11 Ways to Keep Snakes Out of Your Garden

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Discovering snakes in your garden can be unsettling.

Unfortunately, if you live near a body of water or next to a forest, you may find snakes crawling into your yard as they have easy access to your property.

Snakes could also be attracted to your garden if there are places in your garden for them to hide.

Snakes play a critical role in our ecosystem by feeding on other pests, but it can be challenging to distinguish the harmless from the dangerous species.

Our detailed guide covers some ways to keep snakes away from your garden. We also list some signs that show you may have snakes in your garden.

Table of Contents

11 Ways to Repel Snakes from a Garden

You might have snakes in your garden if you notice some tracks in the dust, snakeskins, snake holes, or weird odors in spaces.

Learning how to keep snakes away from your garden is vital.

Here are 11 ways to repel snakes:

1. Get Rid of Places Snakes Might Seek Shelter

Snakes love to hide in dark and cool places. You can attract snakes to your garden if you have lots of space under trees or haven’t weeded your garden in a long time.

Piles of mulch and litter could also act as potential hiding spots for snakes and other rodents. Reduce the piles to prevent snake habitats in the garden.

Clear your garden and the surrounding areas. Remove any piled-up litter and weed your garden. Trim your shrubs and remove any scraps to reduce the number of hiding areas.

Snake-proof fencing is also an excellent way to keep snakes away.

The fence should be at least three feet high to repel snakes. Don’t forget to bury the bottom edge of the fence underneath the soil to ensure the snakes don’t crawl in or burrow tunnels.

Also, ensure there are no overhanging branches that snakes might use to crawl over the fence and into your garden.

If you have a chicken coop in your garden, ensure that it’s free of leaves and sticks and that the water features are clean to discourage snakes from hiding there.

2. Remove any Rodents

Snakes love to feed on rats and mice. Their presence can attract snakes to your home or garden.

Snakes use their tongue to track and smell rodents, and any rodents in your house can lure them inside.

Ensure that you store pet food in tightly sealed containers and avoid scattering any food across your lawn.

Or feed your pets inside to avoid attracting rodents. Alternatively, clean any spilled food when feeding outside.

You can also keep your home and garden rodent-free by ensuring your kitchen surfaces are clean and sealing any gaps that rats and mice might sneak in through.

Also, keep your compost bins well covered.

If you use mouse traps, be careful where you place them to avoid harming your pets.

You could also call a rodent pest management company if the problem is out of control.

3. Reduce Stagnant Water

Snakes need a water source, which doesn’t mean a pond or a big river. If you have a leaking faucet or pipe in your garden, it can release enough water that may encourage snakes to visit.

It’s difficult to get rid of natural water sources like a nearby river or rainwater, but you can always minimize artificial water elements by fixing leaking pipes and keeping your drains covered.

Use tight lids and mesh wire to cover your drains.

4. Seal Any Open Spaces and Cracks

Seal any gaps or cracks present in your veranda and foundation. Snakes love to hide between rocks, and these cracks are a breeding area for them.

5. Clear Any Stacked Woodpiles

Woodpile of firewood along the garden path

Firewood piles near your garden can also act as hiding spots for snakes during cold weather. Remove the piles far from your garden and place them somewhere else, stacked neatly.

6. Use a Snake Repellant

Although chemical snake repellants can help keep snakes away from your garden, they can also pose risks to the environment, people, and pets when not used correctly.

Ensure that you read and follow the instructions on the label.

7. Fill Burrows In Your Garden

Fresh mole mounds on the lawn in the garden. Filled with soil

Moles can create holes on your property. If you have these burrow holes in your garden, add gravel to ensure snakes don’t create a habitat.

Sometimes filling burrows can be tedious if there are too many. Reach out to a company that specializes in burrowing pest control to keep the snakes and rodents away.

8. Use Smoke

A closeup of a firepit with different types of seats setup around it in the yard

Smoke is an excellent way to repel snakes as they are sensitive to strong smells. Dig a fire pit close to your garden and allow it to run for a few days to keep snakes away.

9. Consider Keeping Natural Predators

If you have a big garden and can afford to keep pigs, cats, or guinea hens, you should consider having them around. These animals are natural predators and can help keep snakes at bay.

10. Use Natural Snake Repellants

Certain products act as natural snake repellants:

Vinegar: Vinegar works perfectly if you live near water like a pond or river. Spray some white vinegar around the pond’s perimeter to keep the snakes away.

Garlic: Add garlic to any essential oil and use it around your garden. That smell will repel snakes.

Ammonia: Ammonia has a strong odor and can help keep snakes at bay. Soak a cloth in ammonia and put it in an exposed bag to deter the snakes.

Sulfur: Powdered sulfur irritates a snake’s skin when they slither over it, making it a great option to repel snakes.

11. Get in Touch with a Wildlife Control Company

Professional wildlife officer is catching the snake.

Handling snakes can be a frightening and overwhelming experience.

It’s best to get in touch with an experienced wildlife control company to eliminate snakes if the above methods don’t work.

If you encounter a snake in your garden, avoid touching or scaring it away.

Walk away and stay at least four feet away to prevent the snake from biting you. Call wildlife control immediately to remove the snake.

Final Thoughts

Although most snakes aren’t dangerous, it’s not easy to tell by their looks.

Fortunately, using some of the methods above can help keep snakes out of your garden and home. Avoid handling snakes when you spot them. Instead, call a pest professional to safely remove them.