An updated home security system is the best line of defense you can create for your home, but it’s not the only way to protect the ones you love. Mother Nature has her own clever security measures installed on thousands of bushes and plants. Why not make them work for you?

One way to do this is to soup up your fence line. A chain link fence isn’t much of a deterrent on its own. But berry bushes, such as blackberries and raspberries, grow fast, thick and thorny, and they love to climb.

Plant along the outside of your fence line, and in one to two years, you’ll have plenty of berries to spare for cobbler. You’ll also have a fence so dense and prickly, even the most experienced burglar wouldn’t want to touch it.

Closer to the house, choose low-growing spiny plants for the areas beneath windows and around porches. Some great picks for cheap watering bills and arid climates are prickly pear cactus, century plant, and Spanish dagger. Check with your local plant nursery to find out what grows best in your area. Plants that are suited to your soil type and rainfall levels will flourish best, with the least amount of fuss.