It’s flea and tick season again – UGH!
A co-worker some years ago told me about a tick spray you
can make yourself and then spray it on your yard. I wanted to know if anyone
else has heard of this and if they have tried it, and how it works for them. I
make a batch every year and spray it on the plants in the yard and it seems to
do a good job of keeping the ticks away. Apparently the tobacco in it gives
them the runs so badly that they die.
Here’s the recipe:
Take the foot of an old pair of pantyhose and fill it with
the contents of a container of chewing tobacco. Make it like a tea bag, sort
of. Put into a container of water. I like to use an empty plastic container
that kitty litter comes in. Hold on to the open end of the pantyhose as you
lower the tobacco teabag into the water, so it doesn’t fall in. Twist the lid onto
the container with the pantyhose. This will keep the pantyhose from falling all
the way into the container.
Let this “tea” steep outdoors in the hot sun and let it
ferment and get all nasty and gross. I set it out for a couple of weeks at
least.
Pour the mixture through a strainer and into a hand-held pressurized
pump sprayer which you can get at your local home improvement store. I use
either a 1 or 3-gallon bottle. Add some dish detergent. This helps the tobacco
tea mixture stick to the leaves. Also, add some mouthwash. If I remember
correctly, this is what lures the ticks in to the mixture.
Spray on your yard. I don’t recall the frequency of how
often this has to be done. I have been doing this once a year in May of each
year.
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