Creating Tick Safe Zones
You can reduce the number of deer ticks near your home by the way you
landscape and maintain your property. Studies show that tick numbers
can be cut by 50% or more by making simple landscape changes to your
property. Every home can benefit, although results do vary from year
to year and property to property.
Target Ticks Where They Live
Deer ticks live in the woods and are sustained by its higher humidity
levels. They do not fly, jump or drop from above. Most Lyme disease
cases are caused by the tiny nymphal deer tick which makes its home
in leaf litter that accumulates on the forest floor, around stone walls
and under groundcovers.
- Is your home surrounded by woods?
- Is your yard more woods than lawn?
- Does the tree canopy from the woods extend over your yard?
- Does your family use areas that are next to the woods?
- Do you have groundcovers near your home?
- Are bird feeders located close to your home or play areas?
- Do you have an unkempt stone wall?
- Is your firewood pile located next to your home?
- Are deer and other wildlife eating your flowers, trees or shrubs?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you can and should
make changes to your landscaped areas.
Focus on the edge
Most ticks on lawns are found in the transition area between the lawn
and the woods. Create a zone-defense here. Increase light and reduce
dampness. Thin tree branches that overhang the lawn to let in more light.
Clear out low brush, vines and leaf litter each year. Keep weeds cut.
Keep a well-manicured border with the woods. Install a wood chip, mulch
or gravel barrier where your lawn meets the woods. The dry barrier makes
it more difficult for the ticks to migrate.
Don't attract wildlife
Deer ticks feed on many small animals including mice and birds. These
animals are responsible for infecting the deer tick with the Lyme disease.
Discourage wildlife from entering your safe zone by reducing their habitat
and food sources. Seal cracks in foundation, screen areas under porches
and decks. Place woodpiles far from the house. Locate bird feeders outside
of your tick safe zone. Consider suspending bird feeding in the spring
and summer when nymphal ticks are most active.
Keep stone walls neat
Stone walls provide shelter for mice and small mammals that carry deer
ticks. Clear away brush, leaf litter, fallen trees and rocks each year.
Use deer resistant plantings
Deer are a critical component of the deer tick's life cycle. Don't
attract deer to your tick safe zone by planting flowers, shrubs or trees
they like to eat.
|
