dave @ stejonda wrote:
In message , Ben
writes

I have an area of tarmac next to a public footpath. There used to be a
wooden fence but it was vandalised before I moved in and eventually
pulled down by the council (even though it was on my land). I'd like
to replace it, but don't much fancy the idea of digging up the tarmac
to put new fence posts in (is it as much work as it looks?) and fully
expect it would just be vandalised again anyway. The other idea I had
was to drill big holes in the tarmac and plant seedlings in the holes
to start a hedge, but I have no idea if this would work - how deep is
tarmac usually, and is there loads of hardcore underneath? Which idea
sounds least crazy?


I think I'd replace the wooden fence with a breeze-block/brick wall -
more difficult to vandalise and anything the little wonders do to the
other side won't bother you. The roots of anything planted through the
tarmac are likely to damage more of the tarmac around the hole.


Hmm, sounds expensive. Also, they've done a pretty good job of
vandalising some brick walls round here lately by throwing rocks at them
- huge bits fall off. I actually do care what they do to the other side,
as I have to walk past it every day. I'd like to be able to see what
they're up to without them being able to climb over. Hence picket fence
with pointy top, or lowish spiky hedge. The house on the other side of
the footpath has a hedge and it hasn't done the tarmac footpath any
damage, although its planted in soil, not holes drilled into the tarmac.