Burglar Free Zone Blog

Garden Plants that Really Do Deter Burglars

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Not so many of us think about using plants to deter burglars, but perhaps we should do. Not only do they beautify gardens but they can prove to be an affordable and very effective deterrent to intruders. The kind of plants you select is down to many factors such as your location, garden, space, climate, and so on. The good news is that there’s plenty to choose from. There are plenty of plants that can deter burglars once you know how to do a little security landscaping.[1]

How Plants Deter Burglars

The key to a successful break-in is speed. All any burglar wants to do is get in and out as quickly as possible, and with the least amount of hassle and obstacles. Certain plants positioned in the right locations present plenty of obstacles and hassles for opportunistic burglars. Some can even hurt the trespassers with their spikes or stings. For example, planting thorny bushes under your windows is a great obstacle. This is just one of many ways where plants can help to protect your property.

In this short, funny, video is a serious message. Here the presenter shows you how the Yucca plant can do a great job at discouraging burglars from breaking in to your home.

 

 

The yucca, also called the Great White, is just one of many plants that can work for you. But before you go out and buy the nastiest, spikiest, roughest plants on the planet, there are two other things to take into consideration:

  1. Kids
  2. Pets

If you have young children who like to play in the garden, they too might become the victims of your security plants. You also need to think about kids if you’re a grandparent whose grandchildren come over to visit, or the kids of visiting friends. There are also certain plants that are poisonous to pets. Please make sure you think about these things before you decide on plant security protection.[2]

Decision Time

Once you have made a decision to use plants as a burglar deterrent, it’s time to get big and nasty. Most burglars are familiar with certain plant types and know which ones to avoid. If you can, try to cover strategic areas of your garden with big plants, the ones with abrasive foliage.

No common thief is going to be tempted to negotiate spikey or stinging obstacles, not if they don’t have to. The chances are they will target some other property instead. That’s bad news for your neighbors but great news for you.

If in doubt, have a chat with the folks down at your local garden center. Below are a few plants to get you thinking. It’s not possible for me to give personal recommendations because every garden size, layout, climate and situation is unique. You may also have kids and pets to consider as well.

Ten plants that can help to deter burglars include:

  1. Blackthorn
  2. Common Holly
  3. Creeping Juniper
  4. Firethorn
  5. Giant Rhubarb
  6. Golden Bamboo
  7. Gooseberry
  8. Hawthorn
  9. Pencil Christmas Tree
  10. Shrub Rose

There are others, but the list above will give you some idea. In short, you want to look for plants that have the following characteristics:

  • Abrasive
  • Prickly leaves
  • Thorny stems
  • Dense
  • Spiky
  • Sting

Some plants take a while to grow but they’re well worth the wait. Other types grow fast. There will be some that you can place in big pots. How you secure your garden and protect your home with plants is a project that will be unique to you.

Resources

  1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2014/03/20/how-your-landscaping-can-keep-burglars-away/#354d11e8775a
  2. http://www.livescience.com/11356-top-10-poisonous-plants.html
Mark Bickmore

Hi, my name is Mark Bickmore. I'm an Engineer, who has a keen interest in home security and keeping my family, property and valuables safe from burglars. This website was set up to help me explore the research, facts and myths about burglars and burglary. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

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