When the summer months kick in, we start itching to spend some time in the Yard and relish some warm rays of the sun. However, at the same time, some pesky tiny arthropods known as Ticks are also gearing to create some trouble since they are most active during this period.   Below is 8 steps on how to get rid of ticks in the yard.

Besides being a nuisance, ticks are dangerous since they are vectors of disease-causing agents. Of all blood-sucking arthropods, ticks carry the widest variety of pathogens, including those that cause diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease. If you plan to be outdoors, you must develop a plan or contact a professional to eliminate tick populations. However, before we delve into the whole process of eradicating these blood-sucking parasites, we need to know how to identify signs of an infested yard. 

Which Signs Indicate Tick Infestation on Your Yard

You may think that ticks fall from tree branches or the sky because the only time you see them is when they are on the pets or your clothes. However, you’ll be surprised to learn that these parasites hide in high grass and overgrown ornamentals. So, if you keep seeing ticks on your pet or your skin, hair, and clothes, this might be a clear indication that these creatures have camped in your yard. 

You might also see them under woodpiles, shrubs, leaves, and stone walls since they like to stay in moist and dark areas. You can use one technique to determine if there are ticks on your lawn. Drag a white towel over the grass, and if present, the ticks will cling onto it as you pull it over them. Once you’re sure that your backyard has been infested, you should move with speed to exterminate them.

8 Steps On How To Eliminate Ticks From The Yard?

Below are a few steps on how to get rid of ticks from the yard.  The more steps and the more thorough the better the results.  Remember that a tick exterminator should always recommend ways to stop ticks from entering your yard and like these steps they should always maintain your property with frequent applications.  Otherwise you will see populations rise again.

1.  Regular Yard Maintenance:

   As mentioned before, ticks love to stay in moist and dark areas. So, any untrimmed bushes, low-hanging branches, or litter-clogged regions will make an excellent habitat for ticks. If you want to keep these blood-sucking parasites from your yard, you need to maintain your yard in these ways:

2.  Frequently Mow Your Grass Short:

   Overgrown grass provides the best environment for ticks to hide. It offers the much-required shade and moisture and acts as a ladder for ticks to reach and cling onto the nearby host. When you keep the grass in your yard short, you provide less shade and ensure that the sun dries the moisture trapped in the grass.

3. Collect all Leaves and Rake Mowed Grass:

   If your compound has piles of leaves or debris lying idle, it may be a perfect place for the ticks to hide. You must rake all leaves and grass from your lawn if you want to get rid of these blood-sucking parasites.

4. Prune low-hanging branches and Trim Shrub: 

   Untrimmed or overgrown bushes, trees, and plants cast a dense shade that can create a conducive environment for ticks to reside. Trimming and pruning these plants and bushes allows sunlight to pass through, disrupting the ticks’ lifestyle.

5. Put a Barrier Between the Yard and Shaded Areas: 

   If you have a section of your yard filled with trees and shrubs, make sure that you separate it from the main yard where you spend your time. You can use a 3-foot border made from pea gravel, rocks, wood chips, or long cedar timbers to interfere and curtail the tick movement. Place all recreational areas such as patios, swing sets, and decks away from trees and other shaded regions.

6. Discourage Unwelcome Animals and Rodents from Your Property: 

   Unwelcomed animals such as deer, stray dogs, and raccoons can carry and drop ticks at your compound. And when it comes to deer, their bodies offer a conducive environment for ticks to reproduce. They provide protein nourishment, which is essential for parasites to breed and lay eggs. So, the presence of a deer in your compound may spell the start of a severe tick infestation. Therefore, if you want to control or get rid of ticks from your yard, make sure you keep unwelcomed animals, such as deer, raccoons, and stray dogs, away. These can be done by erecting a tall and robust fence or using repellants. On the other hand, mice and other small rodents act as hosts and contribute to the infectious pathogens that ticks transmit. Therefore, it is crucial to you ensure that rodents don’t find refuge in your compound. You can get rid of rodents using repellants, such as tick tubes, cedar oil, neem spray, and diatomaceous earth, and clear any shrubs near the house.

7.  Spraying your Yard with Insecticides and Pesticides:

   If your yard has tick populations, you need to use a fast-acting insecticide or pesticide to exterminate these creatures. The amount of homeowners using professional tick removal companies has doubled every year in the state of New York.  There are a lot of tick exterminators companies our there but they are not all the same.  However, since the yard is where the entire family members go when they want to relax, you should choose an insecticide with less toxicity. There most common group of chemicals that most experts use to get rid of ticks known as Pyrethroids. An example of such a chemical is permethrin, a synthetic extract from the chrysanthemum flower. Pyrethroids are highly recommended for treating vast areas, especially places where pets and kids are expected to play. It can also be used with livestock. It comes in various forms, including powder, liquid, and aerosol. When using an insecticide or pesticide, make sure you check the instructions on the label and also seek an expert’s clarification on when to apply it in your location and the best insecticide or pesticide to use.

8. Use Plants that Dispel Ticks: 

   Several plants can help you control ticks in your yard. Planting them in your garden can be an intuitive way to keep ticks away from your yard. These plants include:

• Chrysanthemum cineraria folium
• Garlic
• Lavender
• Geranium
• Eucalyptus 
• Rosemary 
• Mint 
• Pennyroyal

Final Verdict,

Inspecting your yard and house frequently for ticks ensures that you eradicate them before they become a full-blown infestation. If you fail to get rid of ticks from the yard, you may end up contacting Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Lyme Disease, or other tick-related diseases. And since we have provided you with a list of five unique ways to exterminate ticks from your compound, it’s up to you to do your part and keep your backyard tick-free.