Anti-Burglar Bush!

Grenage

Holly; nobody likes touching Holly.

Davesnave

Grenage wrote: »

Holly; nobody likes touching Holly.

Hmmm....I'm not so sure; she was more accommodating than.....Oh, hang on, wrong forum!


Personally, I think pyracantha is best suited, easily trainable and and has the longest season of interest, but we used berberis very effectively where I worked to corral children..... I used to plant rubus cockburnianus beside new trees to prevent vandalism, but that would probably be OTT. Some mahonias could work too.


Unless you live in an old property, or something shoddy, like a thrown-together 1930s semi. I'd not worry too much about the foundations. Or put it another way, if your foundations are that bad, I'd be looking to move anyway!

Spender£

Apodemus wrote: »

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

I hope not cos i owe him money!!!

Spender£

Davesnave wrote: »

Hmmm....I'm not so sure; she was more accommodating than.....Oh, hang on, wrong forum!


Personally, I think pyracantha is best suited, easily trainable and and has the longest season of interest, but we used berberis very effectively where I worked to corral children..... I used to plant rubus cockburnianus beside new trees to prevent vandalism, but that would probably be OTT. Some mahonias could work too.


Unless you live in an old property, or something shoddy, like a thrown-together 1930s semi. I'd not worry too much about the foundations. Or put it another way, if your foundations are that bad, I'd be looking to move anyway!

I have both a Berberis and Pyrantha in pots around the back waiting to go, still wondering if to bung some large heavy planters in front of the windows to create an obstacle, most in the street put the wheelie bins in front of the window but i think it looks a mess.

Artytarty

The police advised my daughter who was burgled that large heavy window boxes are a deterrent. Too heavy to move easily and they stop intruders standing on the window sill while they try to open your windows.
She also cut down some shrubbery in the front garden to remove the cover they were providing.

[Deleted User]

I too would probably choose a Pyracantha, it's thorns are a decent length and strength and its stems good and strong aswell.


One thing though, unless you're going to get this plant from a nursery that specialises in selling established/mature plants (5' and upwards) you're going to be purchasing something in a 3 litre pot, maximum, and this will take several years to grow into a plant that's high and wide enough to do what you're requiring.


A bit of research will lead you to some very good companies that specialise in big plants, I've used a few of them and have been very pleased.


When you compare their prices to everyday nurseries and garden centres you'll find they're actually good value for money - even with their delivery charge.

DO compare like-for-like though, by that I mean the exact same size pot and exact same size age of plant as the one in your local nursery or garden centre.
By not doing that you get a totally false idea and just see a higher price.

theoretica

Another thing to consider about is noisy gravel.

Diana2014

I'd use really large containers with good drainage, rather than planting directly into the ground beside the house or putting very heavy planters on windowsills. But you could grow on smaller plants in outside windowsill troughs, then later move them into ground planters when they're tall enough to obstruct the windowsills; that way, you'd get the deterrent effect from the earliest possible stage without having to invest enormous amounts in mature plants.

The best thorny plants are strong evergreen shrubs. My favourites for this would be pyracantha or mahonia japonica (not the lower-growing M. aquifolium, which has much softer leaves).
Pyracantha can be trained very effectively in espalier fashion, which would create a thorny screen without being too bushy.
Mahonia japonica has tough leaves just as prickly as holly, deliciously scented flowers in winter and looks stunning at all seasons; it tolerates pruning to shape very well.
Holly itself grows very slowly in containers, in my experience.
Berberis grows more in a mass and its thorns are less vicious than the stronger shrubs. They also tend to lose their leaves in winter, which makes them less attractive overall - and the best horticultural defences should also be a joy to live with!

OhhEnnEmm

I've never thought of using plants as a theft deterrent, in reality that's an ace idea!

Arthog

I once heard one of the TV/Radio gurus answering this question. He named a bush that is so prickly that ''if you fell into it, you'd beg to be shot rather than be pulled out again!''
SorryI didn't write down the details!