How to get rid of ticks in the soil? - briefly
Apply a soil‑specific acaricide, then keep the area dry, regularly till the ground, and clear leaf litter and debris. Install perimeter barriers and monitor moisture levels to prevent re‑infestation.
How to get rid of ticks in the soil? - in detail
Eliminating tick populations from garden beds and lawns requires an integrated approach that combines cultural, physical, biological, and chemical measures.
First, reduce the habitat that supports tick development. Keep grass trimmed to a height of 4–6 cm, remove leaf litter, and thin dense vegetation. Regularly rake or mulch organic debris to expose the soil surface, where tick larvae and nymphs seek shelter. Aerate the soil periodically; the disturbance disrupts the micro‑climate ticks need for survival.
Second, apply physical barriers. Install a mulch layer of 5–7 cm of coarse wood chips or pine bark around the perimeter of planting beds. The barrier limits tick migration from surrounding areas and creates an unfavorable micro‑environment. In high‑risk zones, lay a strip of fine‑mesh landscape fabric beneath the mulch to further impede upward movement.
Third, employ biological controls. Introduce entomopathogenic nematodes (e.g., Steinernema carpocapsae) into the soil according to manufacturer instructions; these organisms infect and kill tick larvae. Encourage populations of predatory arthropods such as ground beetles and spiders by providing refuges like stone piles and log piles. Use Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki sprays on foliage to target tick larvae that climb onto vegetation.
Fourth, consider targeted chemical treatments. Apply acaricides labeled for soil application, such as permethrin or bifenthrin granules, following label rates and safety guidelines. Focus applications on zones with known tick activity, avoiding broad, indiscriminate coverage. Rotate active ingredients to prevent resistance development.
Finally, monitor effectiveness. Conduct weekly tick drag surveys using a white flannel cloth pulled across the ground for a set distance (e.g., 100 m). Record the number of ticks collected, the life stage, and the location. Adjust management tactics based on trends: increase habitat modification if counts remain high, or reduce chemical use once populations decline.
By systematically reducing suitable habitat, creating physical obstacles, leveraging natural enemies, applying precise acaricides, and tracking results, tick infestations in the soil can be substantially lowered and eventually eliminated.