Tick invasion. Natural remedies to keep your garden safe

Thanks to the mild winter and damp spring, ticks thrive better than ever. It's hardly surprising, then, to find them not just in forests but also in home gardens and urban areas. So, what can we do to prevent them from invading our spaces?

While plenty of chemical repellents designed to ward off ticks are available in stores, their use can inadvertently harm beneficial insects like bees or ants in our gardens. Thankfully, there are home-based, less harmful alternatives.

One such method involves making a decoction from the common bird cherry, a plant readily found in many parts of the country. You'll need its twigs and bark for this purpose. Once you've gathered them, place them in a pot, cover them with water, and bring them to a boil. Instead of turning off the heat once boiling, lower the flame and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.

Besides sprays, planting certain types of flora can naturally deter ticks. Tansy and catnip are particularly effective, and as a bonus, onions, and horseradish can also repel ticks and be used in cooking.