What don’t ticks like? Plants with intense scent
When looking for an answer to the question of what they do not like, it is worth realizing one thing at the beginning. Ticks are blind, so they do not look for their prey or jump on it from a height. they most often live on tall grass, and the presence of a potential victim is “informed” by their Haller’s organ, which is extremely sensitive to the smell of sweat and carbon dioxide present in the exhaled air.
Common tansy. DyziO/Shutterstock.com
Importantly, they do not like intense odors, and planting tick-repellent plants in the garden is one of the ways to increase protection against them. What tick-repelling plants are worth having in your home gardens? Here are some examples:
- lavender – it is a plant very often found in gardens and balconies. Lavender is distinguished by the beautiful purple color of its flowers, but also by its intense scent. And although it is usually pleasant for humans, it turns out that ticks cannot stand it. It is therefore worth having this plant in your garden or balcony;
- mint – another plant with a very intense smell, which is widely used in cooking and herbal medicine. The plant does not have excessive site requirements and can be grown both in the ground and in a pot on the windowsill;
- marigold – a very popular garden plant that has the infamous nickname “stink”. There is a reason for this. Tagetes have a very specific, intense herbal scent that discourages ticks from staying nearby. It is one of the most effective tick repellent plants;
- garlic – a vegetable considered one of the healthiest, characterized by a very intense smell. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and an ally in maintaining health. This is another effective tick-repelling plant that is worth planting near your home;
- mugwort wormwood – a plant with a bitter taste, very often used in herbal medicine. Its cultivation is simple, and planting a few clumps in your home garden can significantly increase protection against ticks.
- tansy – one of the most famous repellent plants. Tansy is a wild plant that has a number of health-promoting properties. The intense scent of the plant makes it an effective agent in the fight not only against ticks, but also mosquitoes. Although it is considered a weed, it is worth having tansy in your garden, even in a more secluded place.
It is worth knowing that the above repels not only ticks, but also mosquitoes, flies and midges.
Home remedies for ticks – what is worth remembering?
Being in the home garden can be treated as one of the preventive methods of protection, but it is also worth knowing other home remedies for ticks, the use of which reduces the risk of contact with this arachnid.
As we already know, ticks avoid certain intense odors. Therefore, one of the effective home remedies for ticks is spreading essential oils on the surface of the body (and clothes) before going to the garden, park or forest. Essential oils that ticks are not fond of include:
- tea tree oil,
- rosemary oil,
- lemongrass oil,
- clove oil,
- cistus oil.
Simply mix the essential oil with a carrier oil (e.g. olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil) in a 1:3 ratio and then dilute with water. The resulting solution can be poured into an atomizer and sprayed on the surface of the body and clothes.
If we have garden work to do, it is also worth thinking about appropriate clothing. It is best to cover as much of the body surface as possible with clothes, and especially make sure that the areas around the ankles, groins, elbows and ears are protected, which is where ticks bite most often.
It’s worth choosing to relax in the garden sunny places. they avoid the sun, and their favorite places to live are moist and shady places. When returning from a garden, forest or park, you should look carefully – it’s best to ask another person for help. They usually don’t get stuck straight away, but wander around the body looking for the right place. Therefore, there is a good chance of noticing them and reacting early.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
