No one likes ticks in their yard, home and definitely not on their pets. As a preventive measure, most pet owners treat their animals with a monthly flea and tick medicine. If you still continue to experience problems with these pests, it is important to look at other factors, such as your home or yard. Various yard sprays and organic treatments help to get the infestation under control to prevent the spread of illness, such as Lyme disease. Read more for the best yard treatments for ticks.

Treating Ticks Where They Dwell

• Ticks like to reside in crack and crevices, they seek hiding areas for safety
• Behind baseboards, windows and door frames
• Upper portions of structures
• Area where dogs sleep or eat, as well as potty and mark their territory.

They will move to avoid detection, therefore keep a watchful eye for random ticks around your home.

Outside Tick Treatment

When applying spray, either organic or chemical, to eliminate fleas and ticks from your yard, it is important to exercise caution and restrict your pets from the treated areas for at least 24 to 48 hours. Pets may experience adverse reactions, even when coming in contact with natural ingredients.

A yard spray commonly used is Bifen IT-Mix 1/2 – 2 ounces per gallon; use 1-3 gallons (depends on density of vegetation) per 1,000 square feet.  Permethrin SFR-mix 0.5 oz to 0.8 oz to 4 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet

• Using Diatomaceous earth around your yard helps kill ticks and fleas.

Shampoo with Pyrethrins is found in your local pet store and grocery chains. For an natural alternative to harmful chemicals. Eco-friendly product with citronella, tea tree oil, clove and cottonseed oil safely and naturally kills fleas and ticks on contact. It is safe to use around children and pets.

Yard Tick Treatment Should Focus on:

• Grassy and bushy areas near the house or kennels.
• The edges of lawns and gardens,
• Under porches, and other areas where the dog travels or spends time.
• Tall grass or brush. Keep mowed to prevent further spreading.

One way to determine the extent and locations of tick presence is by using a white cloth such as a pillow case. Drag it along the grass, and brush it up onto foliage. Stop to check the presence of the ticks.

Shrubbery up to a height of 2-3 feet should be sprayed. Non chemical methods of treatment include keeping the grass mowed, removal of bushy areas and fencing to keep deer away.

Tick Prevention

If at all possible, avoid known tick habitats during tick season.

• Avoid sitting on the ground or logs in areas with brush and long grass.
• Keep grass cut short
• Repair any cracks and crevices where ticks may be hiding.
• Remove leaf litter and dispose empty bird or rodent nesting materials.
• The infested house and kennel should be thoroughly cleaned to eliminate as many ticks as possible.
• Vacuuming is very helpful inside. Pet bedding and pet areas should be cleaned well.
• Wash clothes immediately in warm water and detergent after leaving a tick infested area.
• Make sure to place items in a dryer, many ticks can survive a warm water washing but will not survive one hour in the dryer.