They Protect Against Bites: These Three Plants Repel Ticks from Your Garden

They Protect Against Bites: These Three Plants Repel Ticks from Your Garden

Ticks pose a serious threat to both pets and humans. To prevent these parasites from infesting your garden, you can grow plants that act as natural repellents.

When summer arrives and the temperatures go up, ticks become more active in our gardens. These tiny parasites can be dangerous for both pets and humans, especially because they can carry Lyme disease.

To keep ticks away, it's important to take some simple steps, like planting certain plants in your garden that naturally repel ticks.

  • Tansy is a tough plant that comes back every year. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Tansy has a smell and taste that ticks don't like. When ticks get close to tansy, they usually move away because of its strong odor.
  • Lavender is famous for its pleasant smell and many uses, but did you know ticks hate it? Lavender contains essential oils that create a scent ticks can't stand. This smell affects ticks' nervous systems and keeps them away.
  • Rosemary is a common cooking herb, but it also works to repel ticks. Rosemary has a strong scent, and its essential oils can irritate ticks, making them avoid it.

Even though these plants can help repel ticks, they are not enough to protect your pets completely. You should still use tick treatments for your pets, like collars or tablets. Talk to your vet to find the best option for your pet.

Keeping your pet's environment clean also helps reduce the risk of tick infestations. Regularly clean where your pet sleeps and spends time. After walks in places where ticks are common, like tall grass and woods, check your pet's fur for ticks. Use a tick remover to safely get rid of any ticks without leaving parts behind, which can prevent infections.

To prevent ticks, keep your yard tidy by mowing grass, removing leaf litter, and eliminating tall weeds. Create a 3 foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, and install fencing to keep out deer and other tick carrying animals. Use tick repellent sprays in high-risk areas.

After being outdoors, check yourself, your children, and pets for ticks, especially under arms, behind knees, around ears, and in hair. If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers and clean the area. Monitor the bite for several weeks and seek medical help if a rash or symptoms like fever or fatigue appear.