Ticks are not only found in the forest, but also in the family garden. These blood-sucking arachnids can transmit dangerous diseases and are therefore not welcome. However, if you pay attention to a few things when planting your flower beds, you can quickly drive the vermin out of your garden. There are some plants that are effective against ticks.
5 Plants Against Ticks
Ticks have a very keen sense of smell, although they do not smell with their noses, but with their small legs. Thanks to the Haller’s organ on their front legs, ticks can recognize odors and thus choose a suitable host. However, some odors do not please the arachnids at all. Thanks to their characteristic odor, the following 5 plants will help you keep ticks out of your garden.
Catnip
Catnip is very popular with bees and butterflies, but less so with ticks. This plant is very frugal, but it appreciates a sunny location and permeable soil. During prolonged dry periods, you should water catnip regularly, whether it is in a pot or in a flowerbed. Prune the plant in spring and after flowering in July so that it can flower again.
Rosemary
Rosemary has proven to be an ideal plant against ticks. In fact, vermin cannot stand the smell of this Mediterranean herb at all. You can grow rosemary both in a flower bed and in a pot. Make sure that the location is as sunny as possible, water the plant moderately and avoid stagnant water.
True Lavender
The scent of lavender keeps spiders, wasps, and ticks away from your garden. For hobby gardeners, this is one more reason to introduce this plant with its beautiful flowers into their garden. Place lavender in a sunny and warm place. If it does not rain for a long time, you should water the plant regularly. Fertilizer is not necessary, but lavender should be pruned regularly to prevent it from becoming woody.
Tansy
With its yellow flowers, this perennial plant fits perfectly into a country garden. However, tansy contains an essential oil composed mainly of thujone. Ingestion of this poison leads to vomiting, gastrointestinal complaints, heart rhythm disturbances, and even death in extreme cases. Thanks to this poison, the plant is also effective against ticks. Otherwise, tansy is an undemanding plant that grows quickly. That is why it should be cut back vigorously after flowering in September.
Dalmatian Insect
Thanks to its pretty flower heads, this plant is also effective against ticks. The poison of the Dalmatian insect flower is in fact considered a proven means of combating insects and other parasites. The ancient Romans already used the poison of this plant to get rid of lice and fleas. The insect flower can reach a size of 60 cm in the garden and requires little care if placed in the sun.
There are also other essential oils and scents that ticks cannot tolerate. These include lemon, juniper, basil, oregano, myrrh, thyme, and marjoram. If you apply these scents to your skin, mixed with a base oil (e.g., coconut or almond oil), you can also protect yourself from ticks.
Nevertheless, you should regularly check your body for tick bites and always wear long clothing when gardening. Ticks feel particularly at home in lush vegetation and shady places – so caution is advised. Do you know any other tips against ticks in the garden?
