Are snakes attracted to gardens? If you have ever owned a snake, you know they are drawn to the smell of moisture. Keep in mind though that snakes do not typically live in water. Some common nocturnal snakes that may be attracted to landscaping ponds, or otherwise located in a garden, are garter snakes, king snakes, black Rat snakes, and harmless ball snakes. It is always a good idea to check around your home to make sure there aren’t any other animals (like skunks or raccoons) that may want to make your garden snakes’ nest.
One thing to watch out for with ponds is frogs. These are small enough to get into a garden and drown. This can also happen with turtles or snakes using the pond as a home. The best way to keep your garden snakes and other small animals out of a pond is to have a non-slip surface and to use landscaping materials that will keep them from getting into the water. Also, make sure your pond has a cover of some kind to keep things like water snakes out.
Landscape pond owners often wonder about what types of plants and flowers water snakes love. The majority of snakes will be attracted to flowers, but not all. In fact, some plants may repel snakes while others will attract them. It’s best to stick with flowers and foliage that you know and enjoy. Some varieties of flowers are so common that they have practically developed into one form or another and are extremely easy to maintain.
All snakes in nature to want to be near water. Many fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and insects enjoy being close to water. Some of these creatures are considered by many to be food for snakes while others are considered to be more of a pest. However, cottonmouth, flat-head, Harlequin and certain kinds of new world frogs are able to survive well in most ponds and most lakes throughout the United States.
Many gardeners wonder if there are plants and flowers that snake like to eat because they seem to get sucked into the water on occasion. Snakes can and do eat various types of vegetation, but there are specific plants and flowers that they seem to prefer. These are the plants and flowers that you should pay the most attention to.
All snakes will be safe in a protected pond or lake, but some snakes have been known to have problems in outdoor settings. If you find that your snake isn’t growing as fast as you would like in the wild, you may want to try a few different options for indoor placement. There are many plants, stones, bricks and other items that snakes are capable of harming themselves around. You can place all of these things in an area that is not easily accessible to your snake. Your snake will be safer indoors.
Plants such as water lilies, clematis, blue blossoms and lavender are wonderful for providing your garden with shelter from snakes as well as other wildlife. They will also provide your snakes with shelter from other predators as well. Be sure that you take extra care of these plants by washing them weekly and making sure that they get enough water. Watering plants too often can drown them, which is bad news for your garden.
Another option that many people choose is planting ornamental grasses and bushes in their garden. These can be found anywhere from Canada to South America. Common plants include: poinsettia, anise, byway, meadow and Canada maple. Ornamental grasses and bushes make good hiding spots for snakes and other wildlife. They will also help to prevent deer from eating your snakes as they usually prey on rats and mice. However, don’t plant ornamental grasses and bushes too close together as the roots can get snagged and cause damage to your garden as well as to the snakes that are in a range of habitats.