Ticks in the Garden

During early spring and summer, as the weather warms up and the garden springs back to life from its winter dormancy, many gardeners -- and ticks -- eagerly return to their outdoor activities. If you are working in your garden you should be aware of the risks and know how to protect themselves from becoming hosts to disease-carrying ticks.
1-Always be alert for ticks during the spring and summer months (April through September) when they are most active.
2-When possible, avoid tick habitats such as tall grass, leaf litter, bushes, and woods.
3-Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing against weeds and tall grasses.
4-When working outdoors or in these areas, cover as much skin as possible. Wear long sleeve shirts tucked into pants, and long pants tucked into socks. Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks more easily.
5-When pruning bushes, weeding, or otherwise handling vegetation, wear light-colored gloves and check them often for ticks.
6-Wear close-toed shoes or boots.
7-Keep long hair pulled back.
8-Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on open stone walls.
9-Spray clothes with insect repellant containing DEET or Permethrin (only DEET can be used on bare skin, but not in high concentrations--follow manufacturer's directions).
10-Spot check yourself and others frequently. Don't forget to check pets! If one tick is found, check thoroughly--there may be others.
11-After working outdoors, wash and dry clothing as soon as possible to eliminate unseen ticks. Shower and shampoo, and check skin thoroughly.
12-Keep lawns mowed and underbrush cut and thinned.
13-Clear brush and leaf litter around houses, stone walls, and at the edge of gardens.
14-Stack woodpiles in an open, dry location preferably off the ground.