How to Prevent Ticks in Your Yard – 5 Expert-Approved Ways to Stop Them Moving In
Ticks are on the rise again in many parts of the US. Here's how to keep them at bay
It is tick season, and as populations continue to expand across the US, taking steps to prevent them from settling in your yard has never been more important. The greatest risk remains in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest, but experts warn that several species are spreading into new areas of the country. The good news is that there are plenty of effective ways to make your yard less appealing to ticks.
From strategic landscaping choices and wildlife deterrents to natural repellents and targeted treatments, small changes can have a big impact, and there are many ways you can prevent and kill ticks in your yard
These tiny pests can transmit illnesses such as Lyme disease, making yard prevention an important step in protecting both your family and pets. Here, pest control experts and gardeners share the five best ways to prevent ticks from moving in and reduce the chances of unwanted encounters this season.
1. Keep Grass Short
If you want to prevent ticks, it's also important to keep your yard well-maintained. 'Regular mowing, trimming shrubs, and removing leaf litter are crucial,' says landscaping expert Scott McLeod.
Ticks thrive in humid environments with dense vegetation, so staying on top of summer lawn care leaves them with fewer places to hide. During peak tick season – typically from late spring through early fall – experts recommend mowing regularly to keep grass short.
It's equally important to manage the transition zones around your yard. Trim back overgrown borders, clear weeds from fence lines, and prune low-hanging branches to increase sunlight and airflow, creating conditions that are less favorable for ticks.
Ensure fallen leaves are actually removed or collected rather than simply raked to the edges of your yard, as ticks readily shelter in damp leaf piles. The same applies after storms or periods of heavy rain, when accumulated garden debris can retain moisture and provide ideal hiding spots.
Finally, decluttering your yard and storing firewood in a dry, elevated location away from the house can help reduce potential areas for both ticks and the small mammals that often carry them.
Scott McLeod is the owner of McLeod Landscaping Inc., a provider of commercial and residential landscaping, hardscaping, and snow removal services in Tewksbury, MA, and the surrounding areas. With over three decades of experience, Scott has grown McLeod Landscaping into a trusted partner for landscaping design, construction, renovation, enhancement, and maintenance.
2. Create Physical Barriers
Similar to how gardeners use crushed eggshells to deter of slugs from reaching vulnerable plants, you can create a larger physical barrier to help keep ticks out of your yard.
'Creating a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips, gravel, or similar material between your lawn and any wooded areas can help deter ticks from entering your yard,' says Scott McLeod.
You can find pea gravel at Ace Hardware. Alternatively, this cedar wood chip mulch from Amazon would be a great choice, as the natural oils in the wood helps to repel ticks.
Ticks prefer cool, humid environments with dense vegetation and leaf litter. By introducing a strip of dry, exposed material between wooded areas and frequently used parts of the yard, you make it harder for them to migrate into spaces where children and pets play.
These barriers work particularly well along the edges of properties that back onto woodland, naturalized areas, stone walls, or unmanaged vegetation.
For maximum effect, keep the barrier clear of encroaching plants and replenish materials as they break down over time.
3. Add Tick-Repelling Plants Around Pathways
One of the main reasons there are ticks in your yard is because they've been carried in on another animal. That's why ticks like to hang out on the border of landscapes, where people and other animals will walk through.
If you have pathways or transition areas in your yard, pest control professional Matt Smith suggests doing some 'strategic planting' with tick repellent plants to prevent ticks from hitching a ride into your yard.
Ticks will avoid plants and herbs such as rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and marigolds, so consider adding these beautifully fragrant pest-repellent plants to paths or around the edge of your plot to ward them off.
For expert tips on growing rosemary and growing lavender, you can head to our guides. Often used for companion planting, marigolds keep bugs away and bring a warm, vibrant color to your yard.
You can find marigold seeds at Botanical Interests.
4. Try Natural Tick-Repellent Sprays
You can also deter ticks with scented sprays. Entomologist David Price from Mosquito Joe advises using natural tick repellent sprays containing cedar, eucalyptus, or neem oil.
These substances may help repel ticks and can be applied to clothing, outdoor fabrics, or around the yard.
A homemade bug spray can also be handy to have around, and you can make your own using essential oils diluted appropriately for outdoor use. You can find eucalyptus essential oil at Amazon.
However, it's important to remember that natural repellents tend to break down more quickly than synthetic alternatives, particularly after rainfall or irrigation, so regular reapplication is key.
If you're relying on natural sprays as part of your tick-prevention strategy, experts recommend combining them with other methods mentioned in this article, as the most effective way to reduce tick activity in yards.
David Price is the Entomologist and Technical Director at Mosquito Joe. David is responsible for developing technical expertise, researching and introducing new product lines and services, training current and new service personnel, and ensuring quality service in field operation practices throughout the Mosquito Joe system.
5. Discourage Deer and Rodents From Entering Your Yard
Reducing the number of animals that carry ticks into your yard can also help lower your risk of encountering them.
While deer are an important part of many ecosystems, they are one of the primary hosts for adult ticks, while small mammals such as mice can transport immature ticks through gardens.
These ultrasonic solar animal repellent devices from Amazon are very well reviewed, and would help to keep deer and small rodents from entering your yard.
Other simple measures such as choosing deer-resistant plants, using fencing where appropriate, DIY deer deterrents, and removing food sources that attract rodents can make a difference.
To make your yard less inviting to rodents, keep bird seed in sealed containers, clean up any spilled seed beneath feeders, and store firewood neatly stacked in a dry, elevated location away from the house.
Sealing gaps around sheds and other outbuildings can also help prevent mice from taking up residence. While these animals all play a role in the natural environment, limiting their activity in the immediate vicinity of your home may help reduce the number of ticks entering your outdoor spaces.
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FAQs
What Are Ticks?
Ticks are invertebrates that belong to the class Arachnida, the same class as spiders, scorpions, and mites. These small insects are most active during the warmer months of the year, and feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.
'Once these opportunistic hunters find a host, they dig their heads into their skin and they suck blood from them,' says Matt Smith, the co-owner of Green Pest Management. 'Ticks carry Lyme disease, which is really nasty and can affect your health for the rest of your life.'
There are lots of pests that can destroy plants, but ticks will just use plants to perch on and wait for a host to come by before attaching themselves to them. Here are five things you can do to repel them.
What Time of the Day Are Ticks Most Active?
Some experts say that ticks are the most active in the morning and the evening, but they can turn up at any time of the day.
It also depends on the species of tick, for example, there are two main types, 'hard' ticks and 'soft' ticks. Adult ticks are more active in the morning, and if the temperature reaches about 50 degrees, any ticks present are likely to be active.
Matt Smith has been working in the pest control industry since 2009. He is a co-owner of Green Pest Management which was started in 2014 in New Castle, Delaware. With his background and experience, he is knowledgeable about a variety of pests, pest activity, and ways of dealing with pests infesting homes.
Ticks can be a year-round problem, particularly if you live in an area with high temperatures and humidity, so it's sensible to keep vigilant.
The most effective way to prevent ticks from becoming a problem in your outside space is to combine the measures mentioned above, which will ensure you're keeping your yard safe for everyone in it.
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