DIY Builds
Photo by Thiago Schlemper Pexels Logo Photo: Thiago Schlemper

What keeps copperheads away from your house?

Some of the most popular snake deterrents are West Indian lemongrass, onion plants, garlic plants, marigolds, and Viper's Bowstring Hemp to name a few.

Can I use sand instead of sub-base?
Can I use sand instead of sub-base?

As a general rule, stay away from using sand as a subbase. You're better off using gravel; your concrete will last longer and have less of a chance...

Read More »
Where do you dump urine out of a composting toilet?
Where do you dump urine out of a composting toilet?

Here are some places you should be able to empty the urine bottle from your composting toilet: At a dumping station. This is a sure place for safe...

Read More »

Gardening is an experience that typically brings a lot of wildlife to your front door. In most cases, this is seen as a positive thing; however, when one of those animals, such as the infamous Copperhead, is a venomous snake, it’s easy to see why most people would love to keep them out. With so many places to hide in, Copperheads typically go unnoticed until you happen to walk upon them one day, something that almost everyone wants to prevent. So, to help, here are six tips on keeping these slithery unwanted guests away from your gardening space.

Don’t Make Your Garden Their Ideal Habitat

The most important tip to keeping baby Copperheads out of your garden is to make your garden as unappealing as possible. Copperheads require a specific environment to live, mate, and lay their eggs in. Typically, they prefer places with many hiding spots and easy access to food sources. Therefore, they love wooded areas, places with many rocks, unattended-to compost bins, sawdust piles, woodpiles, leaf piles, cluttered areas, and structures that are abandoned or not highly frequented by people. Basically, anywhere that’s unkempt. Therefore, keeping your garden as tidy as possible with little areas and crevices to hide in is the most important first step to keeping baby Copperheads out of your garden.

Keep Your Pests Numbers in Check

Another reason gardens attract baby Copperheads is that they tend to be full of their ideal food source. Baby Copperheads aren’t big enough to eat birds, frogs, or mice; therefore, their diets strictly consist of insects. Therefore, if your garden is full of insect pests, this is nothing less of a buffet to them. So, keeping pests such as caterpillars and spiders under control will be a good way to keep baby Copperheads away. As stated in the previous tip, keeping a tidy garden will be very important since a clean garden invites fewer pests to your yard, which will reduce the number of baby Copperheads wanting to call your garden home.

Set Up Barriers

Most people don’t know this, but snake fencing exists and is an effective way to keep snakes out of your yard. You can easily find this fencing at most hardware stores, and it’s typically recommended that it be 2 inches tall with a mesh size of .25 inches or smaller for adult to adolescent snakes. To keep baby Copperheads out, however, solid fencing is recommended.

Do I need vapor barrier for shed floor?
Do I need vapor barrier for shed floor?

Sheds that have 6 or more inches of air flow under them shouldn't need a vapor barrier underneath. The air flow should keep the understructure dry....

Read More »
What is the cheapest way to pour a concrete slab?
What is the cheapest way to pour a concrete slab?

One of the least expensive ways to get concrete is to mix your own. You can buy bags of the mix from a home improvement store. Typically, you only...

Read More »
Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Research and measurements of your garden will be required to get the exact dimensions for your specific garden; however, the process is fairly simple. While this tip requires some minor manual labor, this will be one of the most effective hands-off and nature-friendly ways to keep snakes out of your garden and harm’s way.

Research Plants That Repel Copperheads

Another effective way to keep baby Copperheads away is to plant some plants that they naturally don’t like in your garden. Considering you have a garden with plants in it already, this is effectively one of the easiest ways to keep little Copperheads away since these natural deterrents will blend in with the rest of your garden and won’t pose a threat to your family or pets. Typically, snakes hate all plants with a strong smell, such as herbs, essential oils, and spices; therefore, keeping them in specific spots in your garden will naturally keep them away. Some of the most popular snake deterrents are West Indian lemongrass, onion plants, garlic plants, marigolds, and Viper’s Bowstring Hemp to name a few.

Attracting Their Natural Predators May Benefit You

For people who don’t mind having other animals in their yard, another way to keep baby Copperheads away is to attract their native predators to your surrounding area. Since these snakes grow to be large most of their predators are other, bigger snakes; however, here’s a list of their non-snake predators:

Bullfrogs

American Crows

Horned Owls

Opossums

Coyotes

Domesticated/feral cats (that aren’t your pet)

Red-tailed Hawks

Broad-winged Hawks

These animals will keep baby copperhead numbers in check and drive them away from your garden. However, some of these predators may not be native to your specific state; therefore, it’s important to research which ones are and try to attract them to your area.

Look Into Snake Traps & Sprays

This tip isn’t the most nature-friendly approach; however, commercial snake traps and sprays are another easy way to repel any baby Copperheads that venture into your garden. Minnow traps are usually one of the go-to and semi-human ways to commercially trap baby Copperheads. Once you catch one in this cage-like trap, you can call animal control to come safely pick them up and relocate them.

How long will firewood last outside?
How long will firewood last outside?

Firewood can be stored for approximately four years without any issues. Burning slightly older wood is better because green, freshly cut firewood...

Read More »
How do I protect my wooden garden shed?
How do I protect my wooden garden shed?

To keep the shed looking natural, use a clear wood preservative and overcoat with a clear exterior wood oil or decking oil for the best protection....

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Another Commercial snake repellent is snake sprays. These sprays usually have a 50/50 success rate depending on the brand. These aren’t recommended since some of these sprays contain harmful residues and can be dangerous if not used correctly. However, some people decide to turn to them when all other methods have failed. These two methods should be the last-ditch effort you make to eliminate any baby Copperheads that happen to make their way into your garden space. Try the natural route first! Baby Copperheads can be an annoying nuisance in your garden. However, there are multiple ways to attempt to rid yourself of them. From keeping your garden tidy to planting snake-repelling plants to looking into commercial snake traps and sprays, there are various methods to keep baby Copperheads out of your yard. Just remember that the natural route is always the best route to attempt when trying to repel baby Copperheads in the upcoming late Summer to early Fall gardening season. At Jung Seed Co, we strive to be your go-to guide for all your gardening needs. Our YouTube channel Jung Garden Center now includes our new video series All Things Green where our experts provide gardening tips for all levels of gardeners. When you need reliable gardening advice, turn to the trusted experts at Jung. View our new catalog online or browse our website for all of your gardening favorites. To receive info on new products, exclusive deals, and specials, be sure to sign up for our weekly email. Join our Facebook page, to discuss all things gardening! About the Author: If you are interested in writing an article for the Jung Blog email us at – info@jungseed.com.

How do you heat a log home?
How do you heat a log home?

If you have a smaller log cabin, consider heating it with a direct-vent wall furnace. This self-contained heating system provides heat to a defined...

Read More »
Is it hard to heat and cool Barndominium?
Is it hard to heat and cool Barndominium?

Many barndominiums also feature tall ceilings or exposed ceilings. The extra height makes it easier to cool the lower portion of your barndominium...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »
What is the newest craft craze?
What is the newest craft craze?

The 10 Hottest Craft Trends to Try in 2022 Acrylic Paint Pour Art. Online sellers have a multitude of easy-to-use kits created for this growing...

Read More »
Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »
Is woodworking a valuable skill?
Is woodworking a valuable skill?

There are many good reasons to get into woodworking. It's a valuable skill that can take you quite far, either financially or just something to...

Read More »