Snakes are probably the last thing you think about when planting a garden or even choosing a home. However, no matter where you live, snakes are bound to be a part of your natural environment. Simple garden snakes are not venomous, however, they can still bite or even cause a scare.
Plenty of harmful snakes can also make their way into your home, garden, or yard. There are a few ways you can protect against snakes such as by using deterrent sprays and even electronic pulses. These methods are useful, however, they are not always effective. Thankfully there are a few other options to consider.
One natural and aesthetically pleasing way to deter snakes from coming into your territory is by planting some deterrents. No, we are not talking about hidden traps, but rather actual plants that repel snakes and a few other pests at the same time. As a rule, snakes detest plants that have strong noxious smells, even garden snakes are repelled by odors given off by certain plants.
While some of these plants may also offend human noses, they can serve as an effective barrier around the edge of your garden, yard, or walkway. In most instances, snakes won’t even bother trying to get past them to see what’s on the other side.
What Attracts Snakes To Yards And Gardens?
Snakes have been around since the dawn of time, and while we know a lot about these slithery critters, there is still so much more to be learned. One common question many homeowners and gardeners have is why do snakes like to lurk in gardens and yards. Quite simply, snakes may be excellent hunters, but any animal offered a steady source of food and a comfortable place to live will prefer that overhunting in the wild.
Gardens, yards, and even homes offer snakes plenty of slugs, rodents, and insects to eat. In addition, being cold-blooded animals, they also will appreciate all of the cool nooks and crannies your property has to offer.
How Does Fragrance Repel Snakes?
All snakes have a specific part of their anatomy called the Jacobson’s organ. This organ helps them to find shelter, water, and even food. It is very sensitive to strong odors and harsh scents, which is why they are repelled by some types of plants. Some plants have such strong odors that it will render a snake unable to hunt, which of course means they won’t be able to survive.
Creating an unpleasant and inhospitable environment in your yard or garden will naturally keep these slithery visitors at bay with no harm to your family or the snakes. Now that you have the basic information, let’s dive into which plants you should add to your property to repel snakes.
Marigold Plants
Marigolds are a staple in many gardens due to their vibrant colors and long-lasting blooms. In addition to offering a splash of white or yellow to your garden, they also can help repel unwanted guests. They have a very strong smell that repels snakes before they get near your garden, in addition to snakes, they are also helpful in deterring many forms of insects from taking up residence.
Of all plants, marigold is the most potent pests repellent. The blossoms themselves emit a strong fragrance that most property owners love, but are too strong for snakes to tolerate. Outside of the blooming seasons, the roots dig into the soil aggressively where they give off a pungent odor that can reach even the deepest snack burrows. Marigolds are safe for humans as which makes them an attractive and effective natural snake deterrent.
Andrographis Paniculata Plants
Asia has been known for bringing innovative natural alternatives for everything from gardening and cooking to skincare and medicine. All over Asia, the Andrographis Paniculata plant has been utilized as an effective yet safe way to prevent snakes from setting up shop in yards and gardens. The roots of the plant are very bitter as are the leaves. It can be ground up and mixed up with water to create a spray or solvent that you can use around your home or property.
The plant itself is a direct irritant to snakes. If the leaves of the Andrographis Paniculata plant come in contact with the scales of a snake, it causes a sort of allergic reaction. This toxic swelling is not only painful to snakes, it can also lead to death in some cases. As a result, placing this plant at key locations on your property is a great way to repel snakes naturally.
Mugwort Plants
Mugwort plants are not as common as other types of plants, but they are very efficient in controlling pests such as snakes. No exact mechanism can be identified as to why snakes do not like the mugwort, but in gardens or yards where it’s planted, snakes will not encroach.
Keep in mind that this plant is a fast grower and tends to spread like wildfire. If you have a lot of land to cover, or if you do not have many other plants in your garden, then it’s a good option. Just make sure to prune it often to limit its wild growth.
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Plant
We are not telling you to get your mother in law to chase away snakes, but we are sure she could if she put her mind to it. This plant of the same name has sharp leaves that easily cut and scratch snakes as they attempt to pass. This is a great plant to pair in your garden with other snake repellant plants. In addition to keeping snakes away, this plant increases oxygen levels in the area more efficiently than similar plants.
Tobacco Plants
If you have a larger property, you may consider adding a tobacco plant to your garden. While most people only think about smoking when it comes to tobacco, but as a plant, it offers a range of additional benefits.
Snakes are repelled by strong smells and the nicotine in the plant is not only pungent, it is also toxic to snakes. As a bonus, this plant also has the ability to banish ants as well. Just make sure that you only plant this on your property if you do not have small pets or children who may chew on the plant.
Garlic Plants
Even beginner cooks have a clove of garlic or two lurking in their kitchen. Garlic won’t ward off vampires, but they will keep snakes and other pest at bay. Garlic is as flavorful as it is aromatic, which is a natural irritant for snakes and many other types of garden pests. You can plant bulbs of garlic around the edges of your garden or leave them in pots in key areas.
Snakes hate the pungent aroma, and the smell also causes them to get confused. It is a bonus that you can also eat this easy to grow snake repellant when the bulbs sprout and expand.
Pink Agapanthus Plants
The pink agapanthus plant features vibrant pink flowers that will add a visual delight to any room or garden. The smell of mature blooms is highly fragrant, so much so that they are extremely irritating for snakes and other pests. In addition to being a natural and beautiful pest control tool, this plant also has medicinal uses.
The pink agapanthus plant has been used to help relieve the symptoms of sinus infections for generations. It is easy to grow the plant to can be house in pots indoors or planted in any area of your garden. A creative landscaper can line the boundary of your garden, or yard is a collection of pink agapanthus and marigold plants.
Snakeroot Plants
Asia is known for creating natural and holistic solutions that are not harmful to human health. The same ideas are applied to pest control. The snakeroot plant has been used for centuries as a natural snake and pest repellent.
Often called the devil pepper, the bitter leaves and roots discourage snakes from entering into the vicinity. The snakeroot plant is highly toxic to snakes due to a chemical in the plant called reserpine. This chemical affects the heart rate of the snake making it slow or even stop. It also causes snakes to get dizzy and confuses when under the influence of this chemical.
West Indian Lemongrass
We have already mentioned how citrus is one of the best forms of pest deterrent that nature has created. It is pleasing to humans but completely intolerable by most snakes and other pests. West Indian lemongrass is especially aromatic which will have snakes slithering away at top speed. You can also make Citronella from this plant which can be used to banish mosquitoes and other flying insects.
This plant is easy to grow and highly resistant to drought which makes it ideal for planting in just about every climate. The plant is also visually appealing which can tie into your current landscaping goals. Not only will you be repelling snakes, ticks, and mosquitoes, but you will also beautify your yard, home or garden at the same time.
