Gardening: How to keep snakes away
SNAKES are the most disliked lawn pests out there. When found in the garden, children (and their parents) often get very scared. On the other hand, many people do not worry too much about snakes. They are rare in most areas, but if their presence becomes common, how do you get rid of them?
SNAKES are the most disliked lawn pests out there. When found in the garden, children (and their parents) often get very scared. On the other hand, many people do not worry too much about snakes. They are rare in most areas, but if their presence becomes common, how do you get rid of them?
The first thing to remember is that snakes are timid and discreet. Most reports of snake bites involve victims who needlessly engaged a snake.
Snakes in general are far more scared of you than you are of them.
That being said, no one wants to see a snake slithering across their lawn or hiding in a house.
Below are some tips on how you can keep snakes off your lawn:
Keep your garden and lawn unhospitable to snakes. It is impossible to stop snakes from passing through your garden, but it is possible to make sure they do not make a home there.
Watch out for mulch piles. Snakes enjoy snug, warm environments for reproducing and living.
If you have a big mulch pile, snakes (and rodents) may try to make a home there. Try to make sure you mix it up as often as possible. You can also build the pile in a wire cage so that air and water circulates through it, making it more unhospitable for long-term living.
Trim Your Hedges
Trim small trees and shrubberies. Ensure that the lower limbs on small trees and shrubberies should be a couple of feet above the ground.
If branches dangle to the ground, snakes and rodents will make a happy home at the foot of your garden trees.
If a thick ivy wall or expanse is part of the beauty of your garden, do what you can to limit the growth under the ivy itself.
Cut Your Grass
Cut your lawn. Tall grass can become a home for snakes. Happily, most lawn grass will have trouble getting tall enough, but landscaping grass like monkey grass or pampas grass will provide a perfect home for snakes if not trimmed or controlled properly.
The first thing to remember is that snakes are timid and discreet. Most reports of snake bites involve victims who needlessly engaged a snake.
Snakes in general are far more scared of you than you are of them.
That being said, no one wants to see a snake slithering across their lawn or hiding in a house.
Below are some tips on how you can keep snakes off your lawn:
Keep your garden and lawn unhospitable to snakes. It is impossible to stop snakes from passing through your garden, but it is possible to make sure they do not make a home there.
Watch out for mulch piles. Snakes enjoy snug, warm environments for reproducing and living.
If you have a big mulch pile, snakes (and rodents) may try to make a home there. Try to make sure you mix it up as often as possible. You can also build the pile in a wire cage so that air and water circulates through it, making it more unhospitable for long-term living.
Trim Your Hedges
Trim small trees and shrubberies. Ensure that the lower limbs on small trees and shrubberies should be a couple of feet above the ground.
If branches dangle to the ground, snakes and rodents will make a happy home at the foot of your garden trees.
If a thick ivy wall or expanse is part of the beauty of your garden, do what you can to limit the growth under the ivy itself.
Cut Your Grass
Cut your lawn. Tall grass can become a home for snakes. Happily, most lawn grass will have trouble getting tall enough, but landscaping grass like monkey grass or pampas grass will provide a perfect home for snakes if not trimmed or controlled properly.