Garden plants that may be attracting ticks

Summer makes the garden look better than ever, with flowers in bloom and a lush green lawn. Yet, between the pots, a small but persistent threat may be settling in unnoticed: ticks.

The ideal garden hiding place for ticks

Ticks favour damp, shaded conditions, precisely the kind many gardens provide without their owners realising it. A tucked-away corner covered in leaves is enough for these tiny parasites to feel at home.

Long grass is one of their preferred places to wait, concealed among the blades until an animal or person passes by. However, an untidy lawn is not the only issue: certain garden plants can act almost like an invitation.

• Long grass: ticks climb the stems and lie in wait, ready to attach themselves to anything passing nearby.
• Ferns: their dense fronds create a humid microclimate, which is ideal for ticks to hide and reproduce.
• Ivy and ground-cover plants: thick foliage and constant shade provide these parasites with an ideal refuge.
• Shrubs such as mulberries and hazels: when left to grow freely into dense thickets, they give ticks additional shelter.
• Dense conifers, such as thuja: closely packed branches protect parasites from sunlight and wind, helping them survive.

Ferns and ivy may be attracting ticks

Many people tend their gardens with appearance in mind, without considering that the arrangement of plants can also affect the presence of ticks. A bed filled with ferns or ivy, for instance, may seem purely decorative, but it supplies exactly the shade and moisture these parasites seek.

This does not mean every green plant needs to be removed from the garden. What matters is knowing which species need more attention and adopting straightforward maintenance habits to lower the risk of bites during summer.

Unpruned shrubs can become a tick trap

Shrubs such as mulberries, elder bushes and hazels can make excellent hiding places for ticks, especially when they grow unchecked and form very dense clumps. The thicker the shrub, the more likely it is to become the perfect nesting place for these parasites.

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Regular pruning makes all the difference

Keeping garden shrubs neatly trimmed stops them from becoming closed, damp thickets, which are ticks’ favourite environment.

Pruning from time to time not only makes the garden look tidier, but also greatly reduces the likelihood of finding these parasites lurking among the leaves.

The same approach applies to conifers such as thuja, whose branches grow very close together. Allowing these plants more airflow helps reduce the number of hiding places available to ticks.

Fewer ticks, more freedom in the garden

For anyone who enjoys spending time in the garden with their family, looking after the vegetation is also a way of protecting their health. Tick bites can transmit diseases, and preventing direct contact with these parasites begins with plant choices.

Mowing the lawn regularly, ideally every two weeks during the growing season, can already help make it less appealing for ticks to settle in.

Plants that can help keep ticks away

Some species can support this effort because their scent tends to repel ticks. Lavender, lemon balm and rosemary are good plants to add to the garden as a natural barrier, while also giving the space a pleasant fragrance.

Ultimately, a beautiful, safe garden relies on small everyday actions. Paying attention to plants such as ferns and ivy, along with pruning shrubs regularly and mowing the grass consistently, can make a huge difference in keeping ticks away.

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