Managing ticks

Occasionally, I share information from other program areas in the Greenup Extension Office besides community arts. My area of specialty is arts, but we are all community members with a variety of interests and needs. I have heard a lot of talk about the high level of ticks at this time of year. As you get outdoors with your family, you may find this to be a problem. As an Extension Agent, I have access to information on many topics that are helpful to families in Greenup County.

The following information is excerpts from a University of Kentucky College of Agriculture publication. You are welcome to contact our office if this topic is of interest to you and you would like additional information. I encourage you to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature, but please be safe and aware of your surroundings.

Managing ticks in yards and landscapes:

Ticks generally occur in overgrown areas, along animal trails, and at woodland edges and openings. Occasionally, they are brought into lawns or mowed areas on pets, deer, or other wildlife but they usually don’t survive for long in open, sunny areas with little protective shade and low humidity. Ticks are most likely to be within 20 feet or so of edges along woods, stone walls, or vegetation that provides shade, and humidity.

It is difficult to keep tick numbers where deer and wild animals are active. It is best to use several methods to manage them. Effective practices include habitat management, animal exclusion, treatment of pets, and barrier insecticide applications. Mowing and sanitation are key factors because tick survival is poor in sunny areas with low humidity. Also, these practices discourage wildlife that can bring ticks into an area.

Three tick species can cause problems in Kentucky and all are present in some areas:

Tick                             Activity                            Distribution

American dog             April through early August                            Statewide

Blacklegged tick         October through March                         

East and southeast

Lone star tick  Spring and late summer and again in early fall             Almost statewide

Habitat management 

Keep grass mowed

Trim tree branches and shrubs around the lawn edge to let in more sunlight

Remove leaf litter, brush and weeds along lawn edges

Limit dense groundcover because of the shade and protection it provides

Remove brush and leaves around stonewalls and wood piles

Discourage rodent activity. Cleanup and seal stone walls and small openings around the home

Move firewood piles and bird feeders away from the house

Use plantings that do not attract deer or exclude deer through various types of fencing

Move children’s swing sets and sand boxes away from the woodland edges

Use landscaping techniques with gravel pathways and mulches

Create a 3-foot or wider wood chip, mulch, or gravel border between lawn and woods or stonewalls

Protect pets

Tick protection is available through monthly topical treatments, sprays, and collars. Powders, dips, and shampoos provide short term protection or a way to treat infestations.

Manage pet activity. If practical, keep dogs and cats out of the woods to reduce ticks brought back into the landscape or home.

Insecticides

Barrier applications of insecticides labeled for tick control can be applied around edges of lawns and mowed areas. Spring, summer, and/or fall insecticide applications may be needed, depending on the tick species that is causing the problem. It is generally not necessary to spray of open fields and lawns.

Focus treatments on areas where the lawn meets the woods, stone walls, or ornamental plantings. Spray about 20 feet into bordering woodlands because this is usually where most ticks are found. Spray groundcover vegetation near the home or walkways. Spray perimeter of areas of the yard often used by people (play areas, gardens, outside storage areas, walkways or paths to neighbors or mailboxes).

Ticks spend a lot of time on the ground so use enough water and pressure for thorough coverage and penetration of vegetation and leaf litter. A small hand pump sprayer is unlikely to provide the coverage needed for good tick control.  At a minimum, use a garden hose sprayer for an adequate application. A granular insecticide can be applied walkways. Spray perimeter of areas of the yard often used by people (play areas, gardens, outside storage areas, walkways or paths to neighbors or mailboxes).

Ticks spend a lot of time on the ground so use enough water and pressure for thorough coverage and penetration of vegetation and leaf litter. A small hand pump sprayer is unlikely to provide the coverage needed for good tick control.  At a minimum, use a garden hose sprayer for an adequate application. A granular insecticide can be applied with a fertilizer spreader but it is difficult to treat woodland margins effectively.

Please contact your local office for examples of insecticide products for tick control in lawns and landscapes.

It is not practical or feasible to eliminate ticks from and area but it is possible to reduce problems through and integrated pest management strategy based primarily on habitat modification.

Adapted from the Tick management handbook – Conn. Ag Experiment Station

Anne Stephens, Extension Agent for Fine Arts in Greenup County can be reached at 606-836-0201 or anne.stephens@uky.edu. Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING