Blacklegged (Deer) ticks usually are not out in the middle of your lawn but they thrive where yards border wooded areas, ornamental plantings and gardens, or anywhere it is shaded and there are leaves with high humidity. American dog ticks don’t mind more sunny areas, even your patio/deck. And lone star ticks…well, they’re prone to wander from shade to sun and back again. Use our resources below to effectively protect your yard against blacklegged (deer) ticks.
Eliminate tick habitat
Deer ticks are not out in the middle of your lawn, they live where yards border wooded areas, ornamental plantings and gardens, or anywhere it is shaded and there are leaves with high humidity.
By trimming shrubs and low branches, as well as raking and removing leaves, you can remove conditions that allow ticks to survive in your yard. Pay special attention to frequented border areas, wood piles, stonewalls, and sheds. Creating borders of wood chips, stone, or any other landscaping material helps to serve as a visual reminder between TickSafe and TickRisky zones.
Discourage wildlife
Reproducing adult ticks can be brought to your yard by deer and the resulting offspring larvae may become infected by feeding on mice, chipmunks and birds. Keep deer out by installing a deer fence, planting deer resistant plants, or by applying deer repellents. Mice like to live in stonewalls, around sheds, woodpiles or any enclosed area they can get into. Clean up brush, keep stonewalls clear of leaves, move woodpiles away from daily activity. Birdfeeders also attract deer and rodents that may drop ticks off right where you are standing.