Here are some tips for keeping snakes out of your house and away from your yard:

1. Make sure that you seal up any spaces where the water pipes come into your house. Using that expandable spray foam that comes in a can remedy this problem. You just spray a little into the cracks and it expands to fill the space - in a couple of hours it will dry rock hard. Go around all the pipes in the kitchen and bathrooms to seal off the spaces. Be sure to seal off even the smallest of spaces because snakes can get though a hole that is very tiny!

2. Snakes eat mice, so discourage mice from coming into your home, garage and out buildings. The mice will be looking for food and a place to make a nest - so you want to discourage that. Store pet food, birdseed, etc, in metal garbage cans with tight lids. At night pick up any pet food bowls that are outside. Keep your out buildings and garage tidy to discourage mice from making nests.

3. Keep your yard tidy. Keep your yard and bushes trimmed around the house. Clip any low branches on shrubs that make a hiding place for snakes. You should keep any compost piles or leaf piles far away from your house.

4. Snakes like to find a cool place to rest and are fond of rock piles, wood piles, etc. Keep these away from your home. * A word of caution - DO NOT stick your hand into or under anything! If you have to move something outside, use use a long stick or rake to make sure a snake isn't under there!!!

Country Lore about Getting Rid of Snakes:

There are people who swear that putting a line of limestone around your yard will keep snakes out. Others say that it doesn't work - I have never tried it so you can decide for yourself.

Another old timey tale is to plant gourd vines in your flowers beds to discourage snakes in the garden.

I was told that Mexican heather seems to attract snakes according to one  source. The same source said they tried "Snake Away" and didn't see much of a positive result. Also they tried the old fashioned moth balls (the ones with napthalene) and it helped some. I heard that sulfur can discourage a snake...I like the idea about the sulfur but who can tell me where you can purchase it?

My mother said that snakes do not like lemon grass - but I have never planted it, so again, you can try it if you wish.

Thank you for your letter,

Iris Greenthumb