Ticks, Brackens and Heather in the back garden

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by hedgefog, May 13, 2015.

  1. hedgefog

    hedgefog Gardener

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    Hi All

    I just watched on TV about many cases of tick bites, and its dangers of infecting people with the lyme disease. It was a bit scary.

    Ticks are known to be residing on Brackens and Heather, and we have some in the back garden.

    Would it be better to take them out to have less chance of ticks biting animals and humans, or is it nothing to worry about? What do you think? Thanks in advance.

    HF.
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I'd take out the Bracken anyway, it's a bit of a thug and there are much nicer ferns you could replace it with (are we talking about a big area here?).
     
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    • hedgefog

      hedgefog Gardener

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      No, it is not big area, but a large bracken at the back garden under the Fuchia tree, and there is one or two in the front garden - also quite large. These must have been there for many years before we moved into this house, as the roots seem huge and deep. The fronds get very large in the summer.

      There is also a small to medium sized bed dedicated to various heathers in the back garden, which I trimmed them off last winter.
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I wouldn't worry about one or two Bracken plants attracting ticks but as I said I would remove them anyway - glyphosate them first :blue thumb:
       
    • rosebay

      rosebay budding naturalistic gardener!

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      Surely there is a less toxic way of doing it?
       
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