How to protect yourself from tick bites in the garden? - briefly
Wear long sleeves, light-colored clothing, and EPA‑approved repellent on exposed skin, then inspect and remove any ticks after each gardening session. Maintain short grass, clear leaf litter, and treat the garden perimeter with acaricides to reduce tick habitats.
How to protect yourself from tick bites in the garden? - in detail
Wear long sleeves and long trousers, tuck pants into socks, and choose light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily. Apply a repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin and the lower edges of garments. Reapply according to product instructions, especially after sweating or washing.
Maintain the garden to reduce tick habitats. Keep grass trimmed to a maximum of four inches, remove leaf litter, and prune low-lying shrubs. Create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawn and wooded areas to discourage tick migration. Treat perimeter vegetation with acaricides when infestation levels are high, following label directions and safety precautions.
Perform a thorough body inspection after each garden session. Examine scalp, behind ears, underarms, groin, and between toes. Use a fine-toothed comb to check hair and a mirror for hard-to-see areas. Prompt removal lowers disease transmission risk.
If a tick is found, grasp it with fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with steady pressure, avoiding twisting or crushing. Disinfect the bite site with alcohol or iodine, then wash hands thoroughly. Preserve the specimen in a sealed container for identification if symptoms develop.
Monitor for early signs of tick-borne illness, such as fever, rash, fatigue, or joint pain, within 30 days of exposure. Seek medical evaluation promptly; early antibiotic therapy can prevent complications.
Adopt these practices consistently to minimize the likelihood of tick encounters while gardening.