When we think of tick bites, we usually picture deep woods, hiking trails, and camping trips. But the reality is much closer to home. According to the CDC, the majority of Lyme disease cases are contracted not in the wilderness, but right in people’s own backyards.
If your property borders a wooded area, features tall grass, or has dense landscaping, you likely have a tick population living just steps from your back door. Fortunately, you do not have to surrender your yard to these pests. By making strategic landscaping choices, you can create a tick-safe zone for your family and pets.
Understanding the Backyard Tick
To control ticks, you have to understand what they need to survive: moisture and hosts. Ticks dry out and die quickly in direct sunlight and low humidity. Therefore, they avoid short, sun-baked grass and congregate in the damp, shady edges of your property, in leaf litter, and under dense shrubs [1].
They also rely on animals to bring them into your yard. White-footed mice, chipmunks, and deer are the primary carriers. If your yard is attractive to these animals, it will be attractive to ticks.
Step 1: Landscape for Sunlight and Airflow
The most effective way to reduce ticks is to make your yard inhospitable to them.
- Mow Frequently: Keep your lawn mowed to a height of 3 inches or less. Short grass allows sunlight to reach the soil, drying it out and killing ticks.
- Clear the Clutter: Remove leaf litter, brush, and tall weeds from around your home and at the edges of your lawn. This eliminates the dark, moist hiding spots ticks require.
- Prune and Trim: Trim tree branches and shrubs around the perimeter of your yard to let in more sunlight.
- Move the Furniture: Place patios, decks, and children’s playground equipment in the center of the yard, in direct sunlight, rather than near the wooded edges.
Step 2: Create a Tick Barrier
Ticks generally do not cross areas devoid of vegetation and moisture. You can use this to your advantage by creating a physical barrier between your safe lawn and the surrounding tick habitats (woods or tall brush).
Create a border that is at least 3 feet wide using wood chips, mulch, or gravel. This dry, hot zone acts as a moat, severely restricting the migration of ticks from the woods into your recreational areas [2].
Step 3: Discourage the Hosts
If you keep the mice and deer out, you keep the ticks out.
- Clean Up Bird Feeders: Spilled birdseed attracts mice and chipmunks. Clean up under feeders regularly, or move them far away from your house and play areas.
- Secure Trash and Woodpiles: Keep garbage in tightly sealed cans to deter rodents. Stack firewood neatly in a dry area, preferably elevated off the ground, as woodpiles are prime mouse real estate.
- Plant Deer-Resistant Flora: If deer frequent your yard, they are dropping engorged ticks. Consider planting deer-resistant shrubs and flowers, or install fencing to keep them out.
Step 4: Chemical Control (If Necessary)
If landscaping changes are not enough, you may need to consider chemical control. You can hire a professional pest control service or apply yard treatments yourself.
Focus treatments on the “tick zones”, the edges of the woods, retaining walls, and dense brush. There is no need to spray the center of a sunny, short-mowed lawn. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, especially regarding the safety of children and pets after application.
The Final Line of Defense
Even with a perfectly manicured, tick-resistant yard, vigilance is required. A bird or a wandering dog can easily drop a tick onto your patio.
Make tick checks a routine part of coming inside after playing in the yard. And if you do find a tick attached, be prepared. Keep a Trail Ready Solutions Tick Removal Kit in your home first-aid cabinet. With our professional-grade tweezers and magnifying mirror, you can safely remove the tick and get back to enjoying your backyard oasis.
References
[1] Freehold Township Health Department, “Tick Habitats,” https://freeholdhealth.org/504/Tick-Habitats [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Preventing Tick Bites,” https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/index.html
Your Trail. Your Safety. Your Kit.