Vandalism is a willful act of destruction that is often difficult to police or prevent. It has been DUG’s experience that most vandals are neighborhood youth just looking for something mischievous to do. The best solution is to be as inclusive as possible and provide ample education about the garden to the surrounding community. DUG encourages community gardeners to invite neighbors and young people to enjoy common spaces in the garden and even to get involved as a participant. Community gardens tend to be left alone when gardeners are present in the garden, when gardeners and neighbors know each other and when everyone values and understands the purpose of the garden.

In addition to many of the strategies suggested to deter theft, DUG also recommends the following for preventing vandalism:

Visiting the Garden Often: Encourage all gardeners to visit their garden regularly, including spending social time in the garden. A garden that is continuously populated by gardeners is the best deterrent for vandalism. 

Invite Neighbors to Join a Garden Celebration: Host a potluck or picnic in the garden and invite the whole neighborhood, including neighborhood youth! Offer activities at the potluck to interest youth, such as painting a mural together. People who feel excluded from the garden are potential vandals. Also consider inviting local police and community officials to garden potlucks and celebrations.

Be Diligent about Locking the Gate: It is worth being thoughtful about locking gates when leaving your garden. While this may not keep out determined vandals that are just as willing to climb a 6ft fence as they are a 4ft one, it does have the potential to keep out those that are wandering by “just looking for something to do.” 

Add Lighting: Consider requesting alley or sidewalk lighting from the City, or even install a few solar powered low voltage lights on the interior of the garden.

Have Children in the Garden Paint a Mural: Arrange a project with the children in the garden to paint a mural on a garden bench back or to hang on the outside of the fence. The mural can include a request for the community to respect and look after the garden, as well as a message about how much the children care about their garden. Often, youth involved in the garden become the garden’s best protectors.

Be Thoughtful when Planting Pumpkins: If your garden plans to grow pumpkins, consider making them less visible in the garden is some way, including their location. Their bright orange color and their size become a major temptation for vandals. Even consider planting gourds and miniature pumpkins instead.

Involve People in Their Own Process of Behavioral Change: If specific individuals are known to be vandalizing the garden, provide a positive channel (win-win situation) for them to personally get involved in repairing the damage. Have them replant, work on digging in compost to soil that has been compacted or be engaged in making improvements to small areas of the garden. Most people would rather be recognized for acts in which they can show a sense of pride than for those in which they have been responsible for damage.

Last updated on January 7, 2011 by Denver Urban Gardens