fan of using plants or cameras to keep neighbors out of your yard, then why don’t you try guard dogs? They’re an excellent way to discourage people from sneaking into your property.
It is important that they know who their owner is because otherwise they will consider almost anyone as intruders and start barking at them the moment they see them! Guard dogs can be trained with simple commands like sit, heel, and stay. So it’s easy enough for most owners to train them properly over time. You can also get already trained dogs to save yourself the work.
Should You Call the Cops On Trespassers?
Calling the cops on trespassers is often not the best option because it can be time-consuming as it may lead to unnecessary legal complications.
However, if there’s any suspicious activity or criminal intent involved, then calling law enforcement is highly recommended for your safety. You should avoid resorting to confrontations if possible because these situations could escalate quickly into something dangerous depending on how the intruder reacts. The handling of dangerous trespassers is best left to the police.
Conclusion
There’s plenty you can do to keep pesky neighbors out of your yard. Each method is useful in its own right and each one can work for you depending on your situation.
However, if you’re really serious about not allowing your neighbor’s guests into your property and you are willing to do anything necessary, then we recommend investing in guard dogs. Nothing works as well as them for keeping unwanted guests out of your property.
