Home security starts in the garden
As temperatures in the UK start to rise it’s only natural for many of us to start spending more time outdoors. It’s the time of year when you restore your gardens as a point of pride, enjoy BBQ’s and make the most of your garden furniture. However you shouldn’t compromise or neglect your gardens security.
Remember that gardens act as the first line of defence for your home; garden security plays a huge role in your homes overall security. Now that’s not to suggest you place your home and garden into a complete lockdown mirroring an unattractive fortress. However you enhance your garden security without compromising on the aesthetics you’ve worked so hard on.
We share our garden security tips and expertise in our comprehensive guide below.
Low front boundaries
There is a big misconception that the best way to boost overall home security from the front garden is to have high fences and lots of bushes. Large obstacles can obscure the view inside a home for opportunistic burglars. However it fails to recognise that those same bushes also provide great hiding places.
A clean view of the front garden with your home clearly visible in the background minimises the chance of someone sneaking around the property unnoticed. We advise keeping hedges and fences low, preferably under 1 meter in height. When burglars see no visible hiding spots your home automatically becomes a far less attractive target.
Boundary protection for side and rear garden
Whilst front gardens should be open and clearly visible to neighbours, a home’s side entrance and back garden is the opposite. The side and back of homes are vulnerable access points as they are usually out of sight.
Here you want to make it as difficult as possible for burglars to gain access to your garden and home. Side garden gates should always remain closed and secured. High fences with wall spikes or hedges are ideal as they are difficult to climb and often take too much time, increasing the likelihood of someone seeing the intruder.
Permanent fixtures such as walls or fences that exceed 2 meters in height may require planning permission. For this reason we prefer hedges; once developed, they become dense making them difficult to pass through and extremely difficult to get over the top.
Strong perimeter defence
Gravel path – In the dead of the night nothing shouts intruder more than the sound of a burglars footsteps; no matter how careful a burglar tries. Hidden alleyways and vulnerable access areas around the perimeter of the home are ideal locations for a gravel path. They are a quick and affordable way of boosting garden security.
Garden intruder hedges – A living hedge can provide the same security as a security gate, wall or fence. However they offer more in terms of colour, texture and interest.
Firethorn
These diverse hedging plants make great intruder hedges due to the prickly branches. Evergreen foliage and a vibrant cover of yellow, orange or red berries decorate the hedge in autumn
Hawthorn
Native to the UK and offers a beautiful, white scented flowers in spring followed by bird-friendly haws in autumn. The mid-green foliage falls later in the year, leaving the sharp thorns to embellish the bare branches. These large thorns make Quickthorn the ideal garden security intruder deterrent hedge.
Holly
A traditional hedge, with glossy, attractive leaves and a prickly edge. They are great for stopping unwanted visitors in their tracks. Holly provides a perfect balance of protection and security whilst complimenting the surrounding landscaping
Blackthorn
Covered in thorns with a dense foliage this a wonderful intruder proof hedge. Showy white flowers provide a stunning display in spring and the black sloes that appear in autumn add wildlife value.
Catch them before they get closer
The best deterrent to opportunistic burglars are home security products such as motion sensors and home alert kits. Clearly visible motion sensors and security products sends a strong message that your home is secure. They act as a psychological barrier to intruders and burglars who perceive your home to be a difficult target.
Outdoor security sensors detect motion within a targetted area and alert you immediately (learn more). Home security kits can be personalised so additional sensors can be added with ease. This makes them ideal to create a geo-fenced secure perimeter which is specific to your own requirements.
Smart sensors and outdoor security cameras are a great garden security compliment. Functionality is similar to motion detectors however an added bonus is real time notifications and live viewing. More often than not, smart security products have limited functionality unless you sign up for a monthly subscription fee. There are always smart security brands that do offer full feature accessibility without this fee. Its important to research thoroughly before committing to a particular brand (learn more).
Shine a light
Outdoor security lighting is a great way of lighting up dark areas around the perimeter of your home, especially late at night. Security lights with motion detection are ideal because they don’t remain permanently on. This helps to save electricity but more importantly it draws attention when the lights turn on. The rule of thumb is, 50 lumens per square foot, at a minimum. We advise that when installing perimeter lighting opting for a light that gives off a minimum of 600 lumens. Depending on the area and the coverage you require this can go all the way up to 2400 lumens (more suited to large driveways and gardens). If burglars find themselves in the spotlight they won’t hesitate moving away in the blink of an eye. Better yet they wont come close to your home.
Outdoor security lights are available in wired options , battery powered options and solar power options. Depending on the coverage you require will determine which option you will need. To strike a healthy balance between security, price and ease of installation we advise solar powered security lighting. It’s important to remember, that solar powered outdoor security lights use rechargeable batteries. If they stop working its usually just the rechargeable battery that needs changing. Replace the battery and your security lighting should be up and running immediately again.
Secure your shed
Do you secure your sheds in the same way you secure your home? Sheds and garages often contain expensive bikes and valuable tools. According to police data opportunistic burglars use these to also gain access to your home.
In line with Police advice you should:
- Upgrade door hinges – shed door hinges are shockingly one of the weakest parts of the shed. They tend to be secured with small screws which are easily unscrewed or can be forced open. Replacing these for nuts and bolts secures the door firmly. It makes it extremely difficult for someone to prize it open without making too much noise or attracting attention.
- Block the windows – if burglars see something valuable and they know its worth the effort to break in. You have lost half the battle already. Installing blinds and curtains makes their job so much harder.
- Secure large items together – locking all your large valuable items together makes a job difficult for an intruder. Use a bike lock as a quick fix solution; for a burglar its a fiddly, time consuming endeavour. Opportunistic burglars are placed in a vulnerable position and they will often leave without your bike, lawnmower and other high value tools.
- Shed alarms – install a portable motion detector with an integrated alarm. Should anyone gain access the alarm bellows a loud siren. This will confuse, startle and scare any unsuspecting intruders whilst also notifying you of unexpected activity
Prevention is better than the cure
The key takeaway you should take from this guide is burglars do not like to be seen or heard. Taking precautions make them feel exposed and more likely to move on to an “easier” target. It’s a good idea to sometimes take a step back and ask “is my home an attractive target for burglars?”
When it comes to home security, prevention is always better than cure. Deterrents are a huge factor in keeping homes safe. The best way to avoid falling victim to burglary is to ensure your home is never considered a target in the first place
What measures have you taken to secure your garden?
