Ticks Outside:
There is really no way to kill all the ticks on your property. Ticks are so pervasive that you would have to coat your entire backyard with a thick layer of Crawling Insect DE to make sure they don't show up. Another option is to just burn your entire back yard so there is no plant life, just smoldering debris. Neither option would be a reasonable proposal (seriously, they are not good ideas). We are going to talk about some of the small things we can do using DE:
Step 1:
Ticks can be carried by rodents and transferred to your pets. Mark areas where you have seen mice or other rodents (cords of wood, sheds, barns, the garage, or around things you have propped up near your house).
Step 2:
You may want to clean out these areas if they have any debris. If you find holes, fill or patch them. You may also want to reorganize your wood.
Step 3:
Using an applicator, dust with DE, and along the edge of your house (if you have any tall grasses planted alongside your house you will want to target those as well).
Step 4:
Repeat once a month during tick season or if the DE is washed away after heavy rain.
If you have other issues combating ticks around your property and are worried about the safety of your pets and family, follow these tips from the Center for Disease Control:
Tip 1:
Ticks love to hang out in piles of leaves so be sure to remove leaf litter from your property. They also enjoy tall grasses and brushes to keep those areas cut back and away from your grass or house.
Tip 2:
The CDC recommends keeping a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration into recreational areas; mowing the lawn frequently; and keeping playground equipment, decks, and patios away from your yard's edge and trees (8 ft).
Tip 3:
You also need to be sure that there are no places on your property where rodents and other animals can come and stay. Stack wood neatly and in a dry area to discourages rodents; construct fences to keep animals (such as deer, raccoons, and stray dogs) from entering your yard; and remove old furniture, mattresses, or trash from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide.
Tip 4:
In addition to all this, the CDC recommends using acaricide, a pesticide, once or twice a year if ticks are a more serious concern for your property.
If you follow these steps you will help keep your family and pets safe from diseases spread by ticks this coming season. Be sure to clean out your house, break out the DE, and make a plan to do some landscaping to keep your property free from ticks.
Click these links for information on treating your cat, dogs, and home.