Tick Alert: Simple towel test and natural repellents for your garden
With increased tick populations, it is crucial to learn a technique to determine if these tiny arachnids have made a home in your environment. All you need for this straightforward test is a white Terry towel.
3:38 PM EDT, May 1, 2024
Ticks are not confined to forests or parks; they are increasingly found in gardens and remain active even in winter. Their bites may look harmless but can lead to severe diseases like Lyme disease, babesiosis, or tick-borne encephalitis.
How to conduct a simple garden tick test
Ticks favor grassy areas and shrubbery, making gardens their perfect habitat. If you're concerned about their presence on your property, a simple test with a white terry towel can ease your worries. Ticks are drawn to the microfibers of the towel.
No special skills are needed to perform the test. Wrap a white towel around a stick and drag it across the ground and through the branches of trees and bushes. Finding ticks on the towel indicates their presence in your garden, highlighting the need for protective measures.
The scent that makes ticks steer clear of your garden
Sensitive to smell, ticks can detect humans from afar but are repelled by certain odors. Tansy, lavender, catnip, and rosemary emit scents that ticks find particularly offensive. Planting these in your garden can deter them. Spraying clove, peppermint, or lavender oil on plants and clothing can also effectively repel ticks.
