Tick Control to Control Lyme Disease

Controlling Ticks in North Carolina

First line of defense is wear bug spray. The next recommendation is 'light colored clothes'? That is pretty weak, right? What if you really want to control ticks on your property.

What is better than bug spray? Remember bug spray only repels tick but does not kills ticks. So you still have a problem.

"flowers of sulfur": an over the counter, but often is kept behind the counter. Use like powder. Very inexpensive. Does not stain or leave a sticky residue.

Sevin Dust for the Yard. It looks like snow and is rather unattractive but better than getting Lyme.

Dannux 4-Poster Deer Treatment Bait Station similar technology available for rodents called Maxforce Tick Management System.

Keep your grass mowed your neighbors will love it and the ticks will hate it

Remove leaf litter and pine straw brush and weeds from your lawn.

Restrict the use of ground cover, such as pachysandra in areas frequented by family
and roaming pets.

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

Move firewood piles and bird feeders away from the house

Manage pet activity, keep dogs and cats out of the woods to reduce ticks brought
back into the home. Use Frontline on your pets.

Use plantings or fencing that do not attract or confine deer

Move children’s swing sets and sand boxes away from the woodland edge and place
them on a wood chip or cedar mulch type foundation.

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

Adopt hardscape and xeriscape (dryer or less water demanding) 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.

Consider areas with decking, tile, gravel and border or container plantings in areas by
the house or frequently traveled.

Widen woodland trails.

Consider a pesticide application as a targeted barrier treatment

Encouraging predators like foxes, cats, snakes, hawks, and owls or Guinea Hens. Note: Guinea Hens have been know to carry bird flu.