Landscape for Security hvlock.com

Landscape for Security

Exterior security should involve protecting all areas of your home. Landscaping must be one important factor and can be well planned to eliminate areas where a potential intruder can hide. Landscape design can be a practical alternative to metal bars and expensive security systems. Plants, which are deployed effectively, don’t advertise possessions worth defending like steel bars and threatening signs. These same plants also beautify as well as fortify, thereby justifying some added cost and effort.

Burglars look for properties where they can get in and out rapidly, avoiding detection and apprehension. The ideal target is a home surrounded by large hedges, shrubs and tall fences. All these obstruct the view from the street and neighbors’ homes. Few, or no obstacles that might block their quick exit and public access on at least one side of the property, is the burglar’s goal. With only one way out of your home and property, the potential intruder will probably move on to a more likely prospect.

Large, overgrown plants are your worst enemy. If the plant obscures your view of key areas or might offer cover to the lurking intruder, prune it back so these areas can be readily seen from the street. You can prune or remove tall shrubs, which block the view of the door or will allow the intruder to hide from view as you walk toward the door. Often these can be thinned out so you can see through them. If you can see through the plants, there is no place for a assailant to hide. Don’t allow shrubs to block your street address. Those responding to an emergency have to find your home. Planting open and low-growing shrubs will allow for better visibility without the constant need for pruning.

Planting a thick carpet of ivy or lush stands of ornamental grasses near the house creates a ankle engulfing barrier of foliage and allows total visibility. Use a gravel path next to bedroom windows. This can announce the presence of a prowler as he walks on the gravel. Thorny bushes, which are planted below windows, can sometimes discourage an intruder.

Fences can be an asset or a liability. The six-foot privacy fence helps protect the property but also provides cover for an intruder once inside the fenced area. Steel barrier fences can be the answer. They keep children and animals in and inducers out without altering the visibility factor. These come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, are almost maintenance free, and do not rot or deteriorate like a wood fence. Take a look at your house from the intruder’s perspective. If you wanted to break in, how would you go about gaining entrance without being seen? With your answer you can go about correcting the deficiencies.

There are many thorny security plants such as Holly, Roses, Firethorn, Hawthorn, Locust and others which can be used effectively to protect your property from the intruder. I suggest you speak with your local landscaper or garden supplier o get their suggestions. It will be well worth the investment of time and money.

While on the subject of exterior security, do not forget the swimming pool. For those fortunate enough to have one, there are some security problems that are associated with their ownership. Trespassers can use your pool, e injured and then sue you for damages if you neglect to provide adequate protection. All security measures are also good safety measures so there is some good news here.

There are many decorative metal fences available in various heights to protect a pool from intruders. A high security, weather resistant padlock is a necessity on each gate, Also available are pool alarms which are activated when the water is disturbed.

For additional security lighting around the home, motion detector floodlights are available that utilize a “passive infrared detector” system that senses both heat and motion. The units detect motion and/or heat in a designated area and then turn on to flood that area with light.