Best Plants that Naturally Repel Snakes
The snake is an essential part of the ecosystem, but many snake species possess defensive characteristics that can be harmful, or even deadly, to humans. Therefore, if you live in an area where snakes are a problem, use certain plants that repel both venomous and non-venomous snakes around your garden, activity areas, and entryways to your home. Your property will be free from snakes if you plant these plants.
The worst-case scenario is certainly something you have thought about, if you live in an area where snakes thrive. Children may unwittingly wander into a snake’s habitat during play, making them the first to be harmed. Those who are avid gardeners or landscapers must also be aware of the dangers snakes pose. Snakes have historically been a mortal threat to humans. It is advisable to make sure your home is free from snakes until you have established a snake-free environment. Below is a list of plants that work as snake repellents and keep them away from your home and yard.
Designing an Anti-Snake Garden
In areas with dense ground coverage, snakes look for a food source. Rats and mice are attracted to thick floral ground coverage, which provides an ample food source for snakes. Snakes hide under rock beds, in vines, and anywhere they can feed. Therefore, you should incorporate snake-repelling plants into a snake-proofed garden.
There is not a single plant that will repel all snakes from your garden. However, there are several plants that are more effective than others at repelling snakes. They are extremely effective when used correctly. Anything a snake smells since it hatches is a comforting scent to it. In other words, if you are trying to get rid of an existing snake infestation, the battle is uphill. Snakes that are intentionally trying to get into your property from other places are much easier to keep out if you use a simple repellent.
In fact, snakes dislike strong, bitter, and foreign smells. However, the kind of smell a snake considers “strong” or “unpleasant,” can vary depending on the environment that they were born into. So if you have a garden of onions, and there is already a pregnant snake eating your onions, the newborn snakes will associate the smell of onions with safety and comfort. This is not good for the property owner. In contrast, odors as strong as the onion’s will deter snakes that are not bred in an onion garden.
The subject of which plants repel pests has been a subject of much debate. However, whichever plants you choose to use, the principle of design is the same. In order to design a garden that repels snakes, you will need to incorporate three key elements: a snake barrier, a variety of deterrent plants, and a lack of food. Snakes consume mice, rat, and other small animals.
Thus, if you create an environment that won’t attract snakes, you’ll have a healthier garden. Therefore, choose a plant from the list below to use here to be a hedge barrier around your garden’s perimeter. Furthermore, the more barriers planted, the more effective they will become. To illustrate, a barrier row of onions is nice; an onion and garlic barrier row is better; and a barrier row of onions and garlic followed by tobacco is outstanding.
Your natural environment will decide what plants work best in repelling snakes. However, some plants are incredibly effective when used correctly, though not all snake-repelling plants work universally.
Are Snakes Bad for the Garden?
As opposed to what many people think, snakes are actually good for your garden. They are good at keeping other pests, like rodents, out of your crops, wreaking havoc on your plants, and invading your home. Getting rid of snakes is not necessarily for ecological reasons, but for safety reasons. If you are attempting to rid your garden of snakes, chemical solutions will only be effective for a few species. In various countries, especially in North Africa, South and Central America, and the American NorthWest, organic snake repellent has proven effective in discouraging snakes of all kinds.
4 Plants that Repel Snakes
The four plants commonly found that repel snakes have different reasons for repelling them, while some are less understood. Still, the best way to build a reliable snake deterrent is to plant a wide variety of plants. Because snakes do not like strong smells, it is best to employ a mixture of plants to provide both above ground and below ground coverage. Snakes are known to be repelled by the following plants:
Marigolds
Traditionally, marigolds are used to deter rodents due to their roots. They have traditionally been used to deter gophers and moles. A lot of garden pests and animals avoid these plants due to their strong odor, which is spread by the roots. Moreover, the bright blooms look awesome on your property. Marigolds can provide hiding spots for mice and other snake prey; however, the root’s strong smell lets you know they’re not welcome.
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
One of the best plants for repelling snakes is Mother-in-Law’s Tongue because of its sharp leaves but also because the plant replenishes oxygen at an exceptionally high rate. Mother-in-Law’s Tongue is one of the few plants that is safe to keep around the home as a barrier against snakes. It is a beautiful plant which is easy to maintain in the garden and is a great deterrent against snakes. There is no need to water the plant more than three times a week, and this perennial will last for many years. Make sure to let the roots establish themselves first for at least three months after planting if you are propagating from a single host plant. Snake repellent, it is traditionally used in milder climates and is sometimes used indoors in colder climates.
West Indian Lemongrass
Snakes detest the citrus smell of lemongrass. Citronella, a byproduct of lemongrass, is also frightening to mosquitoes. Snakes, mosquitoes, and ticks will not make an appearance in your garden if you have one of these plants in your garden. You can also add lemongrass to any landscape because it is tolerant of drought and easy to maintain. The combination of lemongrass and rosemary can repel mosquitoes, ticks, and snakes all at the same time.
Onion & Garlic
Garlic and onions are extremely useful garden plants for repelling snakes because they both give off an unpleasant odor snakes do not only dislike, but they also get confused by. It is believed that the garlic plant repels snakes best because it exudes an oily residue when a snake slithers over a clove. Almost like an onion, this oil gives off a very noxious aroma when it is sliced: it irritates the nose quite a bit.
Conclusion
The four snake-repelling plants listed above are not one for all, but they can all be combined to create a snake-free zone to garden, play, and live in. Essentially it is a question of combining the snake-repelling plants, while letting your aesthetic design prevail.