Snakes are the stuff of nightmares for many people, and there’s no denying that they can be dangerous.
But if you’re like me and don’t want to deal with poisonous snakes in your yard, it’s important to know that some trees keep snakes away from your home!
We’ve put together a list of options so you can keep these slithering creatures out of your garden without having to resort to harmful chemicals or pesticides.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Trees can play a role in deterring snakes. |
| Certain tree species, such as cedar, lemongrass, and osage orange, are believed to repel snakes. |
| Planting these snake-repellent trees around your property may help create a deterrent effect. |
| Additionally, maintaining a well-manicured yard and removing potential snake hiding spots is important. |
| Remember that while trees can contribute to snake deterrence, it’s crucial to implement multiple prevention strategies for effective results. |
Catnip
Catnip is an herb that can be grown in your garden to keep snakes away. It’s also a perennial, so you won’t have to replant it each year. Catnip can be used in a variety of ways, which makes it even more practical:
If you want to use catnip as a repellent, harvest the leaves and stems in late summer or early fall. The fresh plant has greater potency than dried or frozen leaves do.
Add catnip tea as an ingredient in homemade bug sprays because it will boost their effectiveness at keeping bugs away from your home.
Sprinkle some on your pet’s bedding material so they’ll sleep undisturbed by snake visits!
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Marigold
Marigolds are also a great deterrent. These bright, colorful flowers are known to be both beautiful and toxic to snakes.
They’re also popular for weddings because they last a long time, so if you’re planning on getting married soon and would like your wedding day to be snake-free, consider adding marigolds in your bouquet!
The best part about marigolds is that they’re not just good for humans: bees and butterflies love them too!
So even if you don’t care about keeping snakes away from your home (or yourself), these plants will still do wonders for the environment around you if planted in large quantities.
Allium
Allium is a genus of flowering plants that includes onion, garlic, chives, shallot, and leek. It’s a perennial plant with fleshy bulbs; the flower stalks are hollow and can grow up to 10 feet tall.
The smell emitted by allium repels snakes: they hate the smell! Snakes don’t eat any part of this plant because it gives them stomach problems.
The bulb also has antibiotic properties that help kill bacteria in wounds caused by snake bites – making it an ideal remedy for anyone bitten by a snake at home (or anywhere else).
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Lemongrass
Lemon grass is a tropical plant that grows throughout the world, including in most parts of Asia and Africa.
It is known for its aromatic scent and flavor—it tastes like lemon, but it also has a distinctive fragrance that some people find unpleasant. Lemon grass is commonly used as an herb in cooking.
Although you can buy lemongrass at your local grocery store, you may have to travel or order online if you live in colder climates.
The leaves are harvested when the plant reaches 6–8 inches tall (15–20 cm). You should try to pick them before they flower because they lose their flavor once they flower.
Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
Mother-in-law’s tongue is a succulent plant that has been used as an organic snake repellent for many years. Some people call it the snake plant, but its formal name is Sansevieria trifasciata.
It was first introduced to Europe in 1750, where it became popular among aristocrats and royalty. They liked growing it because it was easy to take care of and didn’t require much water or sunlight.
In the past few years, this plant has become more popular with homeowners who want to add some greenery without having to spend a lot of time or money on their landscaping efforts.
The snake plant will thrive in any environment as long as you provide enough direct sunlight each day at least six hours will do the trick!
If your home doesn’t get enough light during daylight hours (for example, if there are lots of trees around), then try adding some artificial lighting such as fluorescent bulbs around your home so that they can grow properly and keep those pesky snakes away from your house!
Garlic
If you’re looking for a more natural way to keep snakes away from your yard, garlic can be an effective method.
Garlic is one of the most popular plants used to repel snakes because it has a strong odor that can be detected by snakes even when they’re hibernating in the ground or underground.
The smell of garlic makes them think their territory is being invaded and they’ll leave the area rather than confront their perceived foe.
Garlic can also be used in cooking and as a home remedy for many different ailments including colds and flu. For example, according to Dr. Axe’s website on how to use essential oils:
“If you want something that’s going to last all day long, put some dry oil on your wrists (or wherever) and rub it in.”
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Pink Agapanthus
Pink Agapanthus is a perennial plant that grows up to 2 feet tall. It is a bulbous plant that blooms in late summer and also makes an excellent companion plant for other plants, especially roses or ornamental grasses.
The pink flower spikes are very attractive and can be grown in containers if you don’t have enough space in your garden.
The leaves of this plant grow from the base of its stem, with each leaf being about 2 inches long and having pointed tips. Pink Agapanthus provides an excellent source of nectar for butterflies (and bees), so it’s great for attracting pollinators to your garden!
Snakeroots
Snakeroot is a perennial herb that can be used to keep snakes away. It has a strong, unpleasant smell and is native to North America.
Snakeroot plants grow in clumps of long, slender green leaves with white flowers that bloom in late summer or early fall.
Not only are they beautiful, but they also have many medicinal uses! You can use them as an antiseptic or pain reliever during childbirth; they’re also said to prevent blood loss after birth. They’ve even been used as an insect repellent!
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Basil
Basil is a good plant to keep snakes away. Basil is a perennial herb with a strong smell that can repel snakes, making it a popular choice for home gardeners and farmers alike.
Basil can be grown in pots or directly in the ground, but wherever you grow it, you’ll want to make sure it gets plenty of sun and water so that the leaves stay healthy.
Yellow Alder
Yellow Alder is an evergreen tree that grows to a height of 15 feet. Yellow Alder has dark green leaves and yellow flowers in the spring.
When growing in dense thickets, Yellow Alder can form impenetrable thickets that shade out other plants and trees, creating clearings where snakes can thrive.
The trees keep snakes away by breaking up open spaces with their thick, low growths and providing shelter for other animals that eat snakes, such as foxes or hawks.
| Yellow Alder Varieties |
|---|
| Tecoma stans |
| Esperanza |
| Yellow Bells |
| Trumpet Bush |
| Yellow Elder |
Lavender
Lavender is a perennial herb known for its sweet smell and taste. It’s a member of the mint family, and grows in temperate climates all over the world.
Lavender has been used in cooking, cosmetics and perfumes since ancient times (it was even used to freshen up Roman soldiers’ armor). Today, it’s also used in aromatherapy as an aid to relaxation or sleep.
It may seem strange that snakes would be repelled by something so pleasant-smelling! But snakes have extremely sensitive noses—they can detect smells up to 100 miles away! So perhaps they don’t like smelling something so fragrant when you’re around?
Holly
Holly is a good choice for a hedge, as it’s dense and shiny leaves turn bright red in the fall. In addition, hollies are often used as windbreaks because they are sturdy and tolerate poor soil conditions.
They also make excellent borders or screens around your property to keep snakes away while creating an attractive, natural barrier.
If you’re planting near the foundation of your home, consider adding holly trees around the perimeter of your yard—they can help repel snakes since they have thorns on their branches (snakes tend not to like getting pricked by thorns).
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Allium Or Flowering Onion
Allium is a genus of flowering plants, consisting of some 500 species. The most popular member of the genus is Allium cepa (onion), with other common species including the potato onion (A. cernuum) and garlic chives (A. tuberosum).
Alliums are native to the Mediterranean region, Asia, and North America, but can be found growing in a wide range of habitats from deserts to high mountain peaks.
They have hollow, bluish-green leaves that can be round or arrow-shaped; each leaf has 1–6 segments called divisions with flowers at their base where they join together at nodes which form bulbs that store water during dry periods.
Alliums produce strong odor compounds when crushed or bruised which in many cases acts as an effective insect repellent – although this property varies between different species so you need to try one out before planting it near your house!
| Allium Varieties |
|---|
| Purple Sensation |
| Globemaster |
| Mount Everest |
| Gladiator |
| Millennium |
Yellow Alder
A yellow alder is a deciduous tree that grows in the eastern half of the United States and Canada. It’s commonly found along stream banks and lakeshores, where it’s often called “yellow birch” because of its resemblance to that other tree.
The yellow alder has long been known for its snake repellent properties, although scientists are still unsure how exactly they work.
If you’re looking for something to deter snakes from your yard or garden but don’t want to turn it into a snake sanctuary, try planting some yellow alers!
Their lovely green leaves will be an excellent addition to any yard—and their ability to deter snakes will help keep them away from your petunias as well!
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is a perennial herb that’s native to eastern North America. It’s also known as black snakeroot and bugbane, and it’s a member of the buttercup family.
The name black cohosh can be traced back to Native American practices of using it medicinally, but its use as an insect repellent isn’t a modern invention: It was first used in this way by colonists who were trying to keep pests away from their crops.
Though relatively uncommon in cultivation today, black cohosh is still widely used medicinally throughout eastern North America—and its roots are even sold commercially as an herbal remedy for such conditions as menopause symptoms, thyroid disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis.
| Black Cohosh Brands |
|---|
| Gaia Herbs |
| Nature’s Way |
| Solaray |
| Herb Pharm |
| NOW Foods |
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is an effective snake deterrent, and it’s also used for cooking and tea. This perennial herb grows to a height of three feet. Lemongrass can be planted in your garden or grown indoors in a pot.
It should be watered regularly but not over-watered, as this can encourage root rot. Once you have established your lemongrass plant, you may need to trim it back occasionally to keep the plant healthy and prevent it from getting leggy (taller than wide).
Mint
Mint is an aromatic herb, perennial and member of the mint family. It grows up to 2 feet tall and has green leaves that are deeply lobed. Its flowers come in white or purple, depending on the variety. Mint is a common ingredient in cooking as well as in tea and desserts.
Wormwood
Wormwood is a perennial herb that can be used to keep snakes away from your property. The plant has been used for ages as an insect repellent, and you can use it to make a tea or tincture (a liquid extract) that will keep snakes at bay.
The fragrant wormwood plant is native to Europe and Asia, but it grows in many other regions of the world as well. In ancient times, people believed that it had magical powers and would ward off evil spirits.
Today, wormwood’s main use is as an ingredient in absinthe—a bitter alcoholic drink with hallucinogenic properties (though it should be noted that these effects have been debunked).
The leaves of the wormwood plant contain thujone, which acts as a neurotoxin against various types of pests including mosquitoes, flies and fleas—and even mites!
When applied topically or ingested by humans (it has some medicinal uses), thujone can cause seizures in high doses; however when mixed with other ingredients such as mint oil and sugar water to make absinthe-based tinctures or teas–the amount present won’t cause any adverse effects on humans
| Wormwood Varieties |
|---|
| Absinthe Wormwood |
| Roman Wormwood |
| Common Wormwood |
| Southernwood |
| Field Wormwood |
Sassafras
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a genus of three species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and the Caribbean.
Sassafras trees have many uses for humans, including the leaves which are used for flavoring teas and syrups. They also have medicinal properties that can be used to treat colds, flu symptoms, infections and inflammation; these same benefits can be transferred to your garden as well!
If you’re looking for a way to keep snakes away from your property while getting some extra benefits at home then sassafras may just be what you need!
Scented Geraniums
The scented geranium is a good choice for keeping snakes away. With its strong scent and daily watering requirements, it’s an ideal plant to start with if you’re just getting started as a gardener. Snakes don’t like the smell of the geranium, so planting them around your house can help prevent unwanted snakes from coming into your yard or garden area.
Conclusion
Snakes are scary, but they can be a lot less scary if you know how to keep them away. Snakes are afraid of loud noises and vibrations in their environment, so the best thing to do is make sure that you don’t have any loose objects lying around outside your home.
If you do see a snake in your garden or yard, try making noise by stomping on the ground or banging on pots with sticks—it will scare them off!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the topic of repelling snakes:
9 Plants That Repel Snakes: Discover nine different plant species known for their ability to repel snakes. Learn how to incorporate these plants into your garden to create a snake-resistant environment.
Best Snake Repellent Plants: Explore a comprehensive list of the best plants that act as natural snake repellents. Find out how these plants emit scents or create conditions that deter snakes.
Snake Repellent Plants: This article highlights various snake repellent plants and provides detailed information about their characteristics and effectiveness. Learn how these plants can help keep snakes away from your property.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about repelling snakes:
How do snake repellent plants work?
Snake repellent plants work by emitting strong scents or producing certain compounds that snakes find unpleasant. These odors deter snakes from entering the area, making it less likely for them to stay or establish habitats.
What are some common snake repellent plants?
Common snake repellent plants include marigolds, lemongrass, wormwood, garlic, and onion. These plants have scents or characteristics that snakes tend to avoid, making them useful for repelling these reptiles.
Can snake repellent plants guarantee 100% snake-free areas?
No, snake repellent plants cannot guarantee complete elimination of snakes from an area. While they can act as deterrents, some species of snakes may still venture into the area if other attractants or suitable habitats are present. Using snake repellent plants should be combined with other preventive measures for more effective results.
Do all snake repellent plants require specific care or growing conditions?
Snake repellent plants vary in their care requirements. While some may have specific soil or sunlight preferences, many of these plants are relatively low-maintenance and can thrive in a variety of conditions. It’s important to research the specific needs of each plant before incorporating them into your garden.
Are snake repellent plants harmful to other animals or pets?
Most snake repellent plants are safe for other animals and pets. However, some plants may have certain properties or compounds that can be harmful if ingested in large quantities. It’s advisable to research and consult with experts or gardening professionals to ensure the safety of your pets and other animals in the vicinity.
I am Dr Hellen James a veterinarian, pet lover, and writer. I have many years of experience caring for pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and fish (and even axolotls!). I love spending time with the animals in my life, especially when they are sick or need love.