You bought the home security system, installed the doorbell camera, and even purchased one of those fake dog speakers for when you\u2019re out of town. But did you know your landscaping can help protect your home?<\/p>
We\u2019ve got tips and tricks to help you prevent crime before it happens. All you need is a green thumb and a little bit of elbow grease to get started.<\/p>
The end goal here is to have a clear line of sight to anywhere on your property and eliminate hiding spots.<\/p>
Impenetrable rows of arborvitae may seem like a good tactic to keep unwanted visitors off your property. The problem is that tall shrubs block your line of sight. <\/p>
Use open fencing, such as chain link or iron, to delineate your property lines or to create distinct spaces within your lawn. <\/p>
It\u2019s time to get out your pruning tools<\/a>. If you have bushes, shrubbery, or trees in front of your windows, keep them short (between 2 to 3 feet tall<\/a>) so they don\u2019t obstruct your vision. The goal is for you to see clearly to the street and eliminate rows of tall shrubs<\/a>, which are an easy hiding place for trespassers.<\/p> Be especially careful with shrubs around the garage. You don\u2019t want to create places that people can easily hide around the garage entrance.<\/p> Make sure your trees don\u2019t block the view around your property. If they do, consult with an arborist to see if trimming is an option.<\/p> Have you ever looked up at a convex mirror as you enter a blind intersection in a building or parking garage? These mirrors can be helpful for home use as well. <\/p> Do you want to see around the corner before you step onto the back patio with your cup of joe? Want to see who\u2019s on the side of the house as you pull into your garage? Use a convex mirror to eliminate these blind spots around your property.<\/p> Before you buy that gorgeous flowering bush at the local nursery, read the tag. You\u2019ll want to know its mature size before you buy. Any vegetation that is over 3 feet is too tall to plant in front of your window or as part of a row of hedges.<\/p> We have another section on landscape lighting, but for front doors (a key access point), lighting is important. Use a motion sensor light to deter individuals who might approach your primary entryway. Install it at least 10 feet off the ground<\/a> so no one will be able to damage it upon approach.<\/p> The goal here is to make your home\u2019s easy access points (windows and doors) as unattractive as possible.<\/p> Trim the lower tree limbs<\/a> up to at least 7 feet off the ground<\/a>. This will prevent people from climbing and gaining access to your roof and second-story windows.<\/p> Windows are an easy entry point, so it\u2019s up to you to make them unattractive for a potential burglar. One way to do this is to use stones or rocks in front of your windows. If your flower beds abut the windows, you may need to fill the bed with rocks<\/a> as an inorganic mulch. Rocks will make this ground noisy and slippery, deterring potential intruders.<\/p> It\u2019s an age-old trick, but it works. Plant something prickly in front of your first-floor windows. One caveat: Make sure these thorny bushes aren\u2019t too tall so the plants don\u2019t obstruct your vision.<\/p> \u2018Concorde\u2019 Japanese barberry:<\/strong> This variety produces almost no viable seed and is therefore not deemed invasive. Since some varieties of barberry are invasive, this plant is banned in some states. Zones 4-8<\/a> (-30 to 20 degrees F).<\/p> Cacti:<\/strong> These plants need no introduction. There are too many varieties to mention, and many of them have spines to deter unwanted visitors. Even better, many stay relatively short and are great for planting under windows. <\/p> If you don\u2019t live in the American Southwest, don\u2019t worry. There are still many cacti varieties to choose from. Opuntia fragilis<\/em> is hardy to Zone 4a<\/a> (-30 degrees F), and some varieties of Opuntia polyacantha<\/em> are hardy down to Zone 3b<\/a> (-35 degrees F). <\/p> Opuntia <\/em>plants are a popular species for living fences. According to one source, the Opuntia<\/em> species was used by the Cuban army to form a living fence<\/a> around Guantanamo Bay in the \u201860s.<\/p> Dwarf bougainvillea: <\/strong>Most dwarf varieties retain their thorns, though the thorns are smaller than those on full-size varieties. Dwarf bougainvillea can function as a great hedge. Zones Zones 9-11<\/a> (20 to 50 degrees F).<\/p> Knockout roses:<\/strong> The easy-to-maintain rose bushes have prominent thorns. Hardy to Zone 5<\/a> (-20 to -10 degrees F).<\/p> Lighting is a key component of a safe, nighttime landscape. The goal is to reduce dark areas around the home. If you have to step outside at night, or if you like to host evening events, lighting is a key part of enjoying your landscape safely.<\/p> Once the sun sets, your landscape will need a little help to stay bright and safe. Some homeowners want their entire landscape to be lit (walkways, stairs, columns, etc.). Others may only want motion-sensitive lights. It depends on your needs and budget.<\/p> Proper lighting is an art, so if you don\u2019t have the time to read up on lighting best practices, professional installation may be worth the investment. For go-getter DIY types, lighting your landscape<\/a> may be a challenge that\u2019s right up your (well-lit) alley.<\/p> It may seem like a waste of your time to mention this, but maintenance is an important concept that safety organizations mention in their keys to safety (see Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design<\/a> principles below). <\/p> Here\u2019s a short list of ways to keep your landscaping in top condition:<\/p> Maintaining your space does many things to keep your home safe:<\/p> Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)<\/a> lists four keys to keep in mind as you\u2019re designing a home landscape:<\/p> If you need a helping hand to keep your property well maintained, contact one of our <\/em>local landscaping pros<\/em><\/a> today. They will set up a routine maintenance schedule to keep your property neat and clean, an easy first step toward a safer landscape.<\/em><\/p> Use convex mirrors to eliminate blind spots<\/h3>
Know the mature size before you plant<\/h3>
Keep the door well lit<\/h3>
Limit access points <\/h2>
Trim tree limbs<\/h3>
Make some noise with rocks<\/h3>
Prickly plantings<\/h3>
Popular prickly plants: <\/h4>
Let the light shine<\/h2>
Install outdoor lighting around the property<\/h3>
Maintain your space<\/h2>
Four principles to secure landscape design<\/h2>