Do cactus attract snakes?

[SKB]

I live in low income housing and they encourage you to beautify the outside with plants. I'm surrounded by grass (which I refuse to water) and I'd like to plant some small succulents in the small garden plot out front but I was told that it was not allowed as I would be attracting snakes. Is the lady at the office full of hot air? A master gardener told me she had never heard of such a thing and when I lived in the high desert, which is full of cactus, I saw 1 rattler up close in 2 years. This is a rural area, but I'm 3 blocks from downtown!

[ldsparamedic]

I've never had a problem with snakes in my cactus.

[AzLoneRider]

I live in low income housing and they encourage you to beautify the outside with plants. I'm surrounded by grass (which I refuse to water) and I'd like to plant some small succulents in the small garden plot out front but I was told that it was not allowed as I would be attracting snakes. Is the lady at the office full of hot air? A master gardener told me she had never heard of such a thing and when I lived in the high desert, which is full of cactus, I saw 1 rattler up close in 2 years. This is a rural area, but I'm 3 blocks from downtown!

No, cactus doesn't attract snakes. During hot days shade draws snakes, during cold days sunny spots draw the snakes. Last year my wife found a snake under the dried leaves of the zuchinni plant. That was the fastest I have ever seen her move in 22 years of marriage.

[SKB]

There are a multitude of outdoor and stray cats around here, so even if a snake were to slither up, he'd be dispatched pretty quickly.

I guess being in government housing means that even though what they say makes no sense and has no basis in fact, I have to go along with it. There's no way to fight it. Can't confuse them with the facts, now can I?!

I hate having to accept the help that I do, but for the moment it is keeping me alive and away from living under a bridge.

There are so many rules and regulations and hoops to jump through when government at any level gets involved in your life.

A friend is selling me some land very cheaply and my goal is to eventually move out to that property and disappear from view. Going to take some doing and time, but there's nothing more worthwhile that I could work towards than that.

[cartershan]

Good for you SKB, that sounds like a great plan! Let us know how its going. Shannon

[keydl]

There are a number of plants that are highly drought resistant and good for security having thorns to keep people away from the walls and windows. Holly, crown of thorns, hawthorn, russian olive, multirosa, catsclaw are a few. A 6 foot thick multirosa hedge will stop a car but it spreads if not cut back. If the russian olive is stunted by planting close it makes a good fence.

[SKB]

Keydl, thanks for the plant suggestions. Right now I have a holly and star jasmine outside my front windows, but when I make my move I will be in a much less populated area and I hadn't even thought of planting for security. I have a dog who I rely on to hear what I don't hear, but recently I discovered that he's hard of hearing like me. But I hope we would both hear a yelping burglar! I may have to expand the family and adopt a younger dog once I move. The property is large enough for a small yard, but any animals I have would be indoors because the weather here is so extreme. If I wouldn't want to be outside then I figure they wouldn't either.

My land is in the hill country and there's reportedly about 6 inches of topsoil. It's a tough environment.

[tomato204]

If your land has 6 inches of topsoil, that's a real good start! Add all the organic matter you can find to a small garden spot and build out from there. Good luck to you in the move.