Anti-Burglar Bush!

Spender£

I had a face looking through my window at 3.00 am a few days ago which has made me motivated to try and put an obstacle on the dirt outside to prevent this sort of tampering.

I wanted to plant something like a Berberis (Japanese Barberry) or Pyracantha but my cousin reckons planting anything that close to the house will mess with the foundations, i explained that the idea was to keep the bush smallish just under the windows to cause tamperers a problem if they try to get close to the windows.

Have been considering a large planter with a bush in it but cousin has put me off what to do, i do consider thorny blackberry bushes one of the best deterrents i have ever seen but they do look such a mess due to their rambling nature.

Please help me find a solution!

Farway

I'd check on pyracantha roots, may not be a bad near foundations but I'm no expert. It would be my first choice of a deterrent


Something like a rosa rugosa? Can become a thug but smells lovely in summer. Would take a brave soul to get close to one

https://www.thespruce.com/growing-and-caring-for-rugosa-roses-1403053

Spender£

Farway wrote: »

I'd check on pyracantha roots, may not be a bad near foundations but I'm no expert. It would be my first choice of a deterrent


Something like a rosa rugosa? Can become a thug but smells lovely in summer. Would take a brave soul to get close to one

https://www.thespruce.com/growing-and-caring-for-rugosa-roses-1403053

Have one of these round the back, could just aswell take a cutting.

savemoney

I grow Rose rugosa on allotment to stop thieves. Your best buying them out of season as bareroot plants they around £1-£1.50 each. They will be established plants at least 2 years old. I bought mine on line from ebay. I have about 60 of them. They will spread so if they dont want the runners I just use a shovel to dig them up as they get onto my beds where I grow crops

Spender£

savemoney wrote: »

I grow Rose rugosa on allotment to stop thieves. Your best buying them out of season as bareroot plants they around £1-£1.50 each. They will be established plants at least 2 years old. I bought mine on line from ebay. I have about 60 of them. They will spread so if they dont want the runners I just use a shovel to dig them up as they get onto my beds where I grow crops

That sounds great, i would like them to cover 7ft length of window area, sounds like they grow really fast.

unrecordings

+1 for Rosa Rugosa in terms of vicious thorns, but I'd probably get it in planter (which then gives rise to a number further problems - buying a planter large enough not to get nicked itself or used as step up, sourcing a plant big enough to fill the planter etc etc)

Our Rosa came via the birds about 7-8 years ago, we transplanted it when we moved house and now it's over 6' tall

But +1 on Pyracantha too - not quite as thorny but very easy to keep trimmed in shape

choille

Rugosa rosa gives out suckers that can be pulled up and planted - that's how I have got mine - free. It does grow quickly. Lovely scented blooms & nice big rosehips for the birds to feed off when it's finished flowering.

Horrible having someone peering in your window.

Spender£

unrecordings wrote: »

+1 for Rosa Rugosa in terms of vicious thorns, but I'd probably get it in planter (which then gives rise to a number further problems - buying a planter large enough not to get nicked itself or used as step up, sourcing a plant big enough to fill the planter etc etc)

Our Rosa came via the birds about 7-8 years ago, we transplanted it when we moved house and now it's over 6' tall

But +1 on Pyracantha too - not quite as thorny but very easy to keep trimmed in shape

I have got two very large planters which are so heavy i started using them in place of hanging baskets around the front because the baskets were being taken in the night, they are a plastic type but in the style of oak barrels.

Spender£

choille wrote: »

Rugosa rosa gives out suckers that can be pulled up and planted - that's how I have got mine - free. It does grow quickly. Lovely scented blooms & nice big rosehips for the birds to feed off when it's finished flowering.

Horrible having someone peering in your window.

Yes, despite the fact the vertical blinds were closed i came downstairs for some water in the early hours and could see the outline of a tall figure through the blinds, i pulled the blinds apart and they scarpered, this did shake me up so want to put something along there to hinder them getting that close to the windows, my neighbour recommended a bed of nails lol.

savemoney

This is kind of thing I have I have two different varieties one pink the other white


I trim them once a year and also cut off any runners that creep in too far. The excess cuttings I compost they soon rot down if I cut them into smaller pieces. I just use a cordless hedge trimmer

Apodemus

Spender, your cousin sounds so negative on any suggestions...are sure that wasn’t the face at the window?