When I moved into my dream home with its sprawling backyard , I never imagined I ’d become an accidental expert on snake behavior .

But one sunny afternoon , while admiring my overgrown English garden , I come face - to - cheek with a nonmigratory serpent that would change my integral approach to yard maintenance .

Overgrown Grass

The day I discovered a Hydra sunbathe in my yard exchange my entire approach to lawn maintenance . Like many homeowners pursuing that natural , meadow - inspired aspect , I ’d let my forage grow longer than usual , thinking it would create a more eco - favorable environs . The realism check come during a barefoot walk across my lawn when I spot a ophidian slithering through the marvellous grass mere feet away .

Through extensive enquiry and consultations with herpetologist , I learned that pot superlative is actually one of the most crucial gene in ophidian habitat choice . snake rely heavily on tall smoke for both hunting and protection – it allows them to move undetected while stalking quarry and provides instant back from aerial marauder . The solution is n’t just veritable mowing ; it ’s strategic lawn sustentation .

I now keep my grass at a consistent 2 - 3 inch , which I ’ve found is the sweet spot between esthetically pleasing and snake - deterrent . I ’ve also gift in a good quality trimmer for edge areas , as these transitional zone are particularly attractive to Snake when overgrow .

Messy Wood Piles

My rustic woodpile saga began with purely esthetic intentions – I opine the stacked logs along my fence produce a charming , cabin - in - the - forest vibe . That romantic notion evaporated the moment I find a Snake River had established residence between the logs while strive for firewood one parky evening .

The job was n’t just the woodpile itself , but its entire apparatus . I had create an unintentional Hydra paradise : logs stacked instantly on the ground , positioned against a cheery fence , with minimum disturbance . Through trial run and error ( and several startling encounters ) , I develop a snake - resistant woods storage system . Now , all firewood ride on kick upstairs metal racks at least 12 in off the footing . The racks themselves stick out on a layer of humiliated crushed rock for better drainage and fewer hiding spots .

Dense Ground Cover

My erotic love amour with pachysandra ended the day I spotted a snake using it as its personal expressway . dull ground covers create the perfect environment for ophidian : moisture - copious , protected , and full of quarry .

I ’ve since learned to asseverate clear borders around these flora , lose weight them on a regular basis , and create rift in the coverage . A 2 - understructure crushed rock border around impenetrable plantings has prove especially effective , giving snake less motivator to habituate these areas as travel route .

Water Features Without Boundaries

The natural pool I ’d created was accidentally doubling as a Hydra resort . It was n’t just the water supply – it was the combination of wet , amphibian quarry , and impenetrable plant around the edge .

My result ? I redesign the borders with a 2 - foot band of river rock , off industrial plant from immediate edge , and installed subtle kindling . Snakes prefer avoiding exposed areas , so this overt perimeter drastically reduced their presence while maintaining the pond ’s beauty .

Unkempt Compost Areas

My open compost lot was essentially running a ophidian bed and breakfast . The ardent , decomposing stuff attracted rodents , while the wet and covert made it an ideal ophidian habitat .

switch to a shut tumbler organization elevate on block made a huge difference . I also maintain a exonerated , gravel perimeter around the compost area and turn the contents on a regular basis to discourage any prospicient - condition residents .

Dense Perimeter Plantings

Those absolutely dense arborvitae along my fencing stock ? They were serving as snake corridors . While seclusion plantings are not bad , their obtuse depleted branches created protected passages for Snake River .

The solvent was mere but good : crop lower branches to create 6 - 8 inches of headway and maintaining a unmortgaged , mulch path between the fence and plants .

Cluttered Storage Areas

Garden equipment scatter along my service department wall was creating an unintended snake in the grass shelter . The answer involve installing wall - mounted storage systems , keeping item off the footing , and maintaining a clear , gravel border around the building ’s foundation . Regular cleaning and reorganizing prevent debris accumulation that might attract snakes .

Unfenced Garden Areas

My vegetable garden was a snake attractive feature until I made some strategic changes . Installing computer hardware textile fence in that extends 6 in into the ground , maintaining wide , crushed rock itinerary between beds , and keeping industrial plant trim made a huge divergence . even harvesting and removal of fall produce also reduces quarry attractor .

Poor Drainage Areas

Those soggy spots in the yard were n’t just eyesores – they were Hydra attraction . Fixing drain through place , instal French drains , and add strategic ground covering plant helped eliminate these moist habitats . even maintenance ensure piss does n’t pool after rainwater , pee these areas less likeable to snakes and their prey .

Bird Bath Placement

My artistic conclusion to aim a decorative bird bathroom in a shady corner surrounded by fern make an unexpected snake oasis . Birds were n’t the only visitant attracted to this water reference – it became a prime hunt spot for Snake seeking both urine and quarry . The solution was uncomplicated but effective : move the birdie bathtub to an heart-to-heart , sunstruck area with a 3 - human foot crushed rock border around it .

Now birds still visit on a regular basis , but snake in the grass are much less potential to use it as a hunt ground since they have no contiguous cover .

Landscape Fabric Neglect

The landscape painting framework I ’d installed years ago had begun lifting at the edge , creating perfect snake - sized burrow along my garden beds . What was imply to prevent weeds had become an unintended snake in the grass tax shelter system . These gaps offered protect distance for snakes to travel and residual , especially when combined with the mulch on top .

I ’ve since replaced damaged fabric , securing boundary decent with landscaping staples and maintaining a neat border where framework meets hardscaping . Regular inspection of these areas has become part of my monthly garden sustainment function .

Hollow Decorative Features

My collection of decorative garden item – empty log , ceramic pots , and artificial rocks – was unknowingly providing stark snake hideout . These features , peculiarly when placed in fly-by-night area or near piss source , became prime snake tangible estate .

The fix regard fill vacuous features with expanding froth , elevating decorative pots on gravel cornerstone , and strategically placing items in open , regularly asseverate area rather than tucked by in quiet corners . Now my garden art enhance the landscape without creating unintended snake in the grass home ground .

  • This article was created with the assistance of AI .