For me, gardening is very personal. It is a combination of gym and therapist that I cannot imagine living without. Well, I have come to accept that there is a price for everything. In my case, I have to occasionally get minor stains, bruises, and cuts. However, other serious problems lay in the Garden and could result in fatalities. Robert, a great friend of mine and husband to Marianne Majerus who is a renowned garden photographer, contracted Lyme disease.

Lyme disease caused by ticks on the lawn

While his private doctor failed to diagnose the problem, his wife Marianne researched the internet and connected the red bullseye on the leg where a tick had bitten Robert. The tick is so small and is very easy to rub off without realizing. The tick preys and lives on woodland deer that stay in the woodlands but can be picked from grasslands.

When one is bitten by a Lyme tick, the point of the bite forms a red bullseye type of mark with other symptoms including headache, lethargy, fatigue, and muscle aches. The symptoms are similar to those of other diseases especially meningitis.

The tick causes Lyme disease that will, in the long run, bring neurological, locomotor, rheumatological, and neuropsychiatric complications. Recently, demand for Lyme tests has increased as more people come to know about the disease.

To stay free from the disease, it is important to avoid walking on grass barefooted to stay away from the dangerous ticks. Consider sticking to jeans and wellingtons.

Danger from your compost

While some bacteria and fungi in the soil are known to help the brain release serotonin that operates like antidepressants, there are others that can cause serious dangers such as aspergillosis and lung fibrosis.

Aspergillosis: Some of the symptoms of aspergillosis include breathing difficulty, fever, cough, and sharp chest pains. In Buckinghamshire hospital, a gardener died of aspergillosis in 2015. Doctors indicated that because the patient was a smoker, his healthy was more susceptible.

Lung fibrosis: This is a problem caused by dangerous spores that reside in rotting green compost. Though many people indicate that the homemade compost has a lovely smell, it could cause lung fibrosis.

Poisonous plants

Some plants like laurels release cyanide though leaves and pips that can be very dangerous.   When cutting some Laurel branches that had overgrown, I was unable to stay near a shredder munching the leaves.

Some people who confuse bay leaves with those of Laurel and use them as herbs are at a greater risk of poisoning. After learning about Nathan Greenway who died from organ failure after contact with Laurel, I handle it with extra care today.

Though it is possible that Greenway was handling a lot of Laurels, it is important to wear gloves when working around the plant or handling it.

Other toxic plants include the very bitter courgettes. A German man died last year in summer after consuming the bitter courgettes that contain cucurbitacin. If you find any of courgettes related plants such as pumpkin and cucumbers with a very bitter taste, do not eat or feed to an animal.

Pet related risks

While I really like the dog because of its many benefits, it can bring a lot of risks to the entire family. It is important to deworm the dog regularly to ensure it is free from roundworm Toxocara. The eggs of Toxocara can easily be passed through their droppings and contaminate your hands. If ingested, the worm causes flue-like symptoms, vision problems, and could result in blindness. Though fresh dog droppings are not a hazard, you must be wary of inherited gardens because Toxocara eggs can stay up to 3 years.

If you have cats, they can pick toxoplasma by taking raw meat, mice, or even wild birds and excrete the eggs at your home. While this is not a serious issue to many people, it poses a great threat unborn baby. If a pregnant woman gets infected by toxoplasma, the fetus may suffer from epilepsy. If you are pregnant or planning to conceive, make sure always to use gloves when gardening.

Hot tub risks

If you have installed a hot tub in your garden, hot tub lung disease (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) could be a serious risk. Mother-in-law of a great gardening friend of mine, Claire Winfrey, was infected by Mycobacterium avium during her regular dips. After infection, she became very ill and was unable to breathe at night.

After searching and seeking information from medical experts, Claire got useful information that her mother in law used and she was far better about 2 months later. It is advisable to ensure that the water you use in the bathtub is treated and at the right temperatures.

To enjoy more when in your garden and get more products, it is important to be extra careful, hygienic, and understand the outlined dangers.