Ticks this summer seem to be at an all-time high. Sometimes it can be difficult to enjoy the outdoors knowing that they are lurking nearby…in the woods, on the hiking trail, even in our own yards. So, what can we do to make our yards as tick safe as possible?
1. Tick Repelling Plants
Add plants such as lavender, lemongrass, sage, rosemary, catnip, garlic, and pyrethrum. Best place to plant them would be around the perimeter of your yard.
2. Cedar Wood Chip Barrier
Add a 3 foot perimeter of cedar wood chips (or mulch). Cedar repels ticks, and they will be unlikely to cross it. This is also great for creating a separation between a wooded area and your lawn.
3. Chickens and Guinea Fowl
Chickens and guinea fowl are excellent for reducing ticks in your yard. They will actually eat the ticks!
4. Mow Your Lawn Regularly
Simply mowing your lawn regularly to keep the grass short will create an environment that is less appealing to ticks.
5. Clean Up Debris
Keeping your yard clean of dead leaves, sticks, brush, grass, etc. will reduce the number of ticks in your yard. Ticks also like shade, so reducing the number of trees and shrubs will also help (or at least creating a tick barrier in between).
6. Diatomaceous Earth
A natural poison to ticks! It can be directly applied to your yard and/or deck. You can apply is dry or mix it with water and spray it.
Are you concerned that you may be suffering from a tick-borne issue? Contact Balanced Health at 612-812-9121 or email us at info@creatingbalancedhealth.com
