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Plus, these are the plants that will ward off intruders.

Trim front garden hedges and plant thorny bushes to help deter burglars from targeting empty homes, advise experts.

According to a poll of 1,000 UK households conducted by John Lewis Home Insurance, over two thirds (67 per cent) of those surveyed admitted that their front hedge exceeds the one metre height recommended by the police and charity Crimestoppers. Meanwhile, nearly half (48 per cent) said their rear hedge is 1.5 metres or lower.

Safeguarding our homes usually involves setting alarms and locking front doors, but John Lewis are urging people to reach for their gardening gloves and rethink their planting scheme. In fact, the British retailer found that one in eight choose style over safety when it comes to the height of their hedge, while 48 per cent keep it at the height that's practical for them.

'As people prepare to go away this summer they'll be thinking about how they can keep their homes secure,' says James Barwell, Head of John Lewis Home Insurance. 'Our survey found a lack of awareness of the importance of hedge height and confusion about whether hedges should be high or low to deter burglars. Over half of households think their front hedge should be over 1.8 metres or don't know what height it should be.'

There are many plants that can act as a deterrent to burglars, including blackthorns (Prunus spinosa), hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna), and Holly bushes (Ilex aquifolium) – a brilliant evergreen species with prickly leaves that will ward off intruders. You may also want to consider deciduous varieties like Rose Glow, or gorse, berberis and pyracantha hedges.

'Mick Duthie, Director of Operations at the charity Crimestoppers, suggests: 'It's not just the height of your hedge which can put off burglars. We recommend keeping all hedges thick, prickly and dense to further deter intruders. This is particularly effective for back hedges, as a robust hedge can block the escape of thieves who attempt to exit via the back garden.'

You'll have a front garden that is beautiful and safe in no time.

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