[goodnesswins]

Maybe if you started out in a casual conversation asking the dad....”Do you think the boys tromping on those plants will hurt them over the years?” See how he responds??? Then, if they get tromped and hurt, you might come back and say....”I’m worried about my plants dying....” JMHO (I LOVE MY PLANTS, TOO!)

[Keith in Iowa]

Try Dear Abby.

[AppyPappy]

If they aren’t destroying the bushes, I would let it go.

[NittanyLion]

I’d tell him it isn’t that you mind the ball going into your bushes, but you’re worried that the tenant may be upset by it. Hasten to add that your tenant has said anything yet, but nevertheless you feel responsible for his welfare. So, could he be the one who stands in your yard?

[Hand em their arse]

STAY OUT ‘DA BUSHES!! STAY OUT ‘DA BUSHES!! STAY OUT ‘DA BUSHES!!

[CGASMIA68]

Get into a dialog with the rug rats and splain to them how you love yer bush and aks them to be as careful as possible.....they don't even know the bush exists...If that doesn't work shoot them

[goodnesswins]

Just what kind of “bushes” are they, by the way?

[DouglasKC]

Do like the old man at the end of our street did when we wandered on his property. Git yourself a bb gun and fire away.

[#1CTYankee]

Do you think it's acceptable to go to my neighbor and simply ask him if he could be the one who plays in front of my house instead of the two boys? In other words, he's going to be a bit more careful getting any errant balls. I should mention two things. I have two mulberry trees in my yard which I trim every year, but a good number of berries (a couple hundred) fall into their yard and they've never complained. Also, the mother planted about two dozen tulips in front of her house so she probably doesn't want the boys playing in front of her house either. Advice please."

Wow tough to call, he may think he's throws are better thus letting less errant balls getting by.

My advice would be the four of you going to a nearby field and playing together, if you're not a ball player anyone can learn to play catch.

If nothing else hit the bat is a great game anyone can play, unversed you can probably find how to play on the net or if not Freepmail me. ;-D

[RedRover]

Personally, I find it best to go over and have a talk if something like that is bugging me. It's better than stewing in silence. (And hopefully you're better at communication than your screen namesake in Prince of Space.)

[A_perfect_lady]

Asking them to switch places is a very nice and reasonable response. Especially since, if they get hurt on your property, you might be liable. Add that when you put it to him, he might get it.

[cva66snipe]

Try educating the kids {in a nice way} about your bushes and the renters garden. Work it to their advantage to do so. It wouldn’t take much. For example hiring them to do a little bit of yard work even helping you maintain them. Most kids do things like that simply because no one told them not to do so. But this way the kids would learn several lessons, no one gets angry, and the kids learn something about maintaning plant life as well. BTW when I mow my parents yard I’m still CAREFULL around my moms flower garden LOL and I’ve been here half a century.

[hole_n_one]

There was a post on FR a couple of weeks ago from a guy who wrote about a neighbor he had who seemed quite nice. The neighbor would do yard work and the like for his other neighbors and seemed to have no problem if he (the FReeper) would toss a ball around his neighbor's yard with his two sons.

The FReeper's only complaint about his neighbor was the damn berries that kept falling into his yard from his nice neighbor's tree. The FReeper was wondering how he should go about confronting his neighbor about that issue.

I'll see if I can find the thread............

[#1CTYankee]

Sorry, I misread the post thinking one of your children were included to the game of catch.

Put up an electric fence.

(Just kidding)

[Brainhose]

Perhaps you should ask Hillary about the handling of "Errant Balls".
She has way more experience with that than any Freeper will ever have.

[politicalwit]

Bush Rearrangement Syndrome?

[stlnative]

Why not explain it to the neighbor like you did to us.
Let him know you don't mind them playing catch in you yard, but that you are concerned about your plants getting damaged when the ball lands in your plants.

Tell him you would really appreciate if he would talk to his sons to let them know to use extra care when they are retrieving a ball that lands in your plant areas.

I would not ask him to switch spots with the kids because he might take offense to that. (he might think you see his children as irresponsible)

If the father is sympathetic to your request then he will talk to his boys or he will switch “spots” with the boys on his own.

I also have my own problem with a neighbor - but he is a total jac@ss. His water well sits on the property line. His water well is leaking a bunch of water into the corner of my yard. This has drown and killed one of our full grown Forsytha bushes and the water now is making a 10' plus long rut in our yard. We have asked him to numerous times to please repair his well but he ignores our request. The next step is for us to get a lawyer involved because if he keeps ignoring it the damage to our yard is going to be costly and we should not have to pay for it. The problem is it is senseless to repair our yard until he repairs his leaking well. (We live in the rural country BTW)

[easternsky]

I work with many troubled Children who would give anything to have someones yard to play in and some one to play ball with. Sometimes for the joy of others we have to sacrafice a little of ours.

[mgist]

I love the fact that you are such a great neighbor. Mine is a monster. It seems like everytime he came over he was complaining about something. Obviously we avoided him. He was sort of respectfull to my husband, but was very aggresive with me when I was alone. The city ended up citing him for frivolous complaints against us. He really started to scare me. After a few conservation from 3rd parties who intervened, they determined he felt slighted by us. Wierd!

I’d say your neighbors are lucky to have you, and you may want to somply hint that your tenant may complain about the balls so tell him to please be carefull. Good luck!!!

[LongElegantLegs]

What about getting some nylon netting and spreading it loosely over the bushes and tying it around the trunk?
That would keep any errant balls from actually entering the bushes, eliminating the need for digging around in them.

You could ask your neighbor to help you put it on, tell him that you love that they can play catch in the yard, and if he’ll help you with this netting, he won’t have to worry about the bushes getting hurt.

That will make him aware of the problem without it seeming like an attack, maybe?