Garden Security Ideas

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Where do burglars look first?

Take the time to look at your property from a trespasser’s eye - do you have side or rear access, and is it gated and locked? Are the garden fences sturdy? Do you have tools and equipment on show? Are there any areas to hide or conceal yourself? Thinking about all of these things should give you a vision of any weak spots. 

Why not ask your neighbours, friends or family for their opinion too, everyone has a different perspective and might give you some great ideas you hadn’t thought of! 

Fitting garden gate locks

There are different types of locks that can be fitted to your garden gate. Using just a bolt lock isn’t going to cut it when they can easily be kicked open. You could add a padlock to it alongside an additional lock for extra security. 

A sturdy mortice lock would be an ideal choice, as they can also be seen from the roadside to act as a deterrent, but depending on the type of gate you have this may not be suitable. Other options to consider are: rim locks or hasp & staple locks - both of which can be easily fixed to a wooden gate with screws. You could even think about placing a drop bolt lock at the base of your gate and drilling a hole into the concrete floor.

Above all, do ensure that the frame and posts of your gate are sturdy because, no matter how robust a lock you fix to it, a weak frame can easily be penetrated.

Garden shed security locks

We don’t always think too much about the security of our garden sheds - it’s just a convenient place to store garden tools, bikes, junk and the like. It’s so easy to accumulate a whole range of tools and equipment without realising, and the cost to replace anything stolen could be quite eye-watering. 

Shed locks are a simple necessity to secure our property and cost very little. Here we list some of the most common types of lock suitable to use on your garden shed:

Does leaving a light on at night deter burglars?

This debate has faced much discussion - while some think it’s a good idea there are many who believe the opposite, so how do we get over the hurdle of ‘is it a good idea to leave lights on, or not?’. 

The point made by people in opposition to a constant light, is that this will give burglars the light they need to see what’s what. In addition, your neighbours will probably be used to seeing a light on at your property, so there would be no alarm to raise as it wouldn’t seem out of the ordinary.

Garden lights with motion sensors, however, could be the answer. When motion is detected and the light comes on, there’ll be an instant reaction to see if an intruder is present. And, if your neighbours know you’re away, the light will raise an alarm with them too. And what’s more, if your motion-sensored lights are connected to a CCTV camera you should be comfortably covered if intruders try their luck.

What is the best fence for security?

Fencing your boundary is one of the main elements of ensuring your home is secure from unwanted trespassers. There are many types of fences available, so choosing the right one for you and your needs could be the difference between easy access and challenging entry. Here we list the main types of garden fence you’ll find and the benefits of each.

Landscaping garden security ideas

Besides a sturdy fence to protect your property, there are other ideas you can take into consideration. See the ideas below to help inspire your security planning.

• Update your driveway with gravel. It’s very difficult to walk across a gravel driveway without being heard! You could also incorporate gravel pathways through your back garden too.

• Low-height walling or boundaries to the front of your property will reduce the amount of hiding places.

• Tall-height boundaries to the side and rear of your property will make it difficult for intruders to climb.

• Growing thorny plants up your trellis fencing, like the rambling rose, will make it difficult to climb and access your property.

• Plant prickly bushes or shrubs, such as holly, around the perimeter or your garden - they will act as a natural barrier. Even fruit bushes can act as a thorny deterrent - try gooseberries, raspberries and blackberries.

We hope this article has been helpful in giving you some ideas on garden security. You will discover a wide range of shed and gate security to help keep your belongings safe. For more ideas, see our latest home and security articles.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is intended as an overall introduction and is not intended as specific advice from a qualified professional. Travis Perkins aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, in the case that any information stated is out of date.