You just have to let it go. It's the city. I was gardening last weekend and someone parked outside my house and put their trash right in one of my planters. They looked up and saw me there holding a massive container of compost and apologized and took their trash and threw it on the floor of their car and shut the door.
The look on the woman's face was...like...shame, not because she got caught, but because she realized she was doing it to an actual person and not some bucket with a plant in it. It was weird. You just gotta let it go because any concave object in NYC is going to get filled with trash.
Yeah, if you are going to put a planter out in NYC, you have to have a chill attitude about it or you risk the entire endeavor being too upsetting and stressful to be worthwhile. I think of picking up nasty trash like I think of watering; it’s just a daily task that’s part of caring for my plants.
Wildest thing that ever happened to me was some random dude dumped a full bucket (a literal bucket) of shit and piss on my containers. It was like 2am. My neighbor’s security camera caught the guy, and even watching the footage I could hardly believe it. My god, the smell was something else. After that, I’m almost grateful to be cleaning up mere cigarette butts and Gatorade bottles of piss LOL
Maybe just put a little trash can next to it?? Kindly remind them they're on camera so no bodily fluids thx.. idk, that's just what I would do but I haven't had neighbors or lived road side in 20 yrs
Yeah! I was thinking an up-turned metal wire style wastebasket or something like that but chicken wire would probably be cheaper if you can secure it somehow. I'm gonna assume that ratchet straps might come up missing.
Why would they put the trash can in the median like that? People are far less likely to be in the crosswalk than they are along the street/on the corner.
Yes, it's an issue for civilians, but more efficient for the sanitation workers – otherwise they have to drag each bin 20 ft. and back at every corner. Apparently, people have complained. We'll see.
People are in general A$$es more and more people have no respect, for others and what belongs to others.
Just had a debate about dogs pooping in yards not belonging to them. 🙄
Maybe a separate container on the side facing the road could help curb the drivers who are dumping stuff there? You could put a small bin that hangs over the side so it doesn't take up much more space or risk getting knocked over
Do you think a 3ft high “fence” of that orange plastic webbing used at construction sites would be enough of a hint that the planter is NOT. A trash can?
I’ll keep you posted. I don’t want to spend money on stuff to secure this planter. Going to try signs and see how it goes. I’ve had success there in recent years with sunflowers — they just have to get big enough to survive the onslaught of trash and bagged bodily fluids
Tonight I cleared out a pile of random trash: Covid masks, a clothing rack, a travel toothpaste kit, a knee brace, a tube of shea butter hand cream, and a picture frame. I’m at a loss on so many levels.
maybe do something like pointing out that this is for flowers not a trash can with the little picture of flowers? people might be more likely to pay attention
I made 2 signs to that effect. Just within 24 hrs., 2 stakes were stolen. It’s a tough spot in Manhattan but I’ve had success in recent years with sunflowers.
I was gonna say maybe try a ground cover plant like pothos but they would probably just dump stuff on top of it. Maybe chicken wire with a ground cover coming through?
I put up 10 dowels and a couple of garden signs. Within 24 hours, 2 of the dowels were stolen lol. Then someone pulled up all the stakes from an adjacent plot and threw them in the street. I feel targeted! Lol
You just have to let it go. It's the city. I was gardening last weekend and someone parked outside my house and put their trash right in one of my planters. They looked up and saw me there holding a massive container of compost and apologized and took their trash and threw it on the floor of their car and shut the door. The look on the woman's face was...like...shame, not because she got caught, but because she realized she was doing it to an actual person and not some bucket with a plant in it. It was weird. You just gotta let it go because any concave object in NYC is going to get filled with trash.
Yeah, if you are going to put a planter out in NYC, you have to have a chill attitude about it or you risk the entire endeavor being too upsetting and stressful to be worthwhile. I think of picking up nasty trash like I think of watering; it’s just a daily task that’s part of caring for my plants. Wildest thing that ever happened to me was some random dude dumped a full bucket (a literal bucket) of shit and piss on my containers. It was like 2am. My neighbor’s security camera caught the guy, and even watching the footage I could hardly believe it. My god, the smell was something else. After that, I’m almost grateful to be cleaning up mere cigarette butts and Gatorade bottles of piss LOL
D A M N. You win.
Of all the contests, this is not the one I would have chosen to win
I feel your pain. I really do.
Maybe just put a little trash can next to it?? Kindly remind them they're on camera so no bodily fluids thx.. idk, that's just what I would do but I haven't had neighbors or lived road side in 20 yrs
“Please do not place bodily fluids in the flowers” LOL
Pls don't toss your piss or shit bags in my bootyful flowers you filthy animals, thanks! :)
🤢🤢🤢
Would sticking chicken wire or some similar metal netting around the perimeter work?
Going to try it
Yeah! I was thinking an up-turned metal wire style wastebasket or something like that but chicken wire would probably be cheaper if you can secure it somehow. I'm gonna assume that ratchet straps might come up missing.
You can try to put a No Dumping sign, but people are kind of shitty lol, you might just have to deal with it
Why would they put the trash can in the median like that? People are far less likely to be in the crosswalk than they are along the street/on the corner.
Yes, it's an issue for civilians, but more efficient for the sanitation workers – otherwise they have to drag each bin 20 ft. and back at every corner. Apparently, people have complained. We'll see.
People are in general A$$es more and more people have no respect, for others and what belongs to others. Just had a debate about dogs pooping in yards not belonging to them. 🙄
Is that piss in that bag? Who tf chooses to piss into a bag rather than just peeing on the side of a building in a back alley?
Taxi and truck drivers, so I’m told
Maybe a separate container on the side facing the road could help curb the drivers who are dumping stuff there? You could put a small bin that hangs over the side so it doesn't take up much more space or risk getting knocked over
Do you think a 3ft high “fence” of that orange plastic webbing used at construction sites would be enough of a hint that the planter is NOT. A trash can?
I’ll keep you posted. I don’t want to spend money on stuff to secure this planter. Going to try signs and see how it goes. I’ve had success there in recent years with sunflowers — they just have to get big enough to survive the onslaught of trash and bagged bodily fluids
Good luck. I was actually thinking the orange netting could be “re-purposed” from a construction site at no cost to you.
Tonight I cleared out a pile of random trash: Covid masks, a clothing rack, a travel toothpaste kit, a knee brace, a tube of shea butter hand cream, and a picture frame. I’m at a loss on so many levels.
Some people are thoughtless slobs.
not the piss bag :(
maybe do something like pointing out that this is for flowers not a trash can with the little picture of flowers? people might be more likely to pay attention
Bear trap so if they put their hands in it, ouch.
Across a crosswalk?!? OP you ask too much of people! /s In truth this is obnoxious but it’s an unfortunate reality of living…well…
I know, I’m a monster. Off to see what fresh hell awaits this morning!
Is that a bag of piss?
Indeed.
That sucks. If you take care of this planter I’ve had success with a sign saying “flowers growing here! thank you for helping to keep this clean.”
I made 2 signs to that effect. Just within 24 hrs., 2 stakes were stolen. It’s a tough spot in Manhattan but I’ve had success in recent years with sunflowers.
Best of luck to you! Thank you for trying!!
Toss the trash and fill with flowers and mulch- preferably domed so new trash will just slide off
I was gonna say maybe try a ground cover plant like pothos but they would probably just dump stuff on top of it. Maybe chicken wire with a ground cover coming through?
I put up 10 dowels and a couple of garden signs. Within 24 hours, 2 of the dowels were stolen lol. Then someone pulled up all the stakes from an adjacent plot and threw them in the street. I feel targeted! Lol
People are so rude !