Snakes- How to keep snakes out of the yard

I was at a garden party last week when a woman asked me if I knew how to keep snakes out of her yard. She lives next to a national battle field and finds them around all the time. Now some snakes are beneficial because they eat rodents and bugs and are harmless. Some are not.
First you have to clean up your property. Move wood piles or rock piles toward the edge of your property.



Those cold blooded creatures love to hide in cool places. Make sure your grass is cut, leafs are raked and bushes are trimmed away from the ground. They won’t go were they can’t hide or find a nesting place.
Dogs are great. The scent of dogs will keep the snakes at bay.


Your bird feeder attracts squirrels and other rodents. It may also attract snakes. Any time you have a food source for wildlife you are asking snakes to dinner. Bird feeders are fine as long as you don’t have a snake problem.



This one was found in a ladder that had been stored near a dumpster then loaded onto the top of a van. They drove all the way home before they realized they had a snake on board.

Snakes are beneficial because they eat all those small critters that nibble on your garden. Bugs, grubs and whatever else is eating your vegetables and flowers.
What is a snakes favorite flower? Coily-flowers or course! :)