Ticklandia....(warning, gross pic)

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by MuddyToes

Older than dirt! 56 actually.

I don't know if the overwhelming tick population and dwindling honeybees are related. But I do know that our neighborhood developer sprays weed killer every couple of weeks here. Grrrr. No clover, no honeybees. But lots of deer, squirrels and ticks.

I'm two dirt years older than you.
I would say it does.
For the most part any type of (((killer))) creates an imbalance and should be used wisely sparingly.

Worth

[mjc]

Originally Posted by MuddyToes

. Grrrr. No clover, no honeybees. But lots of deer, squirrels and ticks.

What's with that anyway?

Clover = free nitrogen for the lawn (notice I said lawn, not grass, as a lawn is not a monoculture of grass). I'm guessing the lawn fert companies are the ones maligning clover. Nothing else makes sense.

As to the ticks...more deer will equal more ticks. And according to some reports many of the eastern states have more deer now, than at any time in the last several hundred to couple thousand (or even longer) years.

[Starlight]

Constant warnings on tv about how ticks are going to be the worst ever this year. Is it because we had such a mild winter?

I have areas that look like massive jungle, but the deer out there almost everyday eating the wildflowers and passion flower fruits. No way am I going into those areas til winter comes.

[oakley]

One answer is two mild Winters in a row increases the rodent population like squirrels
and chipmunks, field mice. The second year will see an increase in a tick species. Or a
few varieties.

We finally have relief. Or maybe just balance. The past week we found 2 and that was
over 5 days ago.

North of the city home is up against 45,000 acre HarrimanStatePark, so lots of deer
pass through daily with wild turkey families.

The combination of what i listed seems to have worked or just being organic has invited
beneficials into the mix.

Seems even the deck micro and dwarf tomatoes show signs of munching then stops
before i even reach for the soap/neem. Saw lots of small tiny wasps along with all the
bees this morning.

[MuddyToes]

Originally Posted by mjc

What's with that anyway?

Clover = free nitrogen for the lawn (notice I said lawn, not grass, as a lawn is not a monoculture of grass). I'm guessing the lawn fert companies are the ones maligning clover. Nothing else makes sense.

I don't get the war on clover/honeybees either. I also rather like dandelions.

[Nematode]

Originally Posted by Starlight

Constant warnings on tv about how ticks are going to be the worst ever this year. Is it because we had such a mild winter?

I have areas that look like massive jungle, but the deer out there almost everyday eating the wildflowers and passion flower fruits. No way am I going into those areas til winter comes.

I think it has more to do with acorn crop.
The tick has a 2 host 2 year cycle.
2 years after a mast year (bumper acorn crop) the tick numbers are greatest because the rodent population jumps in the mast year.
Mild winter can have an effect but smaller one.

Poor moose can get sucked dry in a bad tick year.