Households across the UK are being urged to plant spiky plants like roses and hawthorn before Christmas Day.
Every Christmas, burglars target houses – a bit like festive favourite Home Alone – scouting for houses full of expensive new gifts.
There are lots of ways you can make your house more secure, like alarms, security lighting, motion activated doorbells, CCTV, and so on – but an easy way to upgrade your security without spending a fortune starts in your garden.
That’s because thorny bushes can actually help keep your house secure during the Christmas season when house burglaries spike.
A spokesperson for Garden and lighting experts LightingLegends.com said: “Planting thorny or spiky plants like roses and hawthorn along the perimeter of your garden creates a natural barrier.
“These plants are difficult and painful to get through, discouraging potential intruders. Dense, bushy plants can also serve as effective barriers, for example holly and pyracantha (firethorn).”
They continued: “With many households storing high-value gifts and displaying festive decorations at this time of year, it’s important to consider home and garden security to prevent property damage and theft.
“Gardens also often contain valuable items such as tools, outdoor furniture, and bicycles, which can become targets for opportunistic thieves – particularly during the festive period when some households may be away visiting friends and relatives.
“Effective security measures, such as good lighting and secure fences, work to deter vandals and intruders, safeguarding both outdoor belongings and families’ peace of mind during the festive period.”
Other options include security lighting, more secure fences and cameras, of course.
They added: “A sturdy fence around your property can deter intruders by making it more difficult to access your garden. Opt for a tall, solid fence made of strong and durable materials like wood, metal, or vinyl. This provides both privacy and a physical barrier. Adding a lattice or spikes at the top of the fence can further deter climbing.
“Install motion-activated security lights around the garden, especially near entry points like gates, doors, and pathways.
“These lights will turn on when movement is detected, startling intruders and drawing attention to them. Use other kinds of heavy duty and waterproof garden lights to keep your outdoor space well-lit, particularly around vulnerable areas like garages and sheds. It’s important to use IP65 rated waterproof lights if you want to use them all year round.
“This increases overall visibility and reduces hiding spots for intruders. Solar-powered spotlights are particularly useful for this purpose.”
