Garlic, sage, mint, lavender, beautyberry, rosemary and marigolds are some of the most familiar and effective tick-repelling plants, and they are great to use in landscaping borders around decks, walkways, pet runs, patios and other areas to keep ticks away.
Ticks hate the smell of lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, and rose geranium so they'll avoid latching on to anything that smells of those items. Any of these or a combination can be used in DIY sprays or added to almond oil and rubbed on exposed skin.
Best overall tick repellent
The CDC — along with six experts I spoke with — recommends DEET as an effective tick repellent. “The EPA suggests that any product with DEET should have a concentration between 20 and 30 percent of the active ingredient,” says Molaei.
Another concern is the presence of invasive, thick-growing ground plants and thickets that create shade and shelter for ticks to flourish beneath. These types of plants not only provide a hospitable environment for ticks, but they also make it easier for them to come into contact with humans and pets.
Coffee grinds are an excellent solution for tick prevention that is safe and effective. Coffee grounds should be mixed into shower gel, spread evenly, and rubbed into their fur and skin. Rinse with water and usually dry. Of course, coffee grounds are only a temporary solution for tick prevention.
Diatomaceous earth
When ticks encounter DE, it will dehydrate them immediately, killing them within hours. To use DE as a tick-killer, sprinkle it anywhere you've noticed ticks in your yard. You can also use it to create a barrier between wooded and grassy areas. Re-apply the DE every few weeks, or after heavy rain.
Garlic, sage, mint, lavender, beautyberry, rosemary and marigolds are some of the most familiar and effective tick-repelling plants, and they are great to use in landscaping borders around decks, walkways, pet runs, patios and other areas to keep ticks away.
Ticks can be active year round
The time of day when ticks are most active can also vary from species to species, as some prefer to hunt during the cooler and more humid hours of the early morning and evenings, while others are more active at midday, when it is hotter and dryer.
Ticks are eaten by chickens, guinea fowl, and frogs. Animals such as chicken, guinea fowl, wild turkeys, ants, spiders, opossums, frogs, squirrels, lizards, ants, and fire ants eat ticks. As tiny as they are, ticks have a variety of natural predators who eat them.
Rubbing alcohol: Rubbing alcohol can kill ticks for good. Once you remove the tick, put it in a cup of alcohol and cover it up with a lid to prevent the tick from escaping. Water and mow your lawn: Ticks flourish in warm, dry environments, which is why they can be found in thick grasses and wooded regions.
Resultix Tick Spray kills attached and crawling ticks on dogs and cats. Non-pesticidal formula is safe for use as often as needed. Simply direct 2 sprays of Resultix at the tick. Within 3 hours, tick will die and fall off or can be removed.
One study found that light colored clothing attracted more ticks than dark colored clothing. The same study found that clothing color did not affect participant ability to find ticks crawling on clothing.
So although wearing a dark color will make ticks harder to spot on you, deeper shades tend to attract fewer ticks. Whatever colors you choose to wear, it's good to consider tucking in your clothes when in a tick-prone area (shirt into pants, pants into socks—there's no shame in preventing tick bites!).
Scientists have determined that type A blood is the most appealing to ticks, followed by type O and type AB, and type B blood is the least attractive to ticks. In a recent study, 36 percent of the ticks gravitated to type A blood, with only 15 percent being drawn to the type B sample.
Tick season, however, generally begins when the weather warms and dormant ticks begin to look for food — in most places in the U.S., that's in late March and April. Tick season typically ends when the temperatures begin dropping below freezing in the Fall.
1) Pennsylvania
The Keystone State ranks first on the top ten list of worst areas in the U.S. with a whopping 73,610 total cases of tick-borne sicknesses.
Lyme disease cases typically peak in June, July and August. April and May are typically lighter months, but not always. Tiny ticks at the nymph stage — about the size of poppy seed — could be active early this year, said Dr. Bobbi Pritt, who studies tick-borne diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Mothballs are an effective and inexpensive way to keep ticks away from your home. So, if you're looking for a way to keep your home tick-free, give mothballs a try! The use of moths as rodent repellent fails to deter rodents. If you use them, you risk causing your family to become ill from toxic chemicals.
Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) needles and their essential oil kill overwintering ticks (Ixodes scapularis) at cold temperatures.
It should not be used on skin or on pets. Peppermint – Ticks hate the smell of peppermint, so this common oil either diluted and used on its own or combined with other oils like tea tree or citronella will deter them from latching onto your clothes.
From insects to amphibians, from birds to mammals, there are many animals that eat ticks. Some of the biggest tick eaters are opossums, lizards, and guineafowl.
Avoid Tick Bites
Keep ticks away from exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and high boots. Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to cover gaps in your clothing where ticks can get in. Wear light-colored clothing to be able to see ticks more easily.
Ixodes ticks are not found in the Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.