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Ticks are pesky parasites found in woody areas & open grass fields. Our gardens & backyards are like heaven for them. These areas act as a perfect shelter for them to survive & reproduce due to the abundance of food, optimum living conditions & safety. So, it becomes vital for us to negate these positive points & eradicate ticks.
Lyme Disease
Ticks are blood-sucking parasites & prey on both humans & animals. Ticks come under the ectoparasite category. These nasty parasites stick on the exterior surface (body) of their host & suck their blood. Moreover, ticks may also carry an extracellular bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that causes Lyme disease.
These nasty creatures can transmit Lyme disease when they suck blood from their hosts. Lyme disease has several symptoms like headache, nausea, fever, and many more. Lyme disease can even take years to get cured. The disease requires proper treatment or can cause panic attacks, partial memory loss, and many more such horrendous effects. Ticks can also cause spotted fever.
10 Ways to Avoid Ticks
It is important to eradicate the ticks from our backyard & garden. Most people tend to use artificial methods like spraying chemicals. But, when there are natural methods that are much easier, cost-effective & safer, then resorting towards artificial methods isn’t necessary. In this article, we are going to mention natural ways to avoid ticks from backyards & gardens.
1. Mowing of the Lawns in the Backyard
Mow the lawns in your backyard regularly. Ticks love tall grass. They lurk in it & wait for their host to pass by. Consider the tall grass as a hangout spot for the ticks. What happens if you destroy it? They find another one.
So, regular mowing will reduce the chances of any hiding spots for the ticks. Unmoved backyards are a haven for the ticks. They also breed in the tall grass. So, get rid of it & the ticks will helter-skelter for their new shelter.
2. Removal of Leaf & Grass Debris
Keep your backyard & garden clean. Get rid of any fallen leaves, grass & other plant debris. Proper landscaping is essential to get rid of humid hotspots. Ticks love humidity. The plant debris becomes a breeding hotspot for the ticks. You can use the plant debris & litter for preparing compost. You can use this compost for the plants in your garden.
3. Pruning Bushes
Ticks also love bushes. They lurk in the bushes & wait for their host to walk across. If the bushes outgrow, then it becomes easier for the ticks to stick to their hosts. So, don’t walk very close to the bushes & avoid brushing against them. The best way is to prune the bushes such that they will not brush up against your family members & pets.
4. Organize the Wood Pile
If you do not organize the woodpile, it will become a breeding hotspot for ticks. The woodpile provides shade & humidity. So, expose the woodpile to sunlight, as these ticks cannot bear it. Moisture should be avoided at any cost, as the ticks love humidity. Placing the woodpile in the sunlight would be enough to resolve the issues of shade & humidity.
5. Create a Natural Barrier
Build cross paths that are lined with wood chips and gravel. This would act as a natural barrier & make it tough for the ticks to move around the place. Wood chips & gravel would absorb the heat from the surroundings & keep themselves dry. So, the ticks will not pass over these cross paths.
6. Grow Plants That Repel Ticks
This method is surely one of the best ones to ward off pesky ticks. There are ornamental plants that release strong fragrances that are effective in repelling the ticks. These plants have essential oils that vaporize & spread in the atmosphere. The ticks cannot resist the strong odor and move away from that place.
Plants that repel ticks include lavender, chrysanthemum, lemongrass, marigold, rosemary, and many more. Lavender, Chrysanthemum & Marigold are easy to grow plants that bear beautiful flowers. Lavender has a strong yet pleasant odor, while chrysanthemum & marigold bear beautiful flowers. Lemongrass & Rosemary can also be used as food condiments besides being a natural tick repellent.
7. Get a Tick Predator
There are a few natural predators of ticks. Chickens, Ducks, Robins, Turkeys, Jays, Bluebirds, and many other birds prey on ticks and other insects. So, the first preference is to create a bird-friendly atmosphere.
Secondly, you can raise a few chickens, or ducks, or turkeys. It is quite understandable that it won’t be possible for everyone to raise them. But, consider this option too. These birds can also provide you eggs & fresh meat as a bonus.
8. Keep Tick Carriers Away
Mice & Deer are two notorious species that carry ticks. It would be best to create conditions that would not allow these two species to enter your backyard & garden. These two wildlife species usually enter in search of any food.
Plant a few trees, herbs & shrubs that deer will not eat. Good cleanliness & hygiene will discourage the mice. You can also place traps if mice are entering your backyard & garden very frequently.
9. Tick Repellents
As previously mentioned, few plants are natural repellents against ticks. Plants have essential oils that can repel these blood-sucking parasites. These oils are extracted & used as repellents. Plants like Rosemary, Mint, Lemongrass, and many more plants have essential oils that can be used to prepare the repellents.
The repellents can be in the form of oils, sprays & lotions. Moreover, the use of the repellent also varies accordingly. They can be applied to nearby objects, spread in the atmosphere, applied to the skin or clothes.
10. Make Changes in your Lifestyle.
It might come to you as a surprise, but including a few vitamin-rich food sources can discourage ticks from sucking your blood. You can include alliums like garlic & onions. Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, food sources must be included in your diet. Vitamin B1 is abundantly found in tomatoes, leafy veggies, and tuna.
Also, wear loose, bright & light-colored clothes so that ticks can be easily recognized & removed. Cover your skin as much as possible so that ticks will not adhere to the skin.
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