COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
University of Kentucky – College of Agriculture
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 10 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 period
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.
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UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE, US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES COOPERATING
Focus treatments on areas where the lawn meets the woods, stone walls, or ornamental plantings.
Spray about 10 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 with a fertilizer spreader but it is difficult to treat woodland margins
effectively.
Example insecticide products for tick control in lawns and landscapes
Liquid sprays
Bayer Multi-Insect Killer Ready to Spray or Concentrate (cyfluthrin)
Bonide Beetle Killer (cyhalothrin)
Bonide Eight Flower & Vegetable Spray (bifenthrin)
Bonide Total Pest Control Outdoor Concentrate (permethrin)
Bonide Eight Yard & Garden Ready to Spray (permethrin)
Carbaryl sprays
Ortho Bug-B-Gon Max Lawn & Garden Insect Killer Ready to Spray (bifenthrin)
Granules
Ortho Bug-B-Gon Max Insect Killer Granules for Lawns (bifenthrin)
Bayer Multi-Insect Killer Granules (cyfluthrin)
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