Warmer weather means lots more time outside, but it also means lots of ticks.
Ticks thrive in warm, humid air. They love to hide in grass, low trees and bushes. With Climate Change and Global Warming affecting weather worldwide, ideal conditions for tick populations are lasting longer.
I swear each year they are getting worse!
Keep reading to learn my 5 Tips to Keep the Ticks Away from your dog and family!
The 5 Best Tick Preventatives to Protect Your Family and Pets
Tip # 1: Clean up your Yard
Ticks love dark moist areas so keep your yard free from debris and wet leaves as much as possible Also, regularly mow your lawn not letting it get to long helps keep the ticks more in the woods.
Common play areas like a swing set is best set in the yard giving plenty of distance between it and the woods.
Tip #2 Plant Chrysanthemums
Plant Chrysanthemum cinerariae folium all around your yard. It has a high level of natural pyrethrins, which will keep ticks away naturally.
Tip #3 Keep the Hosts Away
Deer and mice commonly are infested with ticks. If deer are frequent visitors in your yard you may want to consider fencing it. Another trick is using tick tubes! They can reduce the amount of ticks by 90%! They are biodegradable tubes filled with cotton balls covered in permethrin. The mice take the fluffy cotton back to their nest to use as bedding. Although not harmful to them it will kill the ticks! You can buy some online here, but that can get a bit pricey if you have a lot of acreage. Luckily you can easily make your own at small cost. Check out how to here.
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Tip #4 Protect yourself and your Family
When heading outside make sure to wear light colored clothing so the ticks are easier to see. Also, spray you and your family with a natural tick repellent. Make sure to spray around your hairline, ankles, and your clothing.
There are many recipes for DIY tick sprays that work awesome and can be pretty inexpensive, some as simple as vinegar and almond oil. Many essential oils are great for repelling ticks too. Lavender, citrus, and peppermint to name a few.
Always remember when using essential oils only by pure therapeutic brands from reputable brands so they are safe for you and your family. I also would dilute them with a carrier oil when using them on kids. I prefer Young Living brand. Young Living also sells a great insect repellent that will work on ticks, mosquitoes and fleas if DIY is not your jam.
Always perform tick checks when heading back inside.
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Tip #5 Preventative is Key
Using a preventative on your pets not only helps protect them from tick borne diseases but it also stops them from tracking ticks into your home. It is best to ask your veterinarian which flea and tick preventative will be a good fit for your pet specifically because there are a few different kinds you can purchase.
Some come in a liquid form you place on the pets back monthly. I found K9 Advantix is the best. Some are oral chew tablets the pet ingests and lasts 8-12 weeks ( ask you veterinarian about BRAVECTO). Last some are collars the pet wears around it’s neck. The Seresto collar last up to 8 months!
Tick Free Review
Following these tips will help minimize and decrease the amount of ticks around your home greatly.
- Keep ticks homeless by having a tidy yard and short grass.
- Starve Ticks with tick tubes.
- Stop ticks with pet medication.
Ticks are small and may seem harmless but they are carriers for many diseases, so please share this with your friends!
