Here in New England, ticks are a major problem. In fact, it has been recently reported that ticks are now a year-round problem in our region. With milder winters, there has been an increase in the number of ticks as well as an increased risk of Lyme disease.
Like a lot of people, you might be wondering how to control ticks in your yard.
After all, you deserve some peace of mind when trying to enjoy time on your property. That’s why we’re talking about how to keep ticks out of your yard. While no solution is going to be 100 percent foolproof, there are definitely some ways that you can drastically reduce the population of ticks on your New England property.
How to Prevent Ticks in Your Yard
These tips will help you take back control and reduce the populations of ticks around your property.
#1: Trim Tall Grasses and Clear Brush
One of the ways to keep ticks from hanging around your property is to eliminate their habitat. You might be wondering what attracts ticks to your yard in the first place. Well, in most cases they are simply seeking out hiding places where they can hang out and look for their next blood meal.
Ticks prefer tall grasses and brush as they are sensitive to dry conditions and want to be shaded from the sun. They also use tall grass and brush to climb onto their next victim.
Keeping your yard regularly mowed and clearing excess brush is a great way to reduce the potential tick habitat on your property.
It’s important to be especially aware of wooded “border areas.” If your property backs up to the woods, this area is going to be a hot spot for ticks. The CDC recommends creating a three-foot-wide barrier of gravel or wood chips between lawns and wooded areas to help keep ticks out of your yard.
#2: Maintain Your Wood Pile
When it comes to how to prevent ticks in your yard, you need to think about what might attract them there in the first place. As we mentioned, ticks are constantly in search of their next host (or “meal”). Because of that, they are often seeking rodents like mice, rats, and voles.
Uncovered wood piles are a prime hang-out spot for rodents as it has everything they need to survive (shelter, water, and food, in the form of grubs and insects). An unattended wood pile can easily become a habitat for rodent nests which could increase your problem with ticks.
Take care to cover your wood pile. Just be sure to keep airflow moving to the wood. Stack wood neatly so that it does not have big gaps where rodents can form nests. Also, seek out a dry area for the wood pile that is away from the house or human hang-out areas whenever possible.
#3: Keep a Clean Yard
We already mentioned that tall grass and brush make prime habitats for ticks. But any yard debris you leave on your property can also become a tick shelter. Take time to pick up sticks and leaves left sitting on your property. Also, remove any trash that might have blown into your yard.
These are tasks that you likely want to be doing anyways in order to maintain a neat and tidy property. But they can also help prevent excess ticks from taking up residence in your yard.
#4: Invest in Tick Control Services in Southern NH, ME, and MA
In addition to these three steps, you’ll also want to consider investing in a professional tick control service that can treat your yard for ticks.
Professionally sprayed tick control products can help keep these pests away.
This is important as ticks in New England have been known to carry dangerous diseases like Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It can be difficult to relax when you have to worry about pests possibly lurking in your own backyard.
You want to make sure that you’re taking all possible steps to keep ticks at bay.
Gain Peace of Mind and Keep Ticks Out of Your Yard With Seacoast Turf Care
At Seacoast Turf Care, serving Southern NH, Southern ME, and Northeastern MA, we use high-quality, pollinator-safe tick treatments that can help drastically reduce these pests. That means you’ll be able to spend more time outside without having to worry.
We have highly trained technicians who not only use these safe, professional-grade products but also know exactly where to treat ticks. Targeting their habitats is a huge factor in the potential success.
While pests like ticks can be a major source of stress, you can make smart choices that will help protect your family. This means you can get back to enjoying more time outside.
Want to stop worrying about the danger of ticks on your NH, ME, or MA property? Get tick control pricing today.
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