When ticks infest the garden, they scare even the most animal-friendly gardener. A tick plague is accompanied by the permanent risk of infection by Lyme disease or TBE (tick-borne encephalitis). This guide explains in a factual and comprehensible manner which means effectively combat the pests without the use of chemicals.

Ticks are unpopular guests in the garden

Infestation test provides information - this is how you detect ticks in the garden

Do you suspect that your pet has not caught a tick in the forest but in the garden? Then you can use a simple test to check whether the bloodsuckers are on your property. For this purpose, pull a white cloth or sheet over all vegetation. Then examine black or brown spots on the fabric with a magnifying glass. As arachnids, ticks can be clearly identified by their eight legs.

Make tick remedies yourself - that's how it works

If you have discovered ticks in your garden, please take action immediately. In the early stages of infestation, there is a good chance that you can get rid of the dangerous bloodsuckers with a home remedy. The following recipe is based on natural ingredients to fight the pests without poison. That is how it goes:

  • Boil one liter of water in a saucepan
  • Slice some citrus fruits
  • Place in the boiling water and cook for a minute
  • Add peppermint leaves or essential oils to enhance the effect
  • Simmer for another hour

Fill the cooled solution into a pressure sprayer or a spray bottle. Treat all dark, damp and cool spots in the garden with the product regularly during the tick season from April to October. Especially after a rain shower, freshen up the repellent agent.

Combat on two levels - ticks don't stand a chance

The recommended home remedy alone is not enough to combat the hardened pests. By taking the following measures in the garden, you will put the cunning ticks in the pincers so that sooner or later they will flee. The strategy aims for a sun-drenched garden, which the beasts don't like. How to do it right:

  • Prune shrubs and trees regularly and thin out thoroughly
  • Keep the lawn short throughout the season
  • Store firewood in a dry and bright place
  • Don't leave leaves on the ground

As a preventative measure, we recommend removing abandoned nests and cleaning birdhouses in late autumn. The dangerous creepy-crawlies prefer to nest and hibernate in these locations. Because ticks remain active in mild winter weather, protect yourself year-round with Autan and long-sleeved clothing when fighting the hardy bugs.

tips

If you are creating a new garden, you can use a simple remedy to prevent imminent tick infestations. By enclosing the property with a close-meshed, high fence, you keep bloodsucker host animals at bay. Neither fox, nor hare, nor vole should overcome this barrier. A depth of 50 cm and a height of 200 cm is therefore recommended as a suitable dimension.