Hedges As A Crime Deterrent: Which Varieties Will Discourage Burglars?

As many people know hedges can keep out all sorts of pests. A hedge acts as a wind and privacy screen so you are able to protect your yard from unwanted drafts and the prying eyes of your neighbors. A hedge can also keep out certain pests and animals. But hedges as a crime deterrent, you ask? Can hedges really keep out burglars?

Though it may sound surprising, there are some hedges that will deter potential burglars. Prickly hedges will make any burglar think twice about invading your home.

There are many things you can do to minimize the risk of having your home burglarized. Having proper locks in place and having outdoor lighting at both the front and back of your house are two of the main things you can do to reduce the risk of being burglarized.

On the one hand, hedges can provide a hiding place for burglars, particularly if they are not trimmed and maintained properly. Hedges should be kept at a height of two feet. You want to make sure that you do not have really tall and untrimmed trees and hedges at the front of your house. Burglars will see these as a natural hiding place. The last thing you want to do is provide a place where these thieves can conceal themselves. You want to make sure that your house is visible to your neighbors and anyone else passing by. Because burglars need to conceal themselves, they will move on to an easier target if your entryways are too visible for their liking.

On the other hand certain varieties of hedges can actually deter burglars. More and more police departments are telling people in their areas to practice this kind of crime prevention landscaping. Plants that are prickly and thick hedges will help keep away those people considering breaking into your home. Thorny hedges are particularly effective for this. While these types of hedges might look attractive, they will be a sharp reminder that your home is off-limits to them.

The more thorns on your hedges the better if you're trying to deter burglars. Hawthorn hedges will keep animals at a minimum and will prove somewhat effective against burglars. Berberis darwinii and B. thundergii are two of the best varieties to keep burglars at bay – their razor-sharp thorns will keep most unwanted visitors at bay.

There's also the Robin Hood rose. With this rose shrub, the thorns don't just scratch the skin; they actually break off into the skin so your would-be burglar will be left with a very unpleasant reminder of their folly.

Because burglars try to be as inconspicuous as possible, you should consider planting these types of hedges in places that might appeal to potential intruders. Making it as difficult as possible to access your home is your goal. Planting these kinds of sharp and prickly hedges in places where burglars can gain easy access to your home will help keep them out and make them think twice about trying to enter your property.

In terms of your overall garden design, you want to avoid large rocks or boulders. Really large boulders pose the same problem as tall and untrimmed trees and bushes – they are a natural hiding place for potential burglars. Medium sized rocks are also dangerous because burglars wanting to gain access to your house can use them to break windows. It is best to use small pebbles in your garden to avoid these kinds of problems.

Planting prickly hedges can be an important part of your overall home security and burglary prevention plan. That doesn't mean, however, that it should be your only barrier against home invaders. You need to invest the proper money and energy into protecting your home from burglars by installing proper locks and lighting. The key is visibility. If there is nowhere for them to hide, your would-be burglars will move on to someone else. Prickly hedges will act in much the same way. If a prickly and painful obstacle is placed in a burglars' way, odds are they will leave and seek out a much less difficult target.

A strategically placed Berberis darwinii or Robin Hood rose may not be an absolute guarantee that your home will never be robbed, but its vicious thorns will make even the toughest burglars think twice before approaching your home.