Summer, sun and security
With the summer months on the horizon, we look forward to all the new things the season has to offer. Whether that’s warmer weather, holidays, weekend’s away and lighter evenings to enjoy quality time with family and friends, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for the arrival of the new summer months.
And, for many, as summer approaches, our attention can very often turn from the home to our outdoor and garden spaces, which can often be looking worse for wear after the harsh winter months. And with just a mere few weeks away until the new season is in full swing, now’s the perfect time to prep the garden for a summer garden security makeover.
With this in mind, the home security experts at Yale have shared their handy advice to ensure your garden spaces are up to scratch this summer, so you can enjoy the outdoors with peace of mind that your garden has utmost security with home security systems.
Step 1 - A Gardener’s world
When it comes to the garden, it’s essential that you give the space some TLC after the harsh winter months. A spring clean could be in order as the summer approaches, so it’s worth starting with a simple garden update at the time of the year.
You may not have thought about it, but overgrown trees, hedges and bushes make great camouflage for opportunists. So if your garden is looking worse for wear over the winter, it’s worth pruning back this overgrown greenery to ensure you can see all areas of your garden easily.
Alongside this greenery, it’s also important to fix any broken fence panels that may be giving easy access into your garden. Strong winds and harsh weather can make quick work of destroying wooden fencing, so it’s important that these are replaced as summer approaches.
New fencing can also help to give your garden a fresh look for the new season, making it a perfect area to invite friends and family round to throughout the summer months.
Once you’ve tidied up the garden, you’ll also be able to notice any weak spots across the space - are there any gates that could easily be broken into? Tools lying around that could make for an easy getaway? It’s important to keep any side gates locked with a secure padlock, and keep any tools stored away to offer the best chance of keeping the burglars at bay.
Step 2 - Style and security
We can spend huge amounts of money creating a stunning interior design scheme, and today many of us have learnt how important it is to continue this creativity into our garden spaces.
We all look forward to welcoming friends and family to our gardens throughout the summer months, so imagine how proud you would feel inviting them to a functional, stylish outdoor living space? Well, if you decide to make some improvements to your garden, it’s important that you keep any of the new expensive additions safe with a garden security upgrade.
Whether you invest in new garden furniture, potted plants or an array of expensive tools to help make your dream garden a reality, it’s essential to keep them safe.
After use, garden furniture should be securely locked away in a shed or garage, as this can be a key target for opportunists operating in the area. It can also easily be used as a getaway for criminals trying to make a quick exit from your garden.
The same can be said for garden tools which again are a great help to opportunists trying to get out of your garden quickly and easily. What’s more, they’re often very expensive, so can easily be stolen and sold on by thieves.
Anything not locked or bolted down by a secure padlock that can easily be removed from your garden should be a key focus for protection this summer, so ensure that any expensive items are securely put away at night after your entertaining plans are over.
Step 3 - Lighten up
Lighting is another great way of adding style to your garden space, making it a functional area that you can use throughout the summer months to keep your entertainment space well lit, well into the night.
Of course, the benefits of adding security lights to your garden don’t stop at making the space look well lit - it’s also a handy way of ensuring that burglars don’t take advantage of hidden spots around your outdoor spaces.
No burglar wants to be caught red-handed, so it’s worth investing in security lighting across your garden - particularly in spots that may make for a good hiding spot for an opportunist. You can even have the best of both worlds by investing in a smart security camera with a built-in security light. These handy products allow you to track what’s going on at any time of the day or night via your smartphone and can ensure that any area of your garden is flooded with light if motion is detected.
These security lights and cameras are often an effective deterrent to stop opportunists from targeting your home, so can be a great addition to protect your outdoor spaces this summer.
Step 4 - Eyes of the prize
With summer on the horizon, many of us are starting to think about the prospect of holidays and enjoying the sights of other cultures around the world, or even just around the corner.
When leaving your home unattended for a vacation, your garden is the first line of defence for your home, ensuring that no criminals can reach your home. This is why upgrading your home security is so important at this time of the year.
A great investment to ensure you can keep an eye on your home anytime, anywhere, is an outdoor security camera. Whether these are positioned at the front of back of your property, a smart outdoor security camera allows you to monitor your front or back garden from anywhere using your smartphone.
Similarly to security lighting, these security cameras are an effective deterrent to stop criminals from targeting your property, as they wouldn’t want to take the risk of being caught on camera.
With many having sleek designs and handy smartphone apps to give you complete control over your security camera, this effective investment can not only blend into your garden design but can give you the ultimate peace of mind when you’re away this summer.
So, let’s spring in to summer safely with an outdoor security update.