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A guide to landscaping for home security in St. Petersburg

April 01, 2024
Home with new plants in mulch bed and wheelbarrow in yard

What kind of message does your home’s exterior send to prospective burglars? Are you spreading out a welcome mat with poor lighting and overgrown bushes? Review our tips on landscaping for home security in St. Petersburg and see how you can boost your property’s defense.

No. 1: Keep your St. Petersburg exterior well-lit

A well-illuminated exterior is an annoyance to intruders who would preferably stay hidden in the dark. Evaluate your landscape to find shadowy areas, including the outer border, where uninvited visitors will gain access. Incorporate motion-sensing lights around primary entry points like back doors and garages, or consider less-intrusive lighting that you keep lit up after dark.

You may want to place lights beside paths to help you see after dark and illuminate your landscape. Accent lights next to trees and retaining walls illuminate likely hiding places and impart a decorative touch.

No. 2: Maintain your landscape

What do meticuolously pruned bushes, regularly cut grass, and weeded gardens convey about you? It’s an undeniable signal that you pay attention to your grounds and likely to your home’s security. Prowlers are much less willing to tresspass a well-groomed landscape with mindful residents. Don’t put a target on your home by giving a poor impression.

No. 3: Install exterior cameras in St. Petersburg

The last thing thieves wish to see attached to your home is a surveillance device. The mere appearance of video cameras is enough to scare off most uninvited guests. They are great for your protection and reassurance as you can review the footage whenever you choose from the security app on your smartphone.

Your surveillance systems may even be customized to integrate with different smart tools, as you could have interior light bulbs turn on if a video camera finds someone trespassing. When installing, keep them elevated enough off the ground to prevent tampering and ensure they’re situated wisely.

No. 4: Make certain you have a clear view

You should have an unimpeded sightline at all times. When installing plants around windows, ensure that the mature size is three feet or less. Keep your plants trimmed properly, and stay away from bigger bushes or hedges next to entryways like garage doors that can act as hiding places. When formulating a design, opt for an open landscape that permits you to see all parts of your yard.

No. 5: Consider defensive flora when landscaping for security in St. Petersburg

Implement an additional layer of protection with prickly, thorny, or spiny plants next to ground-level windows. Prospective prowlers will try to steer clear of this defensive greenery and may be forced to target other main entries like your front door or garage, which are usually the most secure. Just use caution when planting these bushes, and avoid spots where kids play. And don’t neglect to include your home security sign in a noticeable spot to tell trespassers your home is protected.

Install the best protection with a Vivint home security system in St. Petersburg

The ideal complement to your nicely maintained landscape is a St. Petersburg home security system from Vivint. Incorporate surveillance cameras, entrypoint sensors, motion sensors, and smart lighting into a comprehensive plan. You might even use automation, like having indoor lights switch on if a camera finds a prowler lingering outdoors. Contact (727) 353-8318 today to ask about your options and upgrade your security.