Lushly planted beds that are all the rage (naturalistic) really help keep invasives and weeds out but also provide shelter for all kinds of animals. I have had luck with super low ground covers like wooly thyme that no one can hide under. But in a fit of desperation I also bought a few clumping muscari plants and I’ll just have to keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t become a problem. Love hakone grass but all I see is a safe hiding spot in them. Though I live in a woodland area, with lots of owls, foxes and Turkeys, I have seen only one dead snake in a whole season, and that was close to the road. We cleaned up a large area with lots of fallen branches that leaves had settled on, where my husband had almost run a snake over in spring with his mower, and now, we have beautiful garlic mustard on bare earth this year. And apparently the asarum Canadense that so effectively fights garlic mustard also seems like the perfect hiding spot for animals.
Lushly planted beds that are all the rage (naturalistic) really help keep invasives and weeds out but also provide shelter for all kinds of animals. I have had luck with super low ground covers like wooly thyme that no one can hide under. But in a fit of desperation I also bought a few clumping muscari plants and I’ll just have to keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t become a problem. Love hakone grass but all I see is a safe hiding spot in them. Though I live in a woodland area, with lots of owls, foxes and Turkeys, I have seen only one dead snake in a whole season, and that was close to the road. We cleaned up a large area with lots of fallen branches that leaves had settled on, where my husband had almost run a snake over in spring with his mower, and now, we have beautiful garlic mustard on bare earth this year. And apparently the asarum Canadense that so effectively fights garlic mustard also seems like the perfect hiding spot for animals.
I generally plant to attract wildlife and am thrilled to see foxes and snakes to keep rabbits and mice in check. Rats are a whole other ball of wax.