Landscaping
For Home Security
? recent article by Kim Powell,
in.C. State University landscape spe
eds'. really peaked my interest in
andscaping for maximum home se
curity. Few of us consider the effect
our landscape will have our home
security when we are planning or
planting. I have taken some of Mr
rowell s suggestions and incorporat
ed some of my own for a little dif
crent perspective on landscaping.
Visibility should be considered
when planting trees and shrubs
around the home. Rising urban
crime is tough to fight if you cannot
see the villain. Good visibility is im
portant for function and the aesthetic
value of a pleasant view.
Just as you would consider the
size potential, growth habits, color,
flowering, and maintenance, also
think how the plants, or their ab
sence. can help protect the home.
The following are some tips to make
your landscape less friendly to vil
lains and more secure for you.
Eliminate the danger zones.
Planting trees and shrubs around the
house is an integral part of the total
landscape process, but consider the
consequences before you plant
Foundation plantings are usually
planted far enough awav from the
house so there is a "dead air" space.
This dead air space can help de
crease energy consumption by insu
lating and protecting the foundation
from severe daily changes in tem
perature
At the s.imc nme that we ha\e
saved energy, we have iKo t reated a
hiding place for .in intruder or
Peeping Tom " Consider planting
dwarf shrubs under windows or next
to doors to eliminate this potential
danger zone Request Horticulture
Information Leaflet f>34. " Shruh s I
?f Feet For Sorth Carolina Land
scapes from your county North
C arolinj ( oopcrative 1 xtcnsion Ser
vice office
Another way in address this prob
lem (don'i go and temose all the 6
foot-tall evergreens > el i is to create
a tree-form plant It the shrub is in .1
good location and has the potential
of having an interesting shape, re
move the lower limbs and thin out
50 percent of the inside of the plant.
I igustrum. Photinu. Chinese Molly.
Hurford Molly, and Wax Myrtle arc
good choices lor converting to tree
form
Defensive Plants Plants have
numerous landscape characteristics
that arc often admired ? color, torm.
shape and texture. Texture oan *Jao
be used to describe plants with
thorns, spines or needle:. These
plants offer an additional landscape
component ?protection ' Whenever
an unpenetrable barrier ;s wanted, or
a vulnerable place needs protection,
use a "defensive" plant.
Plants with thorns or a very dense
growth habit will fit this category
Examples arc Pyracantha. Chinese
Holly, Roses. Mahonia, Barberry,
Yucca, Flaeagnus. C edar or Juni
pers. One of the best plants for this
landscape function is the Hardy
Orange (Poncirus tnfoliata) Hardy
Orange grows 10 to 20 feet tall and
prefers acid, well-drained soils The
2-to-4-inch-long spines helps create
an excellent security fence
I once had an individual tell me
thai the CIA used this plant in sever
al of their "secret" installations in
Winnabow VFW
Sets BBQ Dinner
Winnabow Volunteer Fire Depart
ment will serve barbecue plates on
Saturday, Sept 3, from 1 1 a.m until
5 p.m
Plates will include pork barbecue,
potato salad, cole slaw and hushpup
pies and will cost S3, or $4.50 for a
"super plate "
The department is on Governor's
Road off U.S. 17 in Winnabow.
CENTIPEDE SOD
Gressette Sod Farms
1-800-444-2993 FLORENCE. SC
-ALL STAR
FLAGS
Flags ? Banners
Pennants
Holiday Flags & Banners
Residential & Commercial
Flagpoles
Installation, too.
FREE Catalog & Delivery
LO-""M 101 Aviators Lane [?????
H3 Burgaw. NC 28425 [paiBpLj
Catherine Moore, Owner
1-800-868-FLAG
northern Virginia. The government
also has been known to use this
plant to help protect nuclear and
*is? W%'-.
| THE
PLANT
DOCTOR
C. BRUCE
WILLIAMS
Extension Arta
Tiiif Syciiuuii
military installations. Any structure
with this plant around can stay se
uet as far as 1 am concerned. Be
careful with this plant, it is truly a
landscape hazard.
In summary:
1 . Remove the danger zones
around the house, especially at en
trances and in front of windows.
This would include overgrown trees
and shrubs. Prune large plants into
tree-form as an alternative to top
ping or removal.
2. Incorporate dwarf shrubs or
possibly "defensive" plants next to
windows and in foundation planti
ngs.
3. Create a security fence around
the boundary lines. This wil! also
serve as a landscape screen.
4. Incorporate landscape lighting
with timers into the landscape.
5. Review a publication on land
scaping, such as N.C. Cooperative
Extension publication "Residential
Landscaping AG-248, " and really
consider security in your plans.
Send your gardening questions
and comments to the Plant Doctor,
P.O. Box 109, Bolivia NC 28422.
Send a SASE for a reply or when re
questing publications.
1st Annual Craft Bazaar
to benefit the Building Fund
Saturday, Sept. 3, 8 am-2 pm
Baked Goods * Crafts * Refreshments
An imported collectible nativity set and an
afghan will be given to lucky winners who reg
istered with a donation to the Building Fund.
For more information, call 579-9701.
Soutli Brunswick islands
Assemblies of God
5850 Beach Dr., (Ilwy. 179), Ocean Isle
m W P5W PM PMI H&Sf IP**! ^
ilTERMARKEi
ip tfie Stack JHxviftet
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DELI PREPARED SEAFOOD
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GERMAN
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Tuikey Breast >
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Cabbage J
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U.S. #1 WHITE ALL PURPOSE
Potatoes 10 Lbs. 1
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Tomat
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79