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How to treat a small, tick-infested garden?

FireFire Posts: 19,096
edited June 2022 in Problem solving
Today a neighbour has told me that her patio garden is full of ticks. Foxes sleep there and it seems all the ticks are coming from them. I went over this afternoon and the place is, indeed, crawling with them. When squished they spurt blood. It's mostly paved and there is no long grass or dense shrubbery, so it's concerning to know you can get high densities with paving. The owners have no pets but do have a little daughter who plays in the garden all the time. The family spend a lot of time out there too and grow flowers, fruit and veg. The space is about 3x 4 metres, their main socialising area.

The question is what to do about the current infestation. We assume the foxes will come back and bring new ticks too. It's not the kind of space where you could keep the out easily or even try; The foxes have been welcome. All the gardens around here have a lot of foxes in - including mine. I have a den next door, so tick presence is a concern for me and my guests. Previously we have just been warned locally about ticks in "long grass". There is a great tick pressure in our next door park - so that will be adding to the mix.

If I found ticks in my garden, it would not be not be happy to 'live with them' or have guests and kids out there. Lyme disease is prevalent and nasty - gaining ground fast in the UK.

Thoughts welcome.




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  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Can you collect some and get better photos? Those look awfully like aphids to me. Ticks have 8 legs and all of those seem to have 6.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I tried to get better photos. I assured you that they did spurt blood when when  squiched them. The owner is v familar with ticks. They didn't look like aphids.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    You could try some yellow sticky traps. I know you normally use them in a greenhouse,  but they do work outside too.
    AB Still learning

  • RoddersUKRoddersUK Posts: 537
    I agree, they don't look like ticks, from the photos provided.

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    That bottom one looks a lot like a giant willow aphid. Are there any willow trees overhanging?
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    In the video here you can see ridging on the body. No willow trees near by.
     



  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    The first photo is not a tick, the other two I’m note so sure, a bit blurry. Surely any insect will spurt blood if squished?

    Anyway, as ticks lurk as you say in long grass I’m a bit baffled as to why they are finding so many of them. The only defence if it’s not possible to keep the foxes out is to be fully clothed, I was on my knees weeding in a loose t-shirt the other day and later found one attached to my armpit - ugh! Tell them to get a tick twister - to prevent disease the only way is to check themselves over and proper removal by inserting the two-pronged tool under the buried head and gently twisting until it releases. Then apply savlon or similar and cover with the sticky bit of a plaster to prevent infection. I think they are only a danger if they attach to you and are not properly removed, leaving a portion of the head behind.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Video is of an insect not a tick. You can see the antennae and what looks like nymph wings. Still an aphid I think. If they won't stop moving you can pop them in the fridge for a bit and get a close look with a magnifying glass.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I don't remember squashing an aphid and seeing a load of blood, but maybe they are special bloody aphids.
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