Ticks are tiny blood sucking insects that not only bite and irritate but also spread a lot of dangerous diseases. One of the common diseases that it spreads is Lyme Disease but ticks are also notorious for spreading Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis. Ticks can be found anywhere from yards, closets, and even on your pets. When dealing with ticks, time is of the essence. Its important to finds ways to quickly take actions. Follow these methods to get rid of ticks and prevent them from returning:
1. Maintain Your Yard
Ticks thrive in overgrown vegetation, leaf piles, and tall grasses. Keeping your yard clean and tidy can significantly reduce their population.
Mow the lawn regularly to prevent ticks from hiding in tall grass.
Trim back trees and shrubs to let sunlight in, as ticks prefer shady, humid areas.
Remove leaf litter and debris from around your yard, as these provide shelter for ticks.
Create a tick-free zone by placing a barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas to discourage ticks from migrating.
2. Use Tick-Repellent Plants
Certain plants naturally repel ticks and other pests. Consider incorporating some of these into your landscaping.
Lavender and lemongrass release scents that repel ticks.
Rosemary and chrysanthemums have natural insect-repelling properties.
Planting these around your garden or near your home’s entrances can help keep ticks at bay.
3. Use Tick Control Treatments
There are several tick control treatments you can apply to your yard to reduce tick populations.
Insecticides: Use pesticides specifically designed for tick control in outdoor areas. Pyrethroid-based products are commonly used to kill ticks in lawns and gardens.
Natural remedies: For those preferring a non-toxic approach, consider spraying essential oils like cedarwood oil or neem oil around your yard. These oils are effective in repelling ticks.
Nematodes: These microscopic worms can be released into your soil to naturally attack ticks and other insects without harming beneficial garden creatures.
4. Check Pets Regularly
Pets are common carriers of ticks, especially dogs. Regularly checking your pets for ticks is crucial to prevent them from entering your home.
Inspect your pet’s fur after they've been outside, especially in tick-prone areas like their neck, ears, belly, and under their legs.
Use tick prevention treatments like tick collars, spot-on treatments, or oral medications as recommended by your vet.
Bathe your pets regularly using a tick-repelling shampoo that can help kill and remove any attached ticks.
5. Create Tick-Safe Zones
Ticks often latch onto their hosts from areas near the edges of your yard, particularly in shady spots and near wooded areas. You can create tick-safe zones by:
Using a three-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas.
Positioning play areas like swings and playgrounds away from wooded or brushy parts of the yard.
Installing fencing to keep deer, which are common tick carriers, out of your yard.
6. Wear Protective Clothing
If you're going into areas known for ticks, wearing the right clothing can minimize your risk of exposure.
Wear long sleeves and long pants, tucking your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
Opt for light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
Apply tick repellents that contain DEET, permethrin, or picaridin on both clothing and exposed skin. For added protection, use permethrin-treated clothing, which can kill ticks on contact.
7. Check Yourself and Your Family
After spending time outdoors, especially in wooded areas or tall grass, make it a habit to check everyone, including pets, for ticks.
Check behind the ears, on the scalp, under the arms, and in any creases where ticks may hide.
Shower after outdoor activities to help remove any unattached ticks.
Use a lint roller to quickly remove ticks from your clothes.
8. Proper Tick Removal
If you find a tick attached to you, a family member, or a pet, proper removal is critical to avoid infection.
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Pull upward with steady, even pressure without twisting or jerking, as this could cause parts of the tick to break off and remain in the skin.
Clean the bite area thoroughly with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or iodine after removal.
9. Use Tick Traps
Tick traps are a low-maintenance solution to control ticks in your yard.
Carbon dioxide traps attract ticks by mimicking the CO2 exhaled by humans and pets. Once ticks are lured in, they're captured or killed.
Tick tubes contain treated cotton that rodents carry back to their nests. Since ticks often feed on mice, this method can significantly reduce tick populations.
