Fruit trees and parking (Los Angeles: home, fence, legally)

[Mike121]

On my property -- a single family home in SW Los Angeles -- I have a lemon tree at the back of my driveway by the garage. The tree is visible from the street and isn't behind a fence. Thus, every day, without permission, someone wanders to the tree to pick fruit. Sometimes I ignore them. Sometimes I will speak to them just to hear whatever excuses they are going to make.

Today's fruit thief told me that my gardener said that he could come by and pick the lemons. I don't have a gardener, of course.

Taking the fruit is only slightly irritating, and usually I'll let any that asks take some.

But what really annoys me is when they park their car in my house's private driveway to pick the fruit. You can mess with a man's fruit tree, but don't mess with an Angeleno's parking!

[saibot]

Does the fruit extend over the property line? I believe legally, people can take any fruit that hangs over public property.

[Mike121]

Originally Posted by saibot

Does the fruit extend over the property line? I believe legally, people can take any fruit that hangs over public property.

No. It is maybe 15 feet from the closest property line.

[saibot]

Oh! Well, maybe what you need is a "No Trespassing" sign. And "Beware the Dog."

[Mr_Geek]

Put a sign up that says "Genetically engineered test lemons".

[TheKiwi]

Agree with the No Tresspassing sign idea. Might help deter some?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Mr_Geek

Put a sign up that says "Genetically engineered test lemons".

Or inject some Syrup of Ipecac into a few of them.

[bpeeps]

To go along with Mr. Geek, something along the lines of Chemically Treated Lemons. GMO Lemons?

A no trespassing sign or a beware of dog sign with no fence isn't going to do much.

Or, just put up a fence.

[Irco]

You can pick some yourself and place some in a basket near your driveway with a sign saying take some compliments of the owner.

[DriveNotCommute]

A gate over the driveway and a short wall along the sidewalk might be what it takes to keep people off your property.

The only other simple solution I can think of might be to make the lemons look less appealing. You could drip/smear brown food coloring on parts of them or something. Or try hanging voodoo looking dolls and other cursed-looking items from the tree. Maybe toilet paper the tree just a little? Since it's pretty far inside your property, it won't be as much of a nuisance, it should be harmless to the tree. It might be just enough to trigger an unappealing reaction from strangers.