I'm located in the South and I'm eager to start a vegetable garden this year. My house backs up to a marshy area with water and some wildlife, including turtles and frogs. Recently, I learned from my neighbor that they've spotted two copperheads in our area over the past year. With a toddler at home and my own fear of snakes, I'm really concerned about safety. Is there a way to reduce the risk of snake encounters while gardening, or would it be better to hold off on starting my garden?
2 Answers
A garden typically won't attract copperheads any more than natural elements like brush piles or thickets. Just keep your garden tidy—avoid adding things like eggshells to compost, clean up any large sticks or leaves, and fix any rodent issues since that can draw snakes. Copperheads like to hide, so trim back bushes and keep your grass low to discourage them from hanging around.
I also live in an area with copperheads and still maintain my garden. When I collect compost, I use a rake to check for any hidden snakes since they blend in well. Remember, copperheads will usually avoid you, and most bites happen when people provoke them, so just be cautious and enjoy your gardening!