Ticks prefer wooded and grassy areas with dense vegetation, where they can easily latch onto passing dogs and people. They thrive in cooler, humid environments and are commonly found in tall grass, leaf litter, and damp, shaded areas.
To help reduce your risk in your home environment, consider these suggestions:
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Regular Lawn Maintenance: Mow your lawn regularly to keep it short, and trim bushes and shrubs to reduce tick habitat. Clear away leaf litter and keep vegetation well-managed to minimize hiding spots for ticks.
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Create a Barrier: Establish physical barriers such as gravel or wood chip borders along the edges of your yard, particularly where it meets wooded areas. These barriers create a buffer zone that deters ticks from ground travel into your yard.
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Plant Tick-Repelling Plants: Incorporate tick-repelling plants like lavender, rosemary, and chrysanthemums, lemongrass, and cedar into your landscaping. These plants emit fragrances that naturally repel ticks and can be strategically placed around outdoor living areas to act as a natural deterrent.
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Tick-Control Products: Utilize tick-control products such diatomaceous earth in the environment on the shrubs and grasses. Spray your shrubs and grasses with cedarwood oil.
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Natural Predators: Where possible, encourage the presence of natural tick predators like chickens and guinea fowl in your yard. These animals feed on ticks and can help keep tick populations in check by actively hunting and consuming them.
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Frequent Inspections: Regularly inspect your yard for ticks, paying close attention to areas with dense vegetation, tall grass, and leaf litter. Check yourself, your family members, and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors, and promptly remove any ticks found using fine-tipped tweezers. (Coming soon, what to do if you find a tick on your dog)
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Keep Wildlife Away: Take measures to deter wildlife such as deer, rodents, and other animals that can carry ticks from entering your yard. Install fencing, remove food sources, and use deterrents like motion-activated sprinklers to discourage wildlife from frequenting your property.