Repel Fleas Ticks and Snakes with Cedar Mulch

If you’re bothered by fleas, ticks, and other yard and garden pests including snakes then you will benefit from adding 100% natural cedar mulch to your garden beds. This mulch has a pleasing aroma derived from the natural oils and the chemical thujone is found in the cedar mulch. 

Cedar mulch is hazardous to snakes because cedar possesses aromatic phenols that are toxic to snakes

This summer I mulch my gardens with cedar which is derived from cedar trees. Since there are snakes in my area as well as ticks, fleas, red ants, and termites I wanted to try a natural pest control and found on the first day that the cedar mulch repelled a rather large snake from my yard.

I was putting down mulch in my grass garden and the aroma from the cedar mulch was strong. A snake emerged from the rock wall and was moving fast. The snake fled my yard rather quickly and went back into the woods. 

Other Cedar Mulch Benefits 

Know that not only does this mulch repel garden pests it is also long-lasting / slowly breaks down you won't have to reapply in a few months. The cedar mulch also helps in retaining moisture and controlling weed growth.

Cedar mulch is also good at repelling other insects, moths, ants, termites spiders, and cockroaches so it would be good to put a layer of mulch close to your foundation and add a layer of mulch in your crawl space to keep the snakes and other pests away.

Add a layer of cedar mulch to container gardens to repel pests and also keep the soil moist as container gardens tend to dry out quickly.

If you have a dog house put a layer of mulch under and around your dog house to repel fleas, ticks, and spiders. Stop the pests from getting in the house and on your dog.

Where to Buy Cedar Mulch

I bought cedar mulch at Lowe’s Home Improvement store and I would think every garden center would carry cedar mulch but if you are unable to find it you could also buy cypress mulch. 100 % natural cypress derived from the tree also has the natural oils and the chemical thujone that repel garden pests.

Vinca Annual Flowers Add Color to Sun Gardens

 Vincas are annual flowers that bloom profusely throughout the summer months and throughout the warm fall season. Dying off only after a frost.

This summer I planted 12 bi-color red and white and 4 solid red vincas in my ajuga garden and have enjoyed the added colorful blooms that attract butterflies to my yard.  

The Vincas were planted in well-drained soil that was amended with organic compost. The growing instructions said to plant in full sun, but seeing I don’t have a full day of sun in my yard due to living in the woods. I did plant the flowers where they would get 5 hours of sun daily. I suspect that they will not bloom as much or not fill in due to the lack of sun.

Here are some photos of my Vinca flowers that were planted in my Ajuga garden

Plant Care

Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to aid in retaining moisture.

Keep the soil evenly moist until the plant matures.

Fertilize with a liquid feed, every other week to encourage new growth and continuous blooms.

When fully grown your plant will be a foot tall with a similar spread.

No need to deadhead as this flower is self-cleaning.

Okay to grow in containers or in the ground. Vincas are beautiful border plants especially along a sidewalk or around a tree.

Vinca is an annual for USDA growing zones 2-8, and a perennial for zone 9-11.

* Deer and Groundhogs do not eat this flower.