Opportunist thieves can be deterred with some thought and planning on your part regarding keeping your garden secure and safe. Not only will you be protecting your garden contents but also your home and family.
Hedges
There are pros and cons to having hedges as boundaries even when backed up by fencing. High hedges in the front garden can shield burglars from view, giving them the opportunity to break into your home undetected by passers by or neighbours.
However, in the back garden blackthorn or fire thorn will deter most intruders with their long, sharp thorns. Combined with a high fence these bushes will prove effective as a secure boundary.
Security lighting
If there’s one thing burglars try to avoid it’s light so make sure your garden has proper security lighting, fitted by a qualified professional for optimum deterrence. Identify the most likely routes that an intruder would take to avoid detection such as a side alley or back garden and install security lights in those locations.
Lights fitted with motion detectors are the most effective and can be set at a height where they won’t be activated by a passing animal.
Fencing
Getting your fencing right is an important step in keeping your garden secure. Embedding fence posts in concrete and fixing panels with galvanised brackets so they can’t be lifted is a good start. Make sure you’re using the maximum permissible fence height of two metres with your fencing and trellis. Lightweight trellis on fences and gates make it harder for intruders to climb over.
If you don’t feel that a fence is robust enough for your garden, consider a wall instead. Although building a garden wall costs may be higher it can provide a more secure boundary. However, it will be easier for unwelcome visitors to scale so consider topping it with some unfriendly spikes.
Garden gates
With your secure fencing in place, you’ll also need a high, sturdy side gate. A solid timber gate will obscure the view of your garden to deter opportunist thieves. When fitting a ledge and brace gate make sure the smooth face of the gate faces outward so that you’re not giving intruders a leg up into your garden.
Metal gates are more robust than timber and spiked railings are a visual and physical deterrent but they often give thieves a good view of your garden. Whatever type of gate you choose make sure that you always keep it closed and fit it with a high quality and robust lock.
Shed security
Securing your shed should be high on your list of priorities for making your garden safe. Chances are you have some expensive equipment and tools stored in there and if the shed is not adequately protected you may not be able to claim any loss on your insurance.
More important than someone making off with your lawnmower is not giving intruders access to tools which they can use to break into your home by locking your shed. You’d be surprised at the lengths some thieves will go to so make sure that your shed is also anchored to the ground.
Gravel paths and driveways
Gravel driveways and paths are a lovely decorative feature but did you know that they can also act as a burglar deterrent? It’s impossible to walk or drive on gravel without making noise. So if you have a path or driveway that needs renovating or you want to optimise your garden security lay gravel rather than paving slabs.
The key to garden security is to make it as difficult as possible for someone to enter your property without being detected, visibly or audibly. So use every option at your disposal to keep your garden safe.
