- Mow your lawn on a regular basis. Ticks like to hide in tall grass and wait for a host to latch on to.
- Remove leaf debris and keep garden beds clean and dry.
- Prune shrubs and bushes so they aren’t extending into walk areas where people or pets will brush up against them.
- Keep ground covers to a minimum, as ticks like to hide there.
- Avoid shady areas; ticks like the shade because they can’t tolerate heat.
- Create a natural barrier around your property using gravel or wood chips. These areas will be hot and dry and make navigation difficult for the tick.
- Keep pets out of wooded areas as much as possible.
- Try to keep deer out of the yard as they are the preferred host of deer ticks.
- Grow plants with a strong odor or essential oil such as lavender, lemon balm, or marigolds. Here’s a list of good mosquito repellent plants that also help repel ticks.
- If you have a wood pile, keep it neat and in a sunny area. Remember, moist wood and shade is a tick magnet.
