WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SECURE YOUR GARDEN?

The following is an extract from an article published in the Saturday Telegraph by Veronica Lee on September 3 2005.

The first security measure is a fence or wall to the maximum allowed height of two metres (6ft 6in), preferably with trellis forming the top section. Trellis will break easily if a burglar puts weight on it and the noise will attract attention. Your may want to dig a trench on your side of the fence, too, so there's a much deeper drop that has to be negotiated.

If your garden is next to a public highway and you are considering installing barbed wire, razor wire or another such fence topping, it must comply with Section 164 of the Highways Act 1980; it must not overhang and must incline inwards. Err on the side of caution because if the deterrent is considered excessive you could face prosecution for any injury caused.

It is probably better to use plants to create a physical barrier; they are perfectly legal and look much better. Any thing thorny or sticky that grows densely does the job, so pyracantha, berberis, holly, roses and gorse are suitable.

Pyracantha (firethorn) is the king of security plants. These vigorous shrubs have vicious thorns and are excellent for growing up a trellis or against a wall. All have white flowers in late spring or early summer and berries in autumn.

Pyracantha 'Orange Glow' has white or soft-pink flowers followed by bright yellow, orange or red berries, depending on the cultivar. P. atalantioides and P. 'Watereri' have red berries 'Aurea' and 'Flava' have yellow.

Several types of berberis are suitable for the task as nearly all are very thorny. They are best planted as a hedge and require little attention.

Climbing and rambling roses are useful to brighten a dull trellis and send a signal of impenetrability. Remember that prickly plants outside liver-floor windows are an added deterrent but that hedges and shrubs in the front garden should be kept of no more than 90cm (3ft) to avoid giving a burglar a screen behind which he can conceal himself.

Your security planting need be no more than a couple of metres deep; it should, however be at least the height of the fence. If any burglar is stupid enough to jump over the wall after seeing what's growing beyond, he'll be caught up in the dense thicket and cut to shreds in you perfectly legal barrier. And, if he does get away, he'll have left plenty of blood for a DNA sample.