Protect Yourself from Ticks in the Garden

The best way to prevent tick-borne disease is to protect yourself against tick bites. To do so, it’s helpful to understand where ticks live and where you may encounter them. 

The tick species that are prevalent in Will  and Cook County and throughout the state live in grasses and shrubs, and not in trees, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Ticks move by crawling – they cannot fly or jump – so they typically lie in wait and then quickly move onto a host animal as it moves by. 

If you are in areas where ticks are known to be, you should take the following precautions to help avoid bites:

• When walking on paths and trails, avoid brushing against tall grasses and weeds. When possible, leave some space between you and the trail’s edge, but be sure to keep in mind trail safety, etiquette and the fact that other users may be passing on your left.

• Wear protective clothing, such as pants, long-sleeved shirts and boots, and tuck your pant legs into your socks. Light-colored clothing is also helpful because it will be easier to see a tick on lighter-colored clothes than on dark-colored items.

• Use insect and tick repellents containing 10 to 30 percent DEET, but apply sparingly to exposed skin and avoid sensitive areas. The best are compostable towelettes, available in packets. Always follow the label directions when applying repellents.

• If you would rather use something less chemically imbalanced there are great essential oils based, mainly full of clove oil, sprays. Most garden centers have them or garden supply stores online and in reality.

Buckner also advised that people who spend time in grassy areas should check their clothes and body frequently to help catch and remove ticks before they bite. He said on days when he is working outdoors he checks himself during breaks or whenever he feels itchy or like a bug is crawling on him.

"You don’t want to bring them home," he said.

Once arriving home, it’s a good idea to immediately remove and check your clothes, and then launder them. This helps to prevent ticks from getting into your house or on other clothes. 

If you do find a tick, remove it immediately. If it’s already embedded itself, use tweezers and apply slow, steady pressure to remove it, not using more force than necessary, Buckner said. Don’t jerk or twist while pulling because that can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.