Lyme Disease & Tick Control

Lyme disease is reaching near epidemic levels here in New England with often devastating consequences, there are tens of thousands of confirmed cases each year and according to the CDC over 220,000 cases still go unreported or misdiagnosed each year. If properly diagnosed a 2-4 week course of antibiotics is usually effective if started very soon after the bite takes place. Short term health effects commonly include a rash and flu-like symptoms. Lyme disease however can also lead to serious long-term health problems such as;

  • Arthritis & Chronic pain especially in joints
  • Chronic Migraine Headaches
  • Neurological problems such as;
    • Inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain (meningitis)
    • Temporary paralysis of one side of your face (Bell’s palsy)
    • Numbness or weakness in your limbs
    • Impaired muscle movement.
  • Heart problems such as an irregular heartbeat
  • Eye inflammation
  • Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
  • Severe fatigue

The CDC recommends that steps be taken to reduce ticks and tick habitat on your property to keep your family safe. We can help and also provide you with important tips and cultural recommendations. Most important of which is to remove all fallen leaves each fall and spring and also to keep tall grasses and brush mowed down. The CDC also recommends that your yard be treated to kill ticks.

Our Organic Mosquito and Tick Control Program uses very potent sprays of Cedar-wood Oil, Garlic Juice, Rosemary Oil, Peppermint Oil, Geranial Oil, Wintergreen Oil, and Vanilla to kill and repel ticks and mosquitoes. They have provided relief for over 1,200 of our customers who are treated monthly from May to September.

For added protection many also incorporate between 1 and 4 applications of our Tick & Mosquito Insecticide Applications throughout the year to dramatically reduce insect levels. We use a very safe chemical for this, but it is extremely effective. This approach is recommended by the CDC to keep your property safe from ticks. The insecticide will also reduces the number of mosquitoes greatly. Then the organic sprays repel to maintain control naturally. You should add this service ASAP as infected ticks are feeding now and this puts your family at risk.

Risk of human infection of Lyme disease is greatest in April, May, and June as infected Deer tick nymphs search out a new host after they emerge from winter dens with their previous host (white footed mice). Risk is then again relatively high again in fall (see the CDC’s diagram below). I personally treat my own lawn with this insecticide to keep my kids safe each April and August and strongly recommend that you do the same.

Tick Risk

Click here for information on our flea and tick program