The Message Board

RE: snake free garden idea

Posted 741 days ago

If you find the answer, let me know please. Snakes don't care what type of garden you grow. They are only interested in food so if you can eliminate the food supply then you eliminate snakes as well.

So no water feature...frogs. No compost...mice/rats. No lizards. No birds. The list goes on. No guarantees.

I've even thought about this at times and the only answer is to completely envelope your yard and house with shadecloth that goes at least 30cm below ground level.

RE: snake free garden idea

Posted 734 days ago

I agree with Pomolo, there is no such thing as snake free in a rural area.I have a six foot colour bond fence around my yard and I have lost one dog to a brown snake another one was bitten but miraculously recovered.I have tried every snake repellant idea that I have heard of but they still just go where they want to go
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Noelene

RE: snake free garden idea

Posted 718 days ago

Yep, they're a fact of life. Here in the Sunshine Coast hinterland we have had our moments.

My general "game plan" has always been to eliminate their habitats and food supply as much as possible, and our motto here is "never poke the little pinkies in where you can't see" they have the art of concealment down to perfection.

I wouldn't put too much faith in the theory that if you thump the ground they will go away. They lie "doggo" sometimes. (creating the risk of being stepped on)

As for those Dick Smith, or whatever they are, snake eradicators, the little beasties don't have ears, so can't hear anything, and as for vibrations, well....take it with a grain of salt.

And a word of wisdom, "most people get bitten with a shovel in their hands" Leave 'em alone. Thanks to Mr Howard we're not allowed to have 410 shot guns anymore.

When gardening in some undergrowth areas I use a long handled shovel to push back the growth so I can see, a snake catcher told me they will react violently if threatened, and to be gentle around them.

Rivetting stuff! Now where's that 410?
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Hobby farming when not Grey Nomadding

RE: snake free garden idea

Posted 712 days ago

I live on a bush/wetland area block and I agree that a snake free garden is not possible. Fortunately, the snakes tend to stay in the bush area most of the time and not in my gardens. One of my dogs died from a snake bite in October last year and the other got bitten 2 weeks ago, she lived after a visit and $$ to the vet. We have lived here for over 16 years and that is the only snake problems with dogs we have had. I think it depends on the dog. Anyway good luck!
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RE: snake free garden idea

Posted 683 days ago

Here's another idea, my sister and her hubby had tiger snakes around the house on their dairy farm in Kerang Vic, and the ever resourceful Barry used to spread sheets of that bird netting stuff that you lay over fruit trees, around the house yard.

Not spread entirely flat, but sort of crumpled up, and the little beasties would crawl under it and get all tangled up in the mesh, at which point they generally met an untimely demise.

To be effective I think you have to know roughly where they travel, I have heard snakes follow a track, like many animals do, or lay the mesh out near water in dry conditions.

Just a thought, might help.

Best action though, is eliminate food sources, shelter, and habitats.
(and buy that 410!)
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Hobby farming when not Grey Nomadding

RE: snake free garden idea

Posted 408 days ago

a south african friend of mine told me that the boers let their chooks roam free as the pecking on the ground keeps the snakes away, I have also heard that guinea fowls do the same thing