Lawn Maintenance Tips That Can Protect Your Family From Ticks
Here in Kent County Maryland, well let’s be honest throughout much of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the presence of humid, moist environments is common. Although, we enjoy our beautiful countryside with its scenery, natural beauty and adorable creatures, unfortunately, ticks do as well.
Now that the warm weather has set in, our families are beginning to spend more time outdoors enjoying their lawns and gardens. However, the warm season also brings the increased risk of tick bites. As we have learned ticks can carry many diseases, which can make your family members ill, including your fur babies.
For this reason, we at Happy Grass Lawn Care and Maintenance want to offer you a few strategies to reduce the chances of your loved ones being bitten by these pests. One of the first strategies to employ is learning about and understanding ticks and what makes them tick. (Yes, pun intended!)
Understanding Ticks and Their Habitats
Ticks thrive in warm, humid environments. Although they do crawl around on the ground, they prefer and are commonly found in tall grass, shrubs, and wooded areas. They require a habitat with plenty of moisture and prefer shaded areas. They avoid direct sunlight, preferring to hide in the darkness (sort of like vampires.)
Armed with this knowledge we can take necessary steps to ensure our family is able to enjoy the beautiful outdoors without the constant worry of ticks and other pests that like to invade our space. One of the first things we can do is to create a landscape that deters them and design a regular lawn maintenance schedule.
Regular Lawn Maintenance
Regular lawn maintenance is one of the most effective ways to keep tick populations in check. Here are a few things to consider when you’re creating your lawn maintenance schedule.
Mowing: Keep your lawn mowed to a height of around 3 inches. Remember ticks thrive in tall grass, so regular mowing reduces their habitat. Avoid allowing grass to grow too long, especially near areas where your family and pets frequently play.
- Clearing Debris: Remove leaf litter, tall grasses, and brush from your yard. These materials provide a perfect environment for ticks to hide and breed. Create a perimeter around your yard that is clear of debris to create a buffer zone.
- Creating Tick-Free Zones: Do you live in an area surrounded by trees? Establish a tick-safe zone by placing a 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and the wooded areas. This helps prevent ticks from migrating into your yard. Most importantly, keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from tall bushes and trees and creeping vines. The closer the fauna, the easier it is for the ticks to just walk right over to your family space.
- Using Tick Control Products: Consider using environmentally friendly tick control products on your lawn. Organic pesticides, such as diatomaceous earth, are great for controlling ticks and other harmful pests, such as fleas. Yet it is such a safe product that even dogs and cats can eat it! And it doesn’t harm the beneficial insects that help our lawns and gardens.
Natural Plants That Repel Ticks
Incorporating certain plants into your garden and landscape can naturally repel ticks. Here are just a few of natures pride and joys that can make your lawn and garden beautiful and relaxing:
1.Lavender: Plant lavender around your garden to keep ticks at bay while enjoying its soothing scent. Lavender has been known for its pleasant fragrance for hundreds of years. It’s also known to help people feel relaxed and renewed. However, it also has the ability to repel ticks!
2.Rosemary: This herb not only enhances your culinary dishes but also acts as a natural tick repellent. You can plant rosemary in your garden or in pots around your outdoor seating areas. The tantalizing earthy, yet minty scent will have you thinking up new dishes to try as you’re sitting out on your deck this summer. Barbecue anybody?
3.Mint: Mint is another effective tick repellent. Placing a few planters around your lawn chairs you’ll be tempted more than once to grab a glass of fresh cool water or iced tea and place a few sprigs of mint in it for a refreshing boost of flavor on a warm sunny day. Just remember to plant them in pots, they may be delicious and scare off ticks but they have an invasive nature and need to be contained!
4.Marigolds: These bright, cheerful flowers contain pyrethrum, a compound used in many insect repellents used to repel ticks. Plant marigolds around the perimeter of your yard, in flower beds and even your vegetables to deter other pests. The beauty of these colorful flowers is that they may scare off ticks and mosquitoes but butterflies love them! So you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful show.
5.Lemongrass: Lemongrass contains Citral, a natural oil that repels ticks. Plant it in sunny areas of your garden for an added layer of protection. Its fresh citrus smell on a warm summer night is perfect not only for keeping ticks at bay, but an added bonus is that mosquitoes aren’t fond of the fragrance either.
If you don’t have the time to plant and care for these and other plants that have the ability to protect your family organically, just give us a call. Planting and maintaining gardens and keeping a landscape free from debris and looking great is Happy Grass Lawns specialty.
Personal Protection: Clothing and Repellents
In addition to maintaining your lawn, it’s important to take personal protective measures when spending time outdoors. Especially if you have tall ornamental grasses in your yard that you stroll past on a cool summer’s evening. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind before you take your walks through the countryside.
- Proper Clothing: If you and your family enjoy leisurely strolls, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to minimize exposed skin. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. Tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants to create a barrier against ticks.
- Use Insect Repellents: Applying insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin and clothing can help, especially if you’ll be strolling through wooded areas. For additional protection, treat your clothing and gear with permethrin, an insecticide that kills ticks on contact and remains effective through several washes.
- Check for Ticks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your body for ticks. Pay close attention to areas like the scalp, behind the ears, underarms, waist, and behind the knees. Promptly remove any ticks you find using fine-tipped tweezers and clean the area thoroughly. For more information on tick bites and what to do if you find one attached to you or a loved one here is a link on necessary steps you can take.
Additional Tips for Tick Prevention
Pet Protection: Regularly check your pets for ticks and use veterinarian-recommended tick prevention products. Pets can bring ticks into your home, increasing the risk of bites.
Outdoor Furniture: Keep outdoor furniture, playground equipment, and other items away from the edge of your lawn, especially if it borders wooded areas. This reduces the chances of ticks migrating onto frequently used surfaces.
Firewood Storage: Store firewood in a dry area away from your house and off the ground. Ticks often hide in piles of wood and debris.
Need A Helping Hand?
Remember, a well-maintained lawn is not just aesthetically pleasing but also an essential part of tick control. Taking these steps not only reduces the risk of tick-borne illnesses but also ensures that you and your family can enjoy your outdoor spaces without worry.
However, if you find that trying to prepare and maintain your lawn throughout the summer is a bit overwhelming,
If you would prefer to enjoy your time on your deck overlooking the yard, or playing a game with your kiddos,
Our team is here to help!
We can create a well designed landscape and prepare a maintenance schedule that fits your lifestyle and schedule.
Stay safe and enjoy your time outdoors!