Factors inside your home, such as your alarm system, aren't the be-all and end-all of your home security. After all, burglars see your home for the first time from the outside. If they decide your home looks vulnerable, they're much more likely to target it for their next crime. Your landscaping can play a big role here, so analyze your landscape for any possible weaknesses.
Here are four questions to ask about your landscaping and how it may help or hinder your home security.
1. Does Landscaping Give Burglars Cover?
You don't want a burglar to identify your home as an easy target on first glance. A home that's partially blocked by vegetation may give a burglar the cover they need to sneak up to your front door or even provide cover as the burglar enters door or window. If your landscaping does provide cover to burglars, you could trim or remove some plants.
If you like your landscaping and the privacy it provides, you could instead shore up other security measures in that area. For example, you could protect a vulnerable window with security film and security screens as well with as your home's alarm system.
2. Can Burglars Climb Landscaping to Reach Unlocked Windows?
Tall fences, sturdy trees, play sets, and other large landscaping objects should never sit too close to your home. If a burglar can't access your home easily through the ground floor doors and windows, they may still try the upstairs windows if they find something easy to climb right by the house.
Second-story windows can especially be vulnerable. They're so far off the ground you may feel that you don't really need to lock them. Many burglars know these windows may be an easy target if a nearby tree provides access.
3. Is Landscaping Well-Lit at Night?
Great security lighting can often strongly deter criminal sat night. Take a look around your yard and landscaping after dark to see what dark corners burglars could hide in.
Floodlights can be especially useful since they can cover a lot of ground. Use them for places like driveway areas, backyards, your yard's perimeter, and areas near doors and windows. If your yard still has small dark corners that you're worried about, smaller luminaries can help. And if you don't want to waste energy, consider solar-powered or motion-sensing lighting.
4. Do Your Hedges or Fences Deter Intruders?
For security purposes, your hedges and fences should ideally make getting into your yard difficult, but they should not block your neighbors' view of your doors and windows. A relatively short, yet dense and prickly hedge may help security; it can be short enough to look over, yet difficult to climb over without incurring pain.
Some types of hedge that can provide the dense thorny barrier you need include buckthorn, firethorn, and holly. While these plants can grow quite tall, you can also keep them trimmed down to increase visibility. You could even pair a short, prickly hedge with at all yet see-through fence. Wrought iron, chain link, and similar fence design scan make entering your yard difficult yet still let neighbors see in.
With a fence, make sure to lock your gate when you're away. A burglar who's bold enough to walk right through the front door won't mind walking through your gate.
These four questions will help you stop and look at your landscape through security-savvy eyes. All Pro Security, Inc., can both install and maintain a security system to match your exact needs. Whether you have a large home or a small one, our custom security services are right for you. Get in touch today to hear more about our security systems,
residential surveillance services, and other services for your security needs.
