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Jul 22, 2023 5:05 PM CST
Thread OP
Walnut Creek, California
HELP! The past 2 years has seen a huge uptick in invisible biting insects around my vegetable garden. I've tried to trap and indemnify them, but unsuccessful, only catching lizards:-( . They come out only in the summer months. They are not mosquitos. They are tine, I don't see them when watering my veggies, but they somehow crawl up my pants, under my shirt, up to groin area, under arms and knees, all over really, biting, which show up the next day as red itchy welts, which take 5-7 days to go away. It's gotten so that I no longer want to visit my raised veggie patch, which has been my passion for years. So sad! I tried spreading diatinacious earth, but did not reduce them. I've tucked pants into socks and sprayed DEET on close, which had limited success. I've tried wearing a Hazmat suit into the yard, but that is not a long term solution I've finally had enough and now ready to nuke them. Please advise what insect poison I can safely spray on ground around the garden to kill them off, and how to safely apply and how often to apply. I desperately want to get back to the pleasures of gardening, rather than sequester myself inside, itching and scratching. Thank you.
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Jul 22, 2023 5:25 PM CST
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Welcome to NGA Welcome! Welcome!

I just read that putting ACV - apple cider vinegar - into a spray bottle and spraying yourself and your clothing will prevent chiggers.

Chiggers are terrible this year. I look like I have chicken pox I have so many chigger bites.

I will try the ACV but I also just bought some stuff on amazon that has lemongrass in it.
NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~
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Jul 23, 2023 6:34 AM CST
Name: stone
near Macon Georgia (USA) (Zone 8a)
Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Plant Identifier
Are you over watering?
Clay soil?

I used to live on some property (clay soil) where the chiggers were incredible...
I would cut path ways that were wider than my two outstretched arms...

Now? I live on the dry sand... Some 80 or so miles away from previous... no chiggers... but the eye gnats!

Out here, we have these little nuisance flying bugs that try to land on our eyeballs!

Seems like it's always gonna be something...

I used to rub alcohol over chigger bites for some relief.

Suggest avoiding touching plant foliage.
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Jul 23, 2023 10:14 AM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Love your outfit! (and your yard Lovey dubby )

Noxzema! It keeps chiggers away and kills them too.
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