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Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ticks in the Yard
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ticks in the Yard. Ticks can spread a number of diseases to both animals and humans; therefore, they should be eliminated from your outdoor environment. Some of the more popular tick-borne illnesses include Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Chemical-laded pesticides are often effective in ridding yards of...
Ticks can spread a number of diseases to both animals and humans; therefore, they should be eliminated from your outdoor environment. Some of the more popular tick-borne illnesses include Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Chemical-laded pesticides are often effective in ridding yards of ticks; however, they can contaminate ground water and possibly cause harm to family members or pets. To eliminate the tick problem around your home, try an all-natural approach.
Keep Deer Away
Deer often carry ticks responsible for spreading disease. By keeping deer away from your home, you will reduce the tick population. To keep deer away, plant vegetation that deter deer and avoid planting those that attract them. Deer typically like to feast on rhododendron, azalea, crab apples and arborvitae. If deer cannot find these in your yard, they will likely search for them elsewhere. Planting vegetation that deer typically don't like, such as daffodils, boxwood, Colorado blue spruce, marigolds and Scotch pine, will often keep them away.
Maintain Your Yard
Ticks typically like to hide out in grass and on the spears. They will then latch onto anyone who walks by. Prevent this by keeping your grass trimmed short. Leave the spears no taller than 3 inches high. Doing so will lower the humidity at ground level, which will make it difficult for ticks to survive. In addition, remove any woodpiles, birdbaths and bird feeders from around your home. Birds can carry immature ticks that fall into birdbaths or bird feeders. Chipmunks and mice that eat bird food out of bird feeders can potentially contract the ticks. They will often hide in woodpiles, spreading the ticks around the wood. By keeping your yard free of hiding spots for ticks, they will likely look elsewhere to reside.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is an all-natural substance that can be used to kill ticks, according to The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Diatomaceous earth is made from fossilized water plants. When ticks eat it, they dehydrate and die. Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth around your yard and on vegetation to eliminate ticks. Wear a mask and goggles when administering the product, as it can create a large amount of dust. Sprinkle more diatomaceous earth around your yard whenever it rains.
