Control Snakes in the Garden

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Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney

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To have a snake or two in the garden is good. Non-poisonous
snakes, such as the common garter snakes, are beneficial
creatures because they eat pest insects, mosquito larvae,
slugs, snails, crickets, rats, mice, voles and even other
snakes which may be poisonous.

But if you really don't want snakes in your yard and garden
here are a few tips to eliminate them without hurting or
killing them.

Keep the lawn neatly cut and clean. Be careful using weed
eaters because the sting from the fast moving string can
kill them.

Snakes need cover for protection. Don’t leave wood or brush
piles sit in one spot for more than a month.

Keep leaves and other debris picked up.

Don't keep piles of rocks.

Stack firewood on a rack 12" off the ground.

Remove old lumber or junk piles.

Remove their source of food. Keep the insect and rodent
population under control.

Place garbage bags in sealed trash cans away from the house.

Repair cracks along the foundation and fill holes around
pipes. Snakes only need about a ¼ inch crack to get inside.

Sprinkle moth balls around the perimeter of your yard or
garden. But beware that these can be dangerous to pets and
children.

Sulfur from a garden center is said to keep snakes away.

Don't plant bushes and other plants too close to the
foundation of the house.

Use mulch in the garden beds but not too thickly.

Trim the lowest limbs on shrubs and bushes so they are at
least 12 inches from the ground.

Construct a fence around your garden with heavy galvanized
screening. Make it three feet wide with quarter-inch mesh.
Be sure to bury the bottom of it six inches below the soil
surface.

For more help on controlling snakes:

http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/snakecontrol.htm

About the Author

Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

 Marilyn Pokorney

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