Apparel for today ’s nurseryman ?
intelligence about the speedy bed cover of tick - borne diseases , peculiarly the life - transfer - if not - treated - in - meter Lyme Disease , has me so freaked out that I ’m now afraid to tend my garden , much less take a pass in the woods . I wo n’t stop gardening , but at least for my peace of mind of head I ’m determine to take fair precautions from now on .
( Does my close down - to - city positioning mean value I do n’t have to care ? My neighbor was latterly diagnosed with Lyme from a tick she got in her own garden . )
Apparel for today’s gardener?
In my online research , the best sources I found wereLymeDisease.org , TickEncounter.organd aTick Management Handbookby the State of Connecticut . Here ’s what they apprize :
The “ cervid ” tick nymph on the left is the most dangerous . Credit : CDC
Applying Tick Repellents and Killers
pick include :
What Other Gardeners Do
I asked someother garden writershow they protect themselves from the real threat of Lyme Disease :
The “deer” tick nymph on the left is the most dangerous. Credit: CDC
From Ellen Zachos : “ I ’ve had Lyme and would rather not have it again . pant tucked into sock , shirt tucked into pants . Hat . bare body chit in front of mirror like a shot upon come in house . married man checks scalp and hairline . I used to soak my dress in pyrethrum , but have n’t restock the soak since I ran out . As a forager , I almost always hail home with ticks in PA . If I ca n’t find one , I look again . Because they ’re there . They ’re always there . ”
enquire what she would do without the nearby hubby , she replied that “ There are time when I am alone , and then I do a very slow , detailed finger geographic expedition of my scalp . For some understanding , that ’s where I get most of them : scalp and neck . I can commonly finger them on my arms and leg and take hold of them before they latch . ”
Lois de Vries replied that she ’s hadLymeDisease five time ! “ You live in the woods , you get ticks . I usually get by with wearing lightsome - colored vesture and sneakers , white windsock , and a light spray of DEET on my drogue , pants legs , shirt sleeves ( I always wear long sleeves ) , the back of my cervix , and hair . Full - body tick inspection on coming indoors , then a shower . Fortunately , I ’ve become sensitized and zippy to the tiniest movement of small feet moving around on my body and generally catch them before they bite . ”
Lorraine Ballato adds that “ I disrobe in the tub or shower to contain whatever is still on me . Always stimulate out the day ’s horticulture apparel and never put them on the layer . If they wind up on the trading floor / carpet without being shake out , vacuum say rug . Those six legged beasties travel far , wide and fast ! call up that rodents are vector so even with a cervid fencing which we have , check mark are ever present . ”
Still Questions
split Shot
There ’s very little online about tribute specifically for gardeners , but Eve atGarden of Eatingin Woodstock , NY has it encompass . Screen shot below .
See her snarky input that we ’re supposed to avoid “ basically , the entire frikkin ’ outdoors ” ? More on that next hebdomad when I undertake the really depressing news show about how to make garden safer from tick - borne disease .
