How to treat your land plot from ticks yourself: how and what to use

The spring and summer seasons are associated with gardening and vegetable gardening. This time can be marred by unpleasant creatures like ticks. Some are dangerous to human health and life, while others damage trees and other plantings. Regardless, controlling these pests is crucial during any warm period. Ticks can be eliminated using both chemicals and folk remedies.

Methods of combating ticks

There are two ways to combat ticks: traditional, or folk methods, and modern chemical preparations.

1. Folk remedies. The advantage of folk remedies is their safety for humans, animals, and plants. However, this approach has a significant drawback: if the infestation is significant or if the area is large, controlling ticks will be impossible.
2. Chemicals. The strength of this method is its high effectiveness against ticks and the ability to eliminate the parasite over large areas. However, insecticides also have their drawbacks: they are quite toxic, and therefore kill not only ticks but also most beneficial insects (such as bees).

Regardless of whether there are ticks on your property or not, you should always take measures to prevent their appearance.

If the infestation is small, you can use traditional methods of control. If the tick population is significant, chemical treatment of the area is necessary.

Determining the approximate number of ticks in an area

To determine the approximate number of ticks in an area, you need to conduct a small study:

1. Wear protective clothing. This doesn't necessarily have to be a special suit; covering your body as much as possible is sufficient. Wear a hat and gloves. Light-colored clothing is preferable, as it will make an attached tick more visible.
2. It is advisable to use a spray or other personal protective equipment against ticks.
3. Prepare a large white waffle towel: it makes it easier to see attached ticks. The towel should be waffle-shaped, as its ribbed texture makes ticks more likely to cling to it.
4. Attach both ends of it to a wooden stick, pole, or other long object to create a flag-shaped device.
5. Place it on the ground with the end attached to the towel and drag it across the surface of the soil, grass, and bushes. Do not let the towel curl up.
6. Periodically lift the lowered end to examine the surface of the canvas for ticks.
7. Walk around the entire area at least twice.

Surveying the area for ticks will help determine the method of combating the parasite.

If, after repeatedly traversing the area, only a few ticks are found (1-3 individuals), preventative measures can be taken. If the number of ticks is larger, chemical treatment is best.

When making your decision, remember to consider the area of ​​the property. For example, 3 ticks per 1000 square meters indicates the need for chemical treatment, but the same number per 2000 square meters or more indicates a low tick count, and you can try to avoid insecticides.

Chemical means of tick control

Chemical pest control agents include insecticides containing various toxins in varying concentrations. Chemical treatment of land against ticks is a more effective method of combating parasites than folk remedies. But these drugs contain poisons, so you need to be careful and follow the instructions.

Types of chemicals

Land plots are treated against ticks with acaricidal preparations, which are divided into two groups:

1. Permethrin-based products. These products are not toxic enough to cause significant harm to humans or animals. However, the effect on ticks can also be ineffective, especially if drugs from this group are used several times in a row.
2. Organophosphorus products. Products in this group are intended for use over large areas. They are toxic and can cause poisoning or burns if instructions and safety precautions are not followed. But for ticks, the drugs of this group are the most destructive.

Review of chemical preparations

There are many permethrin-based products available. The most popular are:

• Taran is a liquid concentrate with zeta-cypermethrin, sold in bottles of different sizes.
• Medelis Cyper is a concentrate containing cypermethrin, sold in green bottles.
• Cyfox is a cypermethrin-based product, sold in 50 ml, 0.5 l and 1 l containers.
• Dr. Klaus is a solution containing alpha-cypermethrin, sold in a plastic bottle with an ejector.
• Yurax is a liquid concentrate with cypermethrin, sold in bottles of various sizes.
• Breeze is an emulsion concentrate with cypermethrin, sold in 0.5 and 1 liter glass bottles, as well as in 5 liter canisters.

Photo Gallery: Permethrin-Based Caricidal Products

The most common organophosphorus preparations are:

• Karbofos is a malathion-based preparation that comes in the form of a concentrated emulsion, powder, ampoule concentrate, and ready-to-use solution.
• Sumiton is a preparation with the active ingredient fenitrotothione, most often used to treat fruit trees against various pests.
• Actellic - the main substance is pirimiphos-methyl, produced in ampoules.
• Dobrokhim FOS is a concentrate based on fenthion, which is harmful to bees.

Photo gallery: preparations based on organophosphorus compounds

Folk remedies for protecting your property from ticks

If you don't have the opportunity or desire to use chemicals, you can try folk remedies to get rid of ticks. It is important to know that traditional methods do not provide significant results and are therefore considered auxiliary measures along with the main, usually chemical, method. Let's look at some popular advice and try to evaluate their effectiveness.

Planting plants

Plants can help fight ticks. Mint, chamomile, tansy, calamus, wormwood, thyme, garlic, lavender, and calendula emit a distinctive aroma and contain a natural insecticide that repels ticks. The gist of the advice: plant them densely around the perimeter of the entire area to make it difficult for ticks to enter your territory.

There's some merit to this approach. For example, tansy has a strong, camphor-like scent that repels ticks and other insects. Calamus contains a large amount of asarone, a natural insecticide that is detrimental to ticks.

It's worth remembering that ticks are capable of developing immunity even to strong insecticides, so they are clearly capable of overcoming natural poisons.

Decoctions and infusions of various plants

There are folk recommendations for using decoctions of various herbs.

Bird cherry decoction

For example, it's believed that a decoction of common bird cherry will protect not only from mosquitoes but also from ticks and even their larvae. The recipe for a decoction that kills ticks is as follows:

1. Prepare freshly cut small branches of bird cherry.
2. Place the branches in a saucepan.
3. Pour cold water over it and bring to a boil.
4. When it boils, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. After cooking, the broth will turn red;
6. Pour the decoction into a sprayer or watering can.
7. Water the lawn and shrubs in the garden.

A decoction of herbal mixture

A decoction of sage, geranium, garlic, and chamomile. Various recipes are recommended. Let's take the simplest:

1. Place the specified herbs in a glass container (for example, a jar) in the amount of 3 tablespoons.
2. Pour boiling water over.
3. Bring to a boil in a water bath.
4. Add one large head of grated garlic.
5. After boiling, remove the broth from the heat, cover with a lid, and wrap in a towel.
6. Let it sit until it cools completely.
7. Add water to make 5 liters.
8. Water or spray the area.

It's unclear how such a remedy would repel ticks, and the decoction clearly won't kill adults or larvae, as it contains no toxic compounds. It seems this method was used in cases where more effective methods were unavailable for some reason.

Garlic tincture

Garlic can be used as a standalone remedy against ticks in an infused form. Finely chop a large head of garlic and add a liter of water. Let it steep for 24 hours and then spray it on the affected area.

The smell of garlic is indeed pungent and repels insects. However, there is no evidence that garlic has the same effect on ticks. Garlic is sometimes used indoors to kill spider mites, but its use against ticks is highly questionable.

Video: Folk remedies for encephalitis ticks and mosquitoes

Essential oils and fruit juices

To combat ticks, it is recommended to try essential oils:

1. Peppermint and rosemary essential oils. These oils are sometimes used for spot treatment. To do this, add the essential oils to water and spray the area with a spray bottle. There are no specific proportions. It is believed that the stronger the mint or rosemary scent, the more effective the solution will be at repelling ticks. However, it's important to note that the scents of essential oils, which are supposed to repel ticks, quickly dissipate in open spaces. There are no reviews of this method online, so it's likely ineffective.
2. Freshly squeezed citrus juice. Similar to essential oils, citrus juice can be sprayed onto the area. The juice can be diluted with a small amount of water. The aroma of these fruits will repel ticks. This method is expensive if you use freshly squeezed natural juice. Moreover, the beneficial effect of this treatment is questionable, since, as with essential oils, the scent will quickly dissipate when exposed to open air.
3. Boric acid. It is recommended to sprinkle boric acid powder over the area or spray it diluted with water. The chemical compounds contained in the acid are supposedly lethal to ticks. Boric acid is unlikely to be effective as a tick repellent. This recipe was most likely borrowed from those intended for killing cockroaches.
4. Mechanical cleaning. This method involves collecting ticks from the area or inspecting the body and, if found, eliminating the parasite. This method is effective, but labor-intensive and time-consuming. This approach requires inspecting the area daily and after each outdoor visit.

Reviews

Buy some cheesecloth. Attach a picket to one side (to make a flag). Then, holding the picket, start dragging it along the ground. Look at the cheesecloth to see if there are any ticks. This determines the average population. You can collect them and throw them in gasoline or solvent. I usually attach them with masking tape. It works well. I didn't find a single one this spring. I've been treating the area for five years, twice a year.

Do you have a neglected property? We haven't seen any ticks for several years now (after we've landscaped it). Previously, when we first bought the property, there were tick infestations. Now I rake up leaves in the fall, remove old grass, and mow the lawn several times a summer. Incidentally, I use a lawn mower to remove fallen leaves from the grass. I don't know what they use to kill ticks these days, but they used to recommend washing your hands thoroughly after coming into contact with poisoned grass.

I also have a child with developmental disabilities, so I'm afraid of insecticides like the plague. All those Raptors and the like—to hell with them. Only vanillin, cloves, and window screens. As for human safety, I'm a firm believer in inspections. Ticks never attach immediately, so a two-hour inspection after walking in the grass is sufficient (knock on wood). No insurance, no vaccinations. On the other hand, we don't have a dacha... And we only get to the botanical garden by bike, and even then we always inspect.

I saw a new topic on the tick-hunting community and realized it's relevant to us too. I suffer from tick bites every year, and I have some tips on how to avoid them. I know some effective methods: 1) Special "incephalitic" clothing. You can place the clothing you'll be wearing in the forest or other tick-infested areas on an anthill and irritate the ants enough to make them spray their acid on the clothing. 2) Coat the tops of your rubber boots with kerosene. These two methods are proven effective (time-tested) in repelling ticks. Yaroslav

Cleaning the area

Experienced gardeners note that ticks love to live in thick grass, last year's leaves, and other natural debris. Regularly mowing your lawn and promptly removing last year's dead plants will significantly reduce tick populations in your garden. This recommendation makes sense. Ticks do indeed congregate in the aforementioned areas. However, this method won't completely eliminate the presence of these pests in your garden.

We mow the entire plot every 7-10 days. We haven't seen any ticks in nine years (knock on woods). In the plots closer to the forest, where some people are too lazy to mow, people occasionally complain about ticks.

General rules for treating an area against ticks

If you decide to use insecticides to kill ticks, keep a few rules in mind:

1. The area needs to be treated twice per season: in early spring before planting seedlings (in April - early May) and in late autumn after harvesting (late October - November).
2. Dry, windless weather is essential. On such a day, ticks are on the surface and are easier to kill. Ideally, there should be no rain or snow for three days before and three days after treatment. If it rains immediately after applying chemicals, the toxins will be washed away and the effect will be negligible. Therefore, check the weather forecast.
3. Treatment should be carried out no later than 40 days before harvest. This is necessary to allow any chemicals that have come into contact with garden crops to be neutralized by rain, watering, and plant activity. The risk of poisoning and severe intoxication is high during the first month after treatment. Garden furniture and equipment should also be removed before the procedure.
4. On the day of the procedure, be sure to keep children and pets away from the area.
5. Be sure to wear protective clothing. Wear a gown or protective suit, a headscarf, gloves, and high boots or closed shoes over your regular clothing. Wear a respirator to protect your breathing. After work, wash your clothes, clean your shoes, and take a hygienic shower.
6. Prevent chemicals from getting into water, especially drinking water.
7. Pay special attention to garden paths, seating areas, and areas near entrances. Spray any shrubs and trees no higher than 1.5 meters. There's no point in spraying higher than that, as ticks won't be found there.

You can enter the area unprotected after three days of treatment. During this time, all ticks will die, and the risk of bites will pass. However, if you remain in the area immediately after spraying the insecticide, you risk not only poisoning but also being attacked by ticks that have not yet been killed by the applied toxin.

Preventive measures against ticks

They are not used as an independent method of protection against ticks, but only as an auxiliary or temporary measure to protect an area:

• tidy up: remove all dry grass and leaves from last year;
• regularly mow the greenery growing in the garden and trim the lawn;
• get rid of excess vegetation between the beds and around the perimeter of the site;
• sprinkle crushed stone or sawdust around the area at least half a meter wide: they will repel ticks coming from outside;
• build fences to prevent dangerous insects from entering the area on stray cats and dogs;
• Regularly treat your pets with tick protection products and inspect them periodically;
• Get rid of rodents, which can also become carriers of parasites.
• The presence of a birdhouse and feeders will attract helper birds: starlings and thrushes readily eat ticks.

When choosing a tick control method, common sense should be your first priority. The harm from chemical treatments pales in comparison to the danger of a tick bite. Therefore, it's best to use reliable insecticides and rely on folk remedies as a preventative measure.