How to get rid of ticks on your property.
How to Get Rid of Ticks on Your Property.
There’s nothing quite like time spent outdoors—exhilarating, grounding, and good for the soul. But in the Northeast, many of us share one persistent worry: how to reduce tick exposure—preferably to zero. After nearly two decades of organic landscaping, we’ve tested many strategies for tick prevention. Here are some effective steps to protect yourself.
1. Break Up the Lawn Monoculture.
A traditional, non-native lawn is a green desert—supporting almost no wildlife except white-tailed deer and white-footed mice, both major tick carriers. To get rid of ticks naturally, break up lawn monocultures with native plantings, garden beds, and small meadows. Properties that attract a balanced wildlife community—especially opossums, foxes, and skunks—see fewer ticks overall because these animals hunt rodents and carry the ticks back into the woods.
2. Keep Chickens or Guinea Hens.
Free-range chickens are remarkably effective tick control partners. They eat ticks and their eggs daily. In more than 17 years of working around Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady, we’ve never found a tick bite on a property with free-range chickens. Even a small flock can make a big difference.
3. Remove Barberry and Other Invasive Shrubs.
Japanese Barberry is notorious for harboring ticks—entomologists even call it a “Lyme nursery.” Removing invasive shrubs such as barberry, burning bush, or privet will reduce both tick habitat and rodent hiding places, helping restore a healthier, native plant ecosystem.
Replace them with native shrubs like Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum), Ilex verticillata (Winterberry), or Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush).
4. Try the Cedar Magic.
Natural cedar mulch is one of the easiest tick deterrents available. The aroma of cedar oil repels ticks, making it an excellent choice for garden paths and edges. Ask a local tree service for cedar woodchips or try organic cedar oil sprays offered by regional lawn-care companies. Avoid dyed or colored mulch—only natural cedar works for this.
5. Plant a Bird Garden.
Above all, two-thirds of U.S. bird species are in decline, and with fewer birds, tick populations explode. Birds—especially wrens, chickadees, and robins—eat ticks and tick eggs. To invite them in, plant native shrubs and perennials for food and shelter. A bird-friendly garden isn’t just beautiful—it’s one of nature’s best tick management tools.
6. Create a Pollinator Garden.
Pollinator gardens attract bees and butterflies, but they also invite birds to feed. Once birds visit for nectar insects, they’ll soon stay to snack on ticks. Design your garden with continuous bloom and layers of native plants. Think Monarda, Echinacea, and Solidago—wildflowers that basically buzz with life and keep your ecosystem balanced. Furthermore: purchase organic wildflower plants for local NYS pickup right here.
7. Protect Yourself.
Basically, even with good landscaping, personal prevention matters. Therefore, use an essential-oil-based repellent made with cedar, lemongrass, geranium, and eucalyptus. Wear long pants tucked into socks and check yourself and pets following outdoor time.
8. Avoid Tall Grass and Meadow Edges.
Ticks significantly thrive in tall, unmown grass and dense edges between woods and open areas. Maintain mowed paths through meadows presently and keep pets out of thick growth. You obviously don’t need to remove meadows—just manage them smartly.
Ecological Balance for the Win.
Tick prevention starts generally with ecological balance. The more biodiversity your property supports overall, the fewer ticks you’ll host. From chickens and cedar mulch to native gardens and bird habitat, these organic solutions protect your family while restoring the local ecosystem. Certainly, balance is our best defense. Wildflowers, butterflies, and fewer ticks—that’s obviously the kind of landscape we love.