How to combat ticks in a garden? - briefly
Maintain short grass, clear leaf litter, apply a registered acaricide to borders, and introduce natural predators such as guinea fowl or predatory beetles.
How to combat ticks in a garden? - in detail
Ticks thrive in moist, shaded areas with leaf litter and tall vegetation. Reducing these habitats lowers the risk of infestation.
Maintain the garden by removing excess grass, weeds, and leaf debris. Keep grass trimmed to a height of 4‑6 inches. Prune shrubs and lower tree branches to increase sunlight penetration, which dries the soil and discourages tick development.
Apply a mulch layer of coarse bark or wood chips only around the base of trees and ornamental beds. Avoid deep piles of organic material where ticks can hide.
Implement a barrier of wood chips or gravel, at least 3 feet wide, between lawn and wooded zones. This creates an inhospitable path for tick migration.
For chemical control, use acaricides approved for residential use. Apply products containing permethrin, bifenthrin, or carbaryl to perimeter borders and high‑risk zones. Follow label instructions precisely, re‑treat every 2‑3 weeks during peak tick activity (spring‑early summer).
Consider biological agents such as entomopathogenic fungi (e.g., Metarhizium brunneum) or nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae). Distribute them evenly over the soil surface; they target tick larvae and nymphs without harming beneficial insects.
Introduce tick‑predating wildlife cautiously: ground‑covering birds, opossums, and certain ant species can reduce tick numbers. Provide birdhouses and maintain habitats that support these predators.
Personal protection measures complement garden management. Wear long sleeves, light‑colored clothing, and closed shoes when working outdoors. Apply repellents containing 20‑30 % DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin. After leaving the garden, perform a thorough body and clothing inspection; wash clothes in hot water and tumble dry on high heat to kill any attached ticks.
Monitor the garden regularly. Place white cloths or sticky traps near borders to assess tick activity. Record findings weekly and adjust control methods accordingly.