As of: March 24, 2024, 11:44 a.m
By: Sofia Popovidi
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A tick bite is not only annoying, but can also transmit dangerous diseases.
However, certain plants can keep the bloodsuckers away.
Frankfurt – Ticks are no longer just forest dwellers.
The annoying bloodsuckers are now also at home in playgrounds, parks or in your own garden.
A tick bite usually doesn't hurt, but it can transmit dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).
The Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care therefore recommends getting vaccinated against TBE.
But certain plants can also serve as additional protection and banish ticks from the garden.
Protection against ticks in the garden: lavender
The essential oils of lavender repel annoying ticks.
(Symbolic image) © CHROMORANGE/imago
For many people, lavender has a pleasant scent.
However, the purple plant has a negative effect on ticks.
The reason is the essential oils linalyl acetate and linalool, which are contained in lavender.
As soon as ticks notice the smell, they quickly run away.
According to the health online portal
Praxis Vita,
lavender can also repel mosquitoes.
These plants protect against ticks: tansy
Tansy also contains toxins that are inedible for ticks.
(Symbolic image) © Philippe Clément/imagebroker/imago
Tansy can also be used against ticks, but also other insects such as aphids.
Its smell is said to be reminiscent of chamomile tea with a bit of spiciness.
However, according to NABU, the toxins it contains make the plant inedible for both people and pests.
An effective remedy against ticks, but it is better to keep children and pets away from the yellow plant because of the toxins.
Ticks in Germany
The most common tick-borne diseases in Germany are Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria, and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a viral disease.
In Germany, these risk areas are mainly found in the south: around 85 percent of TBE cases are reported from the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Source: Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care
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Natural tick protection: Dalmatian insect flower
The Dalmatian insect flower: Not only does it look beautiful, it also keeps ticks away from the garden.
(Symbolic image/archive image) © O. Diez/imagebroker/imago
As the name suggests, the Dalmatian insect flower is also a good remedy for annoying ticks - and at the same time looks beautiful in the garden.
Because of the natural insect powder it contains, the flower is also called insect powder plant.
According to the
Bavarian Agricultural Weekly,
the active ingredient pyrethrin, which is toxic to insects, forms in the flower heads and on the small hairs on the leaves.
The substance is even used in lice shampoos and insect repellents.
Catnip also offers protection against ticks
Cats love catnip – ticks prefer to avoid the purple-blue plant.
(Symbolic image) © Gottfried Czepluch/imago
Similar to lavender, the essential oils in the purple-blue flowers of catnip also have an unpleasant scent for ticks.
However, for butterflies, bees and even cats – as the name suggests – the smell is positive.
Tip: Catnip prefers a dry and sunny place.
In addition to the ticks already known in Germany, the giant tick Hyalomma is currently spreading.
It could transmit dangerous pathogens.
(spo)