The Common Garden Plant That Can Help Keep Snakes At Bay

Seeing a snake in the yard is unsettling, despite their beneficial role in the environment, which includes effective rodent control. While most snakes are harmless, there are at least six poisonous snakes you don't want to see in your yard. Whether the snakes are venomous or not, most people prefer to keep them out of their outdoor space. Luckily, there's a common garden plant that can keep snakes at bay — chili peppers.

Finding the occasional snake on your property most likely cannot be completely avoided. However, if you have a recurring problem with snakes, there are a variety of steps you can take to make your property less attractive to slithering visitors. Frequent encounters with snakes in your yard may mean that you have a rodent problem or plenty of places for them to hide. You can discourage snakes from making themselves at home by removing food and shelter sources, and including plants in the garden that deter them, such as chili peppers. 

Capsicum annuum includes distinct pepper varieties such as sweet peppers, hot peppers, and ornamental peppers. The hot pepper group includes the chili pepper plant. This is an herbaceous perennial and member of the nightshade family that grows well in zones 9 to 11. The plant has deep green leaves and the fruits can be a variety of colors, including red, yellow, green, chocolate, and purple.

Hot peppers work to deter snakes and other pests, such as insects, rabbits, and squirrels. The peppers repel snakes because they contain a chemical known as capsaicin. This chemical is effective because it has a strong odor and snakes have an excellent sense of smell, so they are easily irritated by this compound. Planting peppers alongside other plants that snakes prefer to avoid, such as garlic and onions, can be even more effective as a deterrent.

While chili peppers aren't a favorite with snakes, simply planting them in your garden won't be enough to keep your slithery visitors away. A much better way is to use the peppers grown in your yard to formulate a homemade snake repellent, which will make your space less hospitable to unwelcome guests. This is most effective when combined with other foolproof ways to keep snakes from slithering around in your yard, such as keeping your grass cut short and cleaning up old piles of wood or leaves to take away their hiding places. 

Although running into snakes in the yard can be terrifying, you can make your own natural snake repellent with the chili peppers you harvest from your garden, and put them into a homemade spray to use around your yard. Other ingredients that help drive snakes away include vinegar, Epsom salts, and essential oils, such as cinnamon, peppermint, and clove.

To discourage snakes from taking up residence in the yard, combine chili pepper extract with lime juice. This combination works because citrus is also a natural snake repellent that's already in your kitchen. You first have to make chili pepper extract by mashing the peppers in a food processor. Then, soak the mash in a solvent, such as food alcohol for about two days. Strain the mixture to separate the liquid into a bowl and allow it to sit uncovered for a few more days for the excess liquid to evaporate.

Mix the extract with equal parts of lime juice and add this to a gallon of water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle and spray your garden and the perimeter of your yard. Keep in mind that spraying once won't be enough to keep snakes out of the yard. For best results, the mixture should be reapplied frequently throughout the season, especially if snakes are frequent visitors or take up residence on your property. Always remember to spray again after a deluge. as heavy rain will wash the mixture away.