[guepe]

There is a strong advantage to regular mowing in my area (new england): way less risk of ticks. It's a real problem a'd with kids that spends time outside, ticks can be real scary. I got a few bites on myself and once on a kid, thankfully without side effects.

What is impact of more natural landscaping wrt ticks in 'ew England?

[helen___keller]

Tangential but have you considered growing food? Can use up a good amount of backyard space that would otherwise just be grass, add some raised planters and such, and create an enriching activity for the family plus get ultra fresh veggies you might otherwise never have a chance to eat.

This also gives you an opportunity to explore varieties and cultivars that don’t stay fresh for long (no commercial viability) but are delicious when picked fresh

You can also look into plants that often aren’t commonly available just due to being obscure. Kiwi berry, beach plum, etc

Not for everyone, of course. But it can be a great way to make use of a large suburban property if you aren’t attached to the grassy field look.

[lm28469]

> way less risk of ticks

That's only a side effect of "way less life" though

[giantg2]

Similar for mosquitoes in FL

[ethbr0]

People are insane about lawns in Florida.

Sandy soil that's so nutrient-deficient that you can't grow anything without chemical fertilizer.

And then the damn St. Augustine that everyone obsesses about (a) still needs watering during the summer if it rains too little & (b) gets aggressively eaten by fungus if it rains too much.

It's seemingly not uncommon for people to resod their lawn every few years. And they replant the same grass type that just died!

[rqtwteye]

I remember visiting people in Vero Beach and they told me that I shouldn't step barefoot on their lawn and not let my dog on it because they sprayed it so much.

[InfamousRece]

Many HOAs require a specific type of grass so they might have no choice.

[Auracle]

It’s funny to me how people have such crazy reactions to ticks. Don’t get me wrong, they can carry some scary stuff - but a few bites? I get a few bites a month during the spring and early summer, and probably take off 10x that amount before they attach. Some are deer ticks. I’ve heard of people taking ticks that were attached to the doctor.

I guess my point is chances are you’ll be fine. Do what you can to prevent bites but don’t freak out about them.

[nakedrobot2]

you don't know anyone who got Lyme disease do you?

[Auracle]

I do. It's usually perfectly treatable with antibiotics and chronic (post-treatment) Lyme disease is...controversial, among doctors. I'm not saying it isn't real, but I've known a person that thought they had celiac disease, then it was Lyme disease, then it was something else, and something else... It's one of those things that people can convince themselves they have, and there's no way to actually test for it.

The tick bites that can cause you to become allergic to red meat are frankly a lot more scary to me.

The point is I've probably had 30 deer ticks in my life and I've been tested for Lyme disease plenty and they all came back negative. You certainly don't need to worry about regular wood ticks. Like I said, do what you can to prevent it. I spray my shoes with permethrin, for instance.

[beckingz]

My mother had lyme disease, which kicked off several years of auto-immune issues. Low energy and near-depression for years. No joke.

[Auracle]

Any infection can trigger autoimmune issues though. It's a fear I know well - my dad has lupus and I have several (thankfully relatively minor) autoimmune conditions.