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.

Scotts Organics NaturesScapes Mulch Review

Today I went to Lowe's garden center to buy Scotts Organics NatureScapes Advanced Sierra Red Mulch. I used this mulch in the spring this year and really liked it and is my new favorite garden mulch.

What I like about the Scotts Organics mulch is that it does not fade under the hot sun. 

Here is a photo of my summer black-eyed Susan garden. I applied three layers of mulch and it naturally prevented weed growth. This saved me time and effort because I did not have to go out weekly to spot-check the gardens for weeds or annoying crabgrass.

Another benefit is that this mulch holds the water and released it into the soil when needed. I did not have to water my gardens daily throughout the hot summer months and the container garden plants did not wilt in the afternoon.

So today I mulched my flower gardens with 3 layers of Scott's Organics Sierra red mulch and this extra layer of mulch will protect my flower gardens from ice and snow this winter.