Tick season is upon us once again, which means you have to be diligent in protecting your home, property and family from ticks and the diseases they carry. If you discover an invasion of ticks this spring, it’s best to hire a a professional exterminator in Nashville TN as soon as possible. April is when we start to see an uptick in tick infestations, particularly for deer, dog and Lone Star ticks.
While we recommend expert pest control when it comes to ticks, there are some things you can do as a homeowner to keep ticks at bay this season. Here are some tips:
Keep Your Lawn Trimmed
Ticks generally don’t like hot, dry environments. That’s why they like taller grass, because those tall blades provide a cooler, shadier environment for them thanks to the shadow. In tick-rich areas during peak season, it’s wise to keep your grass trimmed to about three inches. If you let it grow to five or six inches, you’re creating a habitat for ticks that will help them thrive.
Create a Mulch Moat
Many tick types prefer the dense cover provided by woodlands rather than open lawn. This is why ticks tend to invade the wooded areas next to your property. By adding a three-foot-wide mulch barrier around your yard, you can protect the lawn from becoming a breeding ground for ticks.
Not only does this create a physical barrier for the ticks that’s hot and dry, it offers a reminder to your family and guests to be careful when venturing beyond that perimeter. It’s best to use broad, dry wood chips or bark rather than damp, shredded mulch, which creates cool conditions that ticks favor.
Eliminate Tempting Tick Habitats
It’s a good idea to mulch your grass clippings after mowing the lawn. Those clippings will break down and allow nitrogen to get into the soil, which feeds your yard and reduces how much fertilizer you have to use. When you bag the grass and leaves after landscaping your yard, you’re keeping the area clear, which discourages large tick populations. You can either recycle leaves and grass clippings at your community receptacle or start a compost pile well away from your house.
Protect Yourself
When you do have to work or play out in the yard, be sure to wear long sleeves and pants, with socks and closed shoes, and don’t forget to apply insect repellent. As soon as you come indoors, do a tick check on yourself and your kids.
If you notice a tick stuck to your skin, remove it properly and save it for testing. See your doctor if you suspect you have been bitten.
Contact PureGuard Pest Solutions For Tick Infestation
If you suspect ticks have invaded your Nashville TN yard this spring, PureGuard Pest Solutions at 615-502-2855. Our trained and certified tick pest control experts will visit your property for an inspection and free quote. Our methods are quick, efficient and safe.
PureGuard Pest Solutions