Coping With Ticks and Mosquitoes,I've been trying to get at least two hours outside most days to keep up with the seasonal work in the garden.
Last week I pulled up the wineberry plants (Rhus phoenicolasius Maxim) that encroached from the tree line. I pulled out tree seedlings and chopped down the saplings I didn't get to last year. While not done, I have made a good dent in the job and was pleased that I have no bug bites and only a minor rash from the wineberry stems.
I also spent a day or two sorting through potted plants and clearing the deck. Surprisingly, this is where I got my first tick of the season. It was a large deer tick, thank goodness, and I found it before it attached — even better.
I've had a positive diagnosis for Lyme disease three times, most recently last year, so I am very careful to protect against and check for ticks of any kind. It is a lot easier than a month or two on antibiotics, or much worse because untreated Lyme disease can have serious and permanent consequences.
Ticks do not usually drop down from trees. They survive the cold weather in the leaf litter and emerge, ready to feed when the temperatures rise to about 50 degrees. So even a warm spell in the winter is an opportunity to pick up a tick.
Most commonly they are picked up when people move through an area with low (up to about 3 feet tall) shrubs, grasses or other plants. Long sleeves and long pants make it less likely that you will be bitten, and light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to see and get rid of before they attach.
Ticks are sensitive to dry conditions so tossing your clothing in a hot dryer is one preventive tactic. Examine yourself after any outing to be sure you have no ticks. Note that while usually transmitted by the mush smaller deer tick, it is possible to contract Lyme and other diseases from any infected tick.
Mosquitoes are another warmer weather concern. Chikungunya and Dengue fever have joined Zika on the list of mosquito-borne diseases. Control mosquito breeding by dumping any standing water, even an empty can, to eliminate breeding sites.
Encourage those animals that eat mosquitoes — birds, dragonflies and bats come to mind. Avoid peak exposure times — early morning and dusk. Wear long sleeves and pants and apply a repellent either to the area or yourself.
But what about the birdbaths — must we deny the birds water to stay safe? No.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, birdbaths can breed many mosquitoes over the season, particularly if they are in the shade. The water should be dumped out and the basin scrubbed to remove eggs at least weekly. During extreme heat, this should be done twice a week.
Alternatively, a bacterial larvicide can be added to prevent the emergence of the adult mosquitoes. Carefully read label instructions, but most bacterial larvicides should not be harmful to wildlife, pets or humans. They typically are not recommended for potable water intended for human consumption.
So what repellents are good?
It depends whether you are looking for protection from mosquitoes, ticks or both. Another consideration is how long you need it to work. The Environmental Protection Agency has a section — "Find the Insect Repellent that is Right for You" — on EPA.gov that can help you select an appropriate product.
It has suggestions for chemical and natural products that are registered by the EPA, what protection they offer and for how long as well as identifying the effective ingredient in each product.
Garden events
Central Moravian Church: The Busy Workers are hosting their annual Plant & Attic treasures sale 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 13 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 at the Christian Education Building of Central Moravian Church, 40 W. Church St., Bethlehem. Flowering annuals, hanging baskets, perennials (from members' gardens), daylilies (including some from Lorraine Chilton (owner of the former Oak Meadow Farm), vegetables and herb plants will be available. There also will be crafts, food and attic treasures. The event benefits charities ranging from Bethlehem to Tanzania and Nepal.
Catasauqua Garden Club: Annual Plant Sale will be held May 13 at the Catasauqua Library, 302 Bridge St., Catasauqua, from 9 a.m. to noon — if the plants last that long. Proceeds benefit club programs including the library and a scholarship for a Catasauqua High School senior.
Claussville Garden Club: The Annual Plant Auction will be held on Monday at the Zettlenoyer Auction Center, 820 Nursery St., Fogelsville. The doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the auction begins at 6:30 p.m. Perennials, hostas, daylilies, and houseplants — all grown by club members — will be available. There also will be a raffle. The auction benefits the club's scholarship fund for a student pursuing an agricultural systems degree and other club activities. Info: Rosa 610-285-4476.
Sue Kittek is a freelance garden columnist, writer, and lecturer. Send questions to Garden Keeper at grdnkpr@gmail.com or mail: Garden Keeper, The Morning Call, P.O. Box 1260, Allentown, PA 18105.
This week in the garden
Planting:
•Start seed for: Pumpkins, eggplant, summer squash, winter squash. Continue sowing baby's breath, cosmos and zinnias.
•Direct sow: Celeric, celery, cabbage, carrots, collards, bunching onions, onion sets, parsnips, and Swiss chard. Continue sowing: Chinese cabbage, endive, escarole, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, head and leaf lettuce, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, peas, radishes, spinach and turnips.
•Continue planting seeds for transplanting for: Balsam bachelor buttons, calendula, cockscomb, gaillardia, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium, cantaloupe, melon and Swiss chard.
•Plant or pot up summer bulbs and tubers such as dahlias, cannas, calla lilies and caladiums.
•Buy annuals for containers, annual garden beds and to fill in bare spots in perennial or shrub beds.
•Plant bare root trees and shrubs. Make sure the soil is dry enough to work. Don't dig or plant in mud.
Seasonal:
•As the weather warms, start easing out the hardiest of your plants that wintered over inside.
•Visit nurseries as they open for inspiration as well as new plants. Shop for summer bulbs as well.
•Apply a top dressing of compost to lawns and beds.
•Test soil for new beds. Retest soil in poorly performing areas or those that haven't been tested in the last 3-5 years.
•Cut back ornamental grasses. Divide when you see new green growth.
•Prune and divide perennials that bloom in late summer or fall.
•Prune back and clear out dead, diseased or unattractive stems from perennials and shrubs.
•Rake back winter mulches. Spring and summer mulch should be two to three inches deep and applied a few inches away from foundations, tree trunks and other plants.
Chores:
•Dump standing water and remove anything that may collect rainwater to help control mosquito populations.
Safety:
•Don't prune anything that can't be reached from the ground.
•Avoid tick bites: Use an insect repellent containing Deet on the skin. Apply a permethrin product to clothing. Wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves, hats and long pants when working in the garden.
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