If you have been dearly harboring the American dream of having a perfect lawn at your home, you are in for a surprise. Managing all the work like mowing, watering, fertilizing and landscaping can be quite a task. And not to mention the pests which are not always welcome guests. Did you know that at least 1 variety of disease-carrying tick is found in all the lower 48 states? Tick control is a matter of utmost importance if you want to have a healthy lawn. Here are 7 natural ingredients which will effectively put your tick worries to rest.  

Tick worries: why shouldn’t you neglect them? 

You will be surprised to know that both humans and animals can be affected by several tickborne diseases like tularemia, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis. The Lone Star tick is responsible for alpha-gal syndrome where one becomes allergic to sugar found in medications and red meat.  

Despite of its name Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is not limited to Rocky Mountain range and is common in the ‘tick belt’ areas like portions of Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Missouri. Dogs are extremely susceptible to this disease. Humans may experience high fever, with symptoms like painful joints, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, difficulty in breathing and rashes.  

Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotic, but in some extreme cases patients can suffer from long-lasting complications. Affected people can experience syndromes like lethargy and fever. Ehrlichiosis can turn quite dangerous, if it is left untreated. Affected people may experience muscle aches, headaches, intestinal upset, and fever. Without antibiotics, Lyme disease can cause brain damage, respiratory failure, and neurological problems in dogs. 

Tularemia can be fatal for dogs; symptoms like painful and swollen limbs, yellow eyes and high fever will be common in canines. In humans, along with fever, one will experience eye infections, glandular problems and respiratory discomforts. 

How can smart pet flea control reduce your tick worries? 

An important part of your lawn care routine is to prevent tick growth. Keep an eye for the common turf nuisances and be proactive to control them. Taller blades of grass will create a shade which is bad for tick infestation. Be vigilant and keep up with the mowing so that your grass does not grow to a height of 5-6 inches.  

Did you know many varieties of ticks like the Lyme-transmitting pests are in love with dense woodland areas? Your pest worries will be doubled if your property is close to woodland areas. Grow a mulch moat which acts as protective perimeter round the yard creating a hot and dry area which makes it impossible for ticks to grow. 

Keep your yards tick-free by keeping it clean. Clear the grass and the leaves from the lawn, recycle them or create compost out of them. Although leaves are known to nourish lawns naturally, if you inhabit a tick-infested area, unclean yards can be a problem. 

7 natural ingredients for making a tick repellent 

The chemical sprays will keep your tick worries at bay, but they are full of toxic elements which are bad for pets and children. A pet who loves to roll on the lawn or a child who likes to play outdoors is never immune from these harmful chemicals. How about going for an organic tick spray or opt for home remedies for tick control?  

1. Neem powder:  

Known as one of the most effective tick repellents, it can be used topically to kill common insects like biting midges, mosquitos and fleas. Although not quite effective for tick worries, neem powder is one of the powerful ingredients for natural flea control.  

2. Cinnamon: 

Spices like cinnamon are known to contain eugenol which works as a tick repellent. For a 400 square feet lawn, you can mix 80 drops of oil with 1 ounce of water. You can use this spray during the growing season as the eugenol present in cinnamon will smother the ticks immediately. 

3. Rosemary: 

If you thought that rosemary is best reserved for garnishing your favorite pasta think again. Boil 4 cups of water and then add 1 ounce of dried rosemary by stirring it gently. Allow the mixture to rest for the entire night. Strain the liquid and add 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar to the solution. Spray the solution around pet collars where dog ticks are common. 

4. Essential oils: 

Essential oils like peppermint, citronella and eucalyptus are known to be quite effective on fleas. You can prepare a mix of neem powder (3 equal parts), arrowroot powder with DE. Add powder duster, citronella, peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil with food grade diatomaceous earth. It is the arrowroot which helps to dilute and blend the ingredients.  

5. Beautyberry: 

This ornamental shrub consisting of pink blossoms are known to drive away biting insects including deer ticks which carry Lyme disease. They normally grow in partially shaded places on loose but fertile soil.  

6. DE or Diatomaceous Earth: 

This non-toxic powder is made with crushed fossils of marine and freshwater organisms. This looks like bits of broken glass on the microscopic level. And this little glass-like fragments directly pierce the protective shield of the insects and dehydrate them.  

7. Lemons: 

Slice one to three lemons and add them to a jug which contains 12 ounces of water. You can cover the pot and bring them to boil. After lowering the heat, simmer the concoction for about half an hour. Allow the lemons to rest for 8 hours. After removing the lemons, put the mixture in a spray bottle. You can use this mixture with essential oils for both ticks and fleas. 

Afterword: 

If you love working in the gardens, do not forget to wear long pants, shirts with long sleeves, socks, and closed-toe-shoes. Do a tick check as soon as you come indoors. A tick bite should not be treated casually. Remove the tick but consult a doctor immediately.