These Farmer-Approved Overalls Helped Protect Me From Ticks In My Garden All Summer Long

My garden was plagued by ticks last summer and, unfortunately, tick populations across the U.S. are high again this year. If you’re planning on spending time outdoors tending to your garden this summer, it’s important to protect yourself with the proper attire.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep ticks away and stay safe in your garden is to wear the right clothing. For me, that means strapping on my go-to Heirloom Gardening Bib Overalls from Duluth Trading Co., which are beloved by both gardeners and farmers alike.

I had been eyeing these highly-rated overalls for a long time and after a couple close calls with ticks in my garden last summer, I finally decided to buy a pair. I’m so glad I did because these overalls helped protect me from pesky, blood-sucking garden pests all summer long.

Why I Love These Overalls

Overalls are ideal for tick protection because they don’t have a waistband like regular pants do. Ticks love to hide in any nooks and crannies they can find and waistbands are a favorite spot of theirs. These hard-working overalls are lightweight and have a little stretch so they keep you cool and comfy as you toil under the summer sun. It’s easy to bend, squat, and stretch as I tend to my vegetable garden while wearing them.

For tick-safe gardening, long pants you can tuck into calf-high socks or boots are a must. With these overalls, you get to choose an inseam measurement, which is super uncommon in this day and age—especially for women’s clothing.

But this allows you to find the perfect fit so you’re comfortable all day and, if you’re on the tall side, ensures your pants are long enough to tuck in and keep ticks out. I wear my overalls tucked into crew socks and hiking boots or wellies. The breathable fabric is thin enough that they easily tuck into my socks and stay put all day.

These overalls also have tons of pockets where I store seed packets as I’m planting and even have pockets on the knees where you can add knee pads. These water-resistant Neoprene Knee Pad inserts from Duluth Trading Co. are in my cart right now because I can’t stand fussing around with a separate kneeling pad.

If you live in an area with a lot of ticks and spend tons of time outside, these nasty little parasites may still get on you regardless of what you wear. To make spotting them easier, choose light-colored clothing. Duluth offers a variety of different colors and patterns every year, including plenty of pastels that make spotting ticks simple. I’m considering another pair in Wild Aster, which is a lovely lilac hue, since the ticks are back in full force this summer.

Tips for Extra Protection From Ticks

To give your overalls an extra level of protection, spray them with Permethrin. This tick-repellent lasts up to several months and can help protect you the entire growing season. Last year, I used OFF! Deep Woods, which you can get on Amazon, and reapplied every time I went out to work in my garden. But this year, I’m planning on spraying them with this Permethrin insect repellent for clothing from Amazon instead so I can apply it once and be done.

Even if you’re not worried about ticks, it’s always smart to wear protective clothing for gardening. There are lots of ways you can injure yourself while working outdoors and many poisonous plants you shouldn’t touch without gloves. You want your gear to be able to withstand whatever challenges you might face in your garden.

With a rating of 4.7 out of 5 five stars from almost 3,000 shoppers, there’s no doubt these overalls can stand up to just about anything you might encounter in your garden—even ticks.

Shop the Look

Get your tick-resistant overalls today from Duluth Trading Co. Shop adorable patterns, including one with illustrations of seed packets, and beautiful pastel colors that make spotting ticks even easier.