Snakes are perhaps one of the scariest garden pests. Depending on where you live, there’s a possibility that they’re venomous or aggressive.
Even if you don’t have dangerous snakes where you live, they can still be frightening. This poll from several years ago showed that snakes are actually one of America’s top fears.
If you’re interested in starting your own greenhouse, but you’re wondering if greenhouses attract snakes, you’ve found the right article. We’ll tell you about whether or not snakes are drawn to greenhouses, and if so, how you can keep them away without harming them.
Quick Answer: Do Greenhouses Attract Snakes?
Like with gardens, greenhouses can attract snakes. Other types of garden pests, such as rodents and insects, can make good food for these scaly predators, and they tend to love hiding in greenhouses.
Furthermore, your greenhouse can provide a warm, safe shelter for snakes to curl up in.
Related Article: Do Greenhouses Attract Rats?
How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Greenhouse
Snakes may be attracted to your greenhouse, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for letting them in. There are plenty of things you can do to keep them from giving you an unexpected scare while you’re gardening.
Here are some of the most humane methods you can use to drive away snakes:
- Keep their food out of your greenhouse.
- Don’t let the grass get too long.
- Clear away any clutter.
- Block entry holes or cracks.
- Remove any possible sources for drinking water.
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Keep their food out of your greenhouse.
Snakes will naturally follow wherever their food supply is. The food they like to eat most includes birds or rodents, so if you can keep these animals from hanging around your greenhouse, snakes won’t want to be there, either.
For starters, move any bird feeders you have away from the greenhouse. This prevents bird seed from dropping on the ground around the structure, which is a draw to all kinds of rodents.
Next, take action to prevent rodents from getting in your greenhouse. We discuss how to repel rats in more detail here, but in a nutshell, that means sealing the greenhouse and cleaning it up.
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Don’t let the grass get too long.
Long grass is a haven for snakes. It helps camouflage them from prey while they’re hunting.
That means you can make your greenhouses far less attractive to them if they have go out in the open to reach it. Mow your lawn regularly, especially around the greenhouse, to keep the grass nice and short.
Pay attention to any hedges, too. Rodents love hiding in hedges, so you should plan to keep hedges near the greenhouse trimmed and well-manicured.
Related Article: Are Greenhouses Good for Growing Vegetables?
Clear away any clutter.
Just like other pests, snakes love to curl up in things like wood piles, rocks, trash, or compost. You should do your best to keep your greenhouses free and clear from any kind of clutter.
That way, snakes won’t have any shelter or camouflage to hide in. They’ll feel vulnerable in your greenhouse and won’t want to stay.
Block entry holes or cracks.
One of the best things you can do is prevent snakes from getting in your greenhouse in the first place. Start by carefully examining the inside and outside of the building.
Your goal is to find any holes or cracks in the walls that a snake could slip through. Keep in mind these openings don’t need to be very wide. For some types of snakes, a hole as wide as your finger is ample room for them to wriggle into.
Once you find these openings, seal them up.
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Remove any possible sources for drinking water.
Snakes like water, much like any other animal. Limiting the water sources in your greenhouse will go a long way towards repelling snakes.
Check your faucets or taps to ensure they’re not leaking. Mop up any puddles of standing water on the floor and make sure any drains aren’t too damp or easily accessible.
Wrap Up
Similar to other garden pests, snakes love greenhouses. They’re warm, safe, and oftentimes draw in delicious prey.
But with several easy steps, you can turn your welcoming greenhouse into a snake-free zone. Follow the tips in this guide, and your greenhouse won’t be a haven for pests.
Sometimes, specific greenhouses are designed to be resistant to pests. If you’d like to see some examples, take a look at our picks for the best greenhouses for Alabama.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
