Top 10 Snake Repellent Plants for A Safe Garden
Last Updated on July 27, 2024
Snakes love to live in areas that are dark and damp. They belong to different habitats including swamps, deserts, mountains, grasslands, and even in or near water bodies. They are also common in the areas where thick forests are found. Venomous or not, their existence is enough to develop ophidiophobia in a person.
And if you live near any such place or you have a well-organized garden at your home, then surely these uninvited guests can visit you anytime. However, you can counter them by planting the plants that deter their existence.
Key Takeaways
Aromatic Herbs: Plant Marigold, Rosemary, and Lavender for their aromatic qualities that repel snakes.
Allium Plants:
Garlic, onions, and leeks release sulfur compounds that snakes dislike.
Strategic Placement:
Position snake-repellent plants strategically around entry points and pathways.
Educate on Snake Habits:
Understand local snake species’ habits for more targeted repellent strategies.
What Type of Plant Will Keep Snakes Away From Your Garden?
Snakes have a sharp sense of smell. So to protect your yard from these creatures, all you need to do is grow plants that have strong aromas with pointed or prickly skin.
A wide variety of spices and herbs are available that not only make your place snake-free but will also prove beneficial when it comes to your kitchen garden. Let us discuss them one by one.
- Marigolds
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Lavender
- Holly
- Garlic
- Allium or flowering onion
- Mother-in-law’s tongue
- Lemon grass
- Wormwood or Mugwort
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds are the natives of North America, Tropical America, and South America. Mexican and French Marigolds are among a few of its types.
They are found in attractive yellow, orange and composite red colours. They bloom under full sunlight and in well-drained soil.
Marigold seeds can be germinated in the warm season. These plants shed their seeds via their flowers. When their flowers get dry, pluck it up and rub it in between your hands. Doing this way you are sprinkling its seeds in the soil.
This will multiply the number of flowers in your garden. Sow the seeds half an inch inside the soil and water them daily to get better results.
Marigold flowers have an irritant smell, which makes the snakes repulsive to reside in the area where they are grown. Their roots grow rapidly and possess a strong odour inside the soil that repels the snakes from making underground holes.
Mexican and French Marigolds are planted at the edges of gardens to protect them from different pests. Similarly, their pungent scent can deter the snakes from entering your yard.
Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus)
Rosemary is a shrub with a slightly citrus smell. Being a member of the sage family it has needle-like evergreen leaves.
It grows well in the Mediterranean region where the climate is mostly hot. However, its special species can endure the harsh winter season.
Rosemary can withstand for days without water. It has a comparatively slow growth rate as its seeds need enough time to germinate. But once grown it needs less maintenance and can live for years.
Due to the strong aromatic smell of this plant, snakes and various other pests hesitate to enter any such place where the Rosemary plant exists.
Besides, rosemary has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The herb can be used for numerous medicinal purposes.
Also Read About: Do Snake Plants Attract Snakes?
Basil (Ocimum basilicum )
Basil or Ocimum basilicum is one of the important herbs found in tropical regions from Central Africa to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the mint family. Due to its fragrant smell and endless health benefits, it is used in cuisines around the world.
It can last for the whole year in areas with moderate climates, whereas it has small life in regions with warmer climates. Its flowers are small and white.
You can use the roots and even seeds of the basil plant to grow it in the season from spring to summer. Its stems can reach a height of 30 to 150 cm.
The plant can be placed indoors as well as outdoors. But an intense amount of heat can easily burn its leaves.
Snakes being hypersensitive to odors avoid entering the yards where basil plants are grown.
As their scent is pleasing to humans, snakes cannot withstand it. So you need to plant Basil ( Tulsi ) near snake-prone areas. Even its dried stems are enough to emit a smell that snakes can’t tolerate.
Lavender (Lavandula )
In ancient times, Lavender due to its mind-calming scent was used in baths. Due to its numerous benefits, it is used by medicine and cosmetic industries. It is an evergreen shrub with a strong enhancing smell.
The plant has greenish-grey leaves with attractive purple flowers that produce small nutlet fruits.
Lavender or Lavandula is a native to the countries near the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India. It can be propagated by using its roots in April and May.
As we know snakes have a sharp sense of smell. So planting lavenders at the borders of your garden will not only enhance its beauty, but it will also ensure to make your yard snake snake-free.
Lavender is the most powerful plant to repel snakes or any other pest in your garden. I have been using this plant to repel mosquitos and flies as well.
Holly ( llex )
Holly or llex is a deciduous plant which belongs to the family of Aquifoliaceae. The plant has ornamental features like attractive flowers and decorative barks. It has pointed leaves that create a pricking effect to keep the rodents away from your home garden.
Holly needs a place to grow where it can receive full sunlight. A moist but well-drained soil is ideal for its expansion.
Even they grow at a slower pace. However, they can attain a maximum height of 30-50 feet in a pyramid shape. This plant needs a yearly pruning so that the dead or defective stems are shattered to keep it healthy.
The fruit of holly contains toxins that are not good for humans and even animals. So be aware when children are around the area where they are planted.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
It is a perennial plant that grows from a bulb and produces beautiful purple colour flowers from July to September. It is native to South Asia, Central Asia and northeastern Iran and belongs to the Genus Allium. The plant needs a warmer climate to grow.
The best time for its propagation is mid-fall before the weather gets cold. It can be grown in October in northern regions while in the South they can be planted until November. It can even grow in the Spring season, but the cloves will not be well differentiated.
Pop in the separated cloves of garlic 4 inches deep in well-drained soil and nurture it with manure to give it an ideal environment to grow.
Garlic has an ample amount of sulfonic acid that can act as a strong deterrent to repel the snakes and other insects from your garden.
You can plant garlic in your lawn or you can just infuse its cloves in water and spray this solution in your yard to secure it from snakes and other insects.
Besides, garlic has countless health benefits and is used for the treatment of various heart and respiratory diseases.
Allium or Flowering Onion
They are commonly known as ornamental onions. Allium are native to the Northern Hemisphere where climate is usually dry and hot. They came in different colours and dislike the soils that have enough humidity in them.
Alliums come with more than 700 species. They can be propagated via their bulbs between late spring and early summer.
What you need to do is to dig them 5 to 8 inches deep and place them 15 to 20 cm apart from each other. Water it well but do not make it wet.
Alliums possess a strong odor. Due to the strong smell of this plant, snakes avoid entering the places where they are grown. They can be planted on the borders of kitchen gardens and in areas where mass planting is required.
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Dracaena trifasciata)
Mother-in-law’s tongue is commonly known as snake plant. It is native to Asia and Africa. The leaves of snake plants are sharp which creates a prickly effect. Hence acting as an obstruction for snakes to move in the area where they are grown.
Snake plant grows in an upward or vertical fashion in cold as well as warm climates, and can survive in between the temperature of 50-75 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. The plant needs direct sunlight for faster growth, but it can thrive indoors if mild sunlight is provided.
It can be propagated via different methods using its leaf cuttings in soil and water.
Mother-in-law’s tongue or snake plant is a succulent, hence it is easy to handle and needs less water to survive. Watering it once in a month is enough if the weather in your place is cold. whereas in summer it must be watered when the soil gets dry.
But extra care is needed as they contain toxins and are injurious to humans as well as animals. Besides, snake plants are excellent air purifiers.
Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon )
Lemon grass or Cymbopogon is a plant from grass species. The plant has more than 100 species and is native to Asia, Africa, and Australia. It can attain a maximum height of 6 1/2 feet. It is a tropical plant and can tolerate exposure to full sunlight.
Lemon grass has a citrusy fragrance that helps keep the snakes at bay. A chemical named citronella is extracted from its leaves and is used in soaps, insect-repellent sprays and aromatherapy.
Grow this plant in your garden to keep the rodents away. Moreover, it also has various health benefits. It is recommended for various issues of the gastrointestinal tract.
The infusion of its leaves inside water prevents various oral infections and improves digestion.
Wormwood or Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris )
Mugwort belongs to the genus Artemisia. It is found in Europe and Eastern Asia. It is an invasive species that can be grown using its seeds and rhizomes. The best time to sow its seeds is summer to early fall.
Its shoots originate during the summer season and its flowers bloom in between July and September. Its purplish colour stems have aromatic properties like rosemary plants.
Mugwort or Wormwood can sustain full sunlight and is easy to manage. It can attain a height of 2 feet with a spread of around 3 feet.
It has an astringent smell that keeps the snakes and other insects away from your yard. Besides it has other health and medicinal properties.
Mugwort or wormwood is used in the manufacture of liquor or alcohol. Various parts of this plant like flowers, roots, and stems are used to treat digestive issues, irregular periods, anxiety, and insomnia.
FAQs
What smells do snakes hate most?
Snakes are super sensitive to smell. The foul and bitter smell of sulfur, vinegar, spice, and astringent scents like onions and garlic, lime, cloves and cinnamon are disliked by snakes and other insects. Growing these plants will steer clear of your yard from these creatures.
Which plants can keep snakes away from my garden?
We have listed above the plants that cannot only keep snakes away from your garden but will also enhance its beauty. These vibrant colour flowers exhibit a strong odour that repels snakes and rodents from your place.
How do I snake-proof my kitchen garden?
Onions, cloves, lemon grass, and even garlic have a strong aroma. Cultivating these plants will deter snakes from visiting your yard.
