Did you know that your garden can defend you against intruders? This may seem surprising, as homeowners often prefer sophisticated security systems to prevent burglaries.

Between alarms and armoured doors, there is a wide range of products offered by security companies to private individuals.

But while installing surveillance cameras in your own home can be expensive, there are plenty of other options that can be adopted.

This includes a number of plants that can protect a house against burglary attempts.

Deter burglars with these valuable plants

In itself, the use of plants to combat burglaries is not illogical. If you have a house surrounded by empty land with no obstacles in the way, thieves have no trouble breaking into your home.

And access to your property is made much more difficult if you have plants that can slow them down and prevent them from looking inside your home.

Certain plants can create an obstacle at the entrance to your property. This is obviously the case with garden hedges, which you can place around your property. Bamboo can be extremely effective here. Thanks to its high density, it prevents anyone from getting through. But they also let in more light than conventional hedges.

How to deter burglars this summer

Garden hedges and bamboo can be used as obstacles as well as privacy screens.

Another type of plant that is effective against burglars is thorny shrubs. Made up of thorns, they will block access to certain parts of your home. In this case, it's best to plant gorse, piracanthas, blackthorn and hawthorn.

You can also opt for climbing plants covered in thorns. If you're worried about burglars getting in through a window, this is a good way to put your mind at rest. No one will try to build a wall on which thorny plants are growing.

The best choice is rosa rugosa, whose stems are covered in painful thorns.

Slow the progress of burglars

Of course, you can't turn your property into a fortress by using plants. At best, you can slow them down. But thieves will certainly always find a way to get to your home. The best thing is to prevent burglaries. And to do that, plants that block their view of your home can be very effective.

Bamboo and hedges aren't the only garden plants that can act as privacy screens. Another method is to plant tall trees. Choose flowering cherry, olive and mimosa trees. These trees can reach heights of over ten metres. What's more, their foliage is dense enough for no one to see through. So the garden reduces the risk of burglary.