Back Issue
May/June 2001

Reducing Deer Ticks Around the Home
by Pamela Weil

You can reduce the number of deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) near your home. Studies show that tick numbers can be cut by 50 percent or more by making simple landscaping changes.

Deer ticks live in the woods, sustained by the higher humidity levels of the forest. Ticks do not fly, jump or drop from above. The tiny nymphal deer tick, believed to be responsible for up to 90 percent of the transmission of Lyme disease to humans, makes its home in the leaf litter that accumulates on the forest floor, around stone walls and under groundcovers.

Nearly 70 percent of ticks on residential lawns are found within 9 feet of the forest’s edge. Ticks dry up in the sun, and are usually not found in sunny areas on the lawn.

Establish a ‘Tick Safe Zone”
Let the sun shine in and reduce tick habitat. Establish a “tick safe zone” around your home that is composed of lawn, is as sunny as possible and begins nine feet or more from the edge of the woods. It should also encompass the areas of your yard that you and your family regularly use. This includes walkways, sheds, picnic tables, recreational areas, children’s swing sets and play areas.

In your “tick safe zone,” avoid planting groundcovers such as pachysandra. Use dry woodchips or gravel to mulch foundation plantings. Keep the grass cut as short as possible. Avoid landscape plants that deer like to eat.

Most ticks on lawns are found in the transition area where the lawn meets the woods. A dry barrier made of woodchips, mulch or gravel between the lawn and the woods will reduce ticks on your lawn. Your barrier should be at least 3 feet wide.

How about deer fencing? Studies show that deer fencing does not significantly reduce tick numbers unless the deer are fenced out of an area of 15 to 18 acres or more. Ticks travel through the fence on small animals, like mice and birds. Don’t rely on deer fencing alone to control ticks in your safe zone.

Using Pesticides
Research shows that pesticides are a reliable and effective way to reduce ticks, particularly when combined with tick safe zone principles. A single application of a low-toxicity pesticide around the edge of your tick safe zone in mid-May or early June can reduce nymphal tick numbers by 80 to 90 percent. If necessary, a fall application can be used to reduce adult ticks. One exception: Some organic pesticides break down quickly and may require multiple applications.

If you choose to use pesticides, select the least toxic product. Consider an organic or synthetic product in the chemical class called pyrethrums. A few pyrethrum products can be purchased at garden centers, but most of them must be used by commercial applicators.

For additional information regarding pesticide applications to control ticks, call The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station at 1-877-855-2237.

This article was excerpted from materials published by the Westport Weston Health District. “Target Lyme Disease” is an educational project aimed at teaching Westport and Weston residents about ways to reduce deer ticks and protect themselves against Lyme disease. The project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is the only one of its kind in the nation.
For a packet of four brochures, send your name and address and $1 for postage and handling to Westport Weston Health District, 180 Bayberry Lane, Westport, CT 06880.

Connecticut Gardener
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