I have a house on Long Island with a half acre of property that borders a wood. We have mice, chipmunks, turkeys, rabbits etc always in my backyard. I have seen deer crossing the road near my house. Last summer I came down with Lyme disease as many of you know.
The backyard fence has cherry trees in front of it in a concrete block planter bordering the woods for the whole fenceline. No sun gets under these trees and the lawn runs right up to them. I wanted to cut them down over the winter and let the light in, my wife said no.
I have two extensive vegetable gardens. I wanted to rip them out, my wife says no. I don't want food attracting animals. She says she'll garden, but I highly doubt it. She is more concerned that I wasted money building them and doesn't want them torn out.
We have two large raised railroad tie planters with trees, flowers and brush that dominate the middle of the backyard. I wanted to tear them out, my wife said no.
I wanted to do all this over the winter a little at a time, but she wouldn't have it.
The only thing I'll manage is not to put feed in the bird feeder.
My backyard is a perfect home for ticks and Lyme disease.
I've called an exterminator and they'll spray pyrethrimas, if I spelled that right, for $425 dollars. They say this will cover 3 months. I don't like chemicals and I don't have the money, but I don't know what else to do.
We've had a couple of fights of this and she won't budge. If my children come down with Lyme I will never forgive my wife, she just doesn't get it. She looks at me and I look fine and I don't think she takes this seriously.
Posted by yanivnaced (Member # 13212) on :
If it were me I would disregard her opinion and just do what it takes. We lived in a house near the CT/NY border (wooded area) with deer on our front yard.
Last year I made the executive decision to move into an apartment in the city and rent out the house to tenants. Of course, there wasn't too much opposition from my wife since she's the one who caught Lyme Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
I wish my wife would be that easy. I wish I could burn the place down and move to the city.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
There is some info available on how to manage property to discourage ticks. Will try to find it again. Also, there are some less expensive ways to cut down on ticks. Seems like this info ought to be one of the permanent features on the website, doesn't it?
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Well, here is one source. Go to CDC page (gag) and then click on the pdf file called "Tick Management Handbook" on the left side of the page, produced by the CT Ag people.
Don't know if they mention it, since it has been awhile since I read this handbook, but there are cardboard tubes you can place around the property that contain cotton impregnated with pesticide. Mice take the cotton for their nests and the ticks are killed. Not sure if a pesticide professional can do this, or homeowners, but maybe the handbook tells you this.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
Thanks
If you click on the picture of the yard there is way more detail.
[ 04-24-2009, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: John S ]
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Sorry John ..... I understand .... fortunately we moved to the city right before diagnosis ... I wold be sick with worry if we still lived in the country.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
I'm going to call after lunch and get the spray done and put it on my credit card. If I don't I'll go nuts.
Posted by hoot (Member # 19281) on :
Check out http://cedarcide.com I wonder if these products in the garden would keep the ticks and other bugs away.
Hoot!
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Good idea John. If you didn't and they got bitten you'd hate yourself later for not doing it.
Posted by Hides1 (Member # 6348) on :
John my whole wholfe family has yme due to the fact that we had lived orginally in a tick yard. Please spray it will help some and make sure your kids and wife due the tick checks. Your wife will change her mind if she starts to get any Lyme symptoms! It's a hrd call when the spouse doesn't agree but protect your kids- you don't want them to get this- the medical bills then get out of hand!
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
My wife is stubborn. I don't think she'd cut the trees down even if she did have Lyme. She reminds me of Polly Murray's husband in the Widening Circle. I read that and said that's my wife.
Posted by TO LIFE (Member # 12371) on :
Hi John,
I here ha, my whole yard I feel like concreting. It's not big enough for a tennis court, but that's what I want to do.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
I called. There goes $425 dollars, but it is some measure of protection.
Posted by Amy C (Member # 19297) on :
I just wanted to say that I have troubles with my husband too.
I basically told him that he has no opinion when it comes to Lyme Disease in our house and with our children. Both my children have it and were probably born with it.
I tried to educate him until I am blue in the face. He doesn't want to know as much info as I do. So that is fine but then I said that he has no say. That is his choice!
He has the choice to read and become educated. Until that time it's my choice to do what I think is best.
I am the one who takes the time to learn what I need to know about this disease. I am the one living with it. I know how it has ruined my life. I now see what it may do to my children.
I just stayed up all night with my 10 yr old who was probably herxing!
I don't know if your situation is the same or not but just thought I'd share my experience. I know it sounds harsh but when it comes to the treatments and safety of my children I stand my ground!
Take care, Amy
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
john,
some very valuable info here; i agree with lou; THIS SHOULD BE A STICKY FEATURE since it's spring and ticks are out in strength.
please edit subject line to lou's suggestion:
info available on how to manage property to discourage ticks
just click on pencil, 3rd box to right of your 1st post to change the subject line.
when you get this done, please go down to the bottom of your 1st post; RIGHT CORNER, and click REPORT POST.
reasons ... lou b or jenifer, please make this a STICKY FEATURE in MEDICAL since it's that time of year. thank you so much! Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
I understand your fear and loathing, absolutely I do. I share the same worries, as I live in the country on 3.5 acres with woods and overgrown grassy fields all around, and plenty of deer walking up to our porch, groundhogs climbing our trees by the house (TRUE story!), skunks eating our landscaping bulbs, coyotes trotting through the side yard, field mice in the garage and house in the fall and winter, raccons on our roof, stray cats milling around the house. It's a Lyme-wonderland.
But, just guessing here, I also think I might understand some of what your wife *might* be thinking/concerned about. Possibly, she doesn't want to feel like she has to be afraid of her surroundings if she isn't living in a cement cube. Obviously she does not empathize with your very real and reasonable concerns, and that is something she definitely needs to learn to understand, but maybe there is a solution that will work for both of you?
I don't think that waging all-out war against nature in your backyard will necessarily keep you safer than using a natural repellent on yourselves every day, and using some clever tricks to keep the animals, and ticks, from your areas. There is Lyme in NYC, in the city. Ticks actually carrying Lyme on city sidewalks, in medians. Birds flying overhead can drop a tick.
They have found Lyme-carrying sandfleas and fleas and even mosquitos (one proven mosquito-transmission case that I am aware of in the literature). You can't destroy everything that can bring Lyme disease or other pathogens, but you can create a shield around yourselves, naturally.
You can use HIGHLY effective (better by far than DEET) natural repellent soaps, lotions, sprays, and oils, so that it is an everyday habit rather than something to remember when your kids want to go out to play.
It is all-natural, safe, good for your skin, and repels ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and a bunch of other bugs, biting and non.
There are a BUNCH of natural repellents out there that are very safe, and even proven to be MORE effective than DEET. You can buy naturally-repellent essential oils in soaps, lotions, oils, sprays, for you and your pets.
I would consider also using a natural repellent spray around the perimeter of your lawn, and house, and keeping your grass mown low, as ticks are more attracted to tall grass.
Another mode of keeping out tick-carrying larger animals is putting up nice fencing around your vegetables and fruit trees. You can plant deer and rabbit-repelling plants around your house and yard perimeters, gardens, and landscaping as well. If you need any ideas I have some books on the subject I would be glad to copy from for you.
Again, I completely understand your concerns, but I wanted to let you know that there can be alternatives to napalming your environment and living in fear of green and living things, all because of this damn disease.
I think this fear and loathing happens to all of us to one degree or another, at one point or another, but I personally just can't pay that last price of losing my connection with nature and life. I think there are alternatives to the either/or, nature/no nature question.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
My children, I hope, don't have lyme. I am the only one so far. I know my wife and if I ripped out everything I'd end up in a apartment and she'd have the house with the backyard the way she wanted it. She just doesn't get it, so I'll do what I can do.
Well I'd be happy just removing all the brush and having a nice lawn with a stone border by the woods, but for peace I'll have to live with what we have and check the kids every day.
Posted by aMomWithHope (Member # 19255) on :
Has your wife seen "Under Our Skin?"
I would think seeing that film would cause her to open her eyes a bit more to the realities of this disease.
I would definitely go ahead and do whatever precautionary methods you feel comfortable doing to keep your children safe.
$425 is nothing to pay compared to seeing your child suffer with this every day.
You're a great dad for trying to keep your children healthy!
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
She's seen Under Our Skin and it helped.
Before I got sick I put in grape vines, apple trees, blueberries etc. Now the thought of all those fruit bushes, trees, and vines attracting animals make me shiver.
It is a nice backyard, but it's not worth your health.
BettyG I don't know if I want a discussion of me fighting my wife over this as a permanent post.
Posted by tpap1006 (Member # 19634) on :
spray roud-up all over it when she's not home.
landscaping is not more important than your family!
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
She is fine with the spray. They are coming tomorrow. I just hate the thought of someone getting cancer in 20 years or something like that.
Posted by tpap1006 (Member # 19634) on :
To me-now, concrete is beautiful!! they can even mix shells in it:)
Posted by tpap1006 (Member # 19634) on :
There are people that treat your yard with natural pestisides, it's like a 3 step process, call a landscaper and they can usually give you some name and #'s
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
john, excellent point and well taken!!
but what i was really trying to say is maybe if we could get lou or someone to start a NEW POST and copy ALL THE REPLIES about what to do on yard prevention .... that would be excellent to have year round.
i'm really glad you brought up the discussion; i have neuro lyme and things go in/out the other ear FAST; so had forgotten this was all about fighting w/wife over this.
thanks for refreshing my neuro brain! best wishes sincerely with your wife.
sometimes you just got to do what you've just got to DO! hugs...
thanks for replying...i do appreciate it and didn't mean anything else by my request ok [Smile] xox
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Stubborn wife? You could always call my husband for ideas on dealing with that issue, he's an expert.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
Oh back to the sweet days when my only affliction was a stubborn wife!
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