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Hi, Jim here with Domyownpestcontrol.com. Learning that you have a tick infestation in your yard can make you scared to venture out into your own yard. Many types of ticks can spread diseases, infest your pet or even attach themselves to you or your family. We will help you learn how to get rid of the existing ticks in your yard and also how to make your yard a tick free zone.Step 1 to creating a tick free zone: You should have an area that is at least 9 ft wide between your yard and any wooded area. Trim back trees to allow as much sunlight as possible into your yard. Keep grass as short possible. Remove as much leaf litter as possible. A clearly defined, well manicured border between your yard and any wooded areas or weedy lots will reduce the chance of ticks infesting your yard. Here's a Quick Tip: To determine if you have a tick infestation in your yard do this test. Attach a white towel to a dowel or rod and dragging it over suspected areas. Ticks will usually climb onto the towel and will help you locate infestations.

Step 2: We recommend using two products together for tick control in your yard. Apply an insecticide to kill the adult ticks and an insect growth regulator to stop immature ticks from developing into breeding adults. We have put together a tick control kit containing the needed products for tick control outdoors. It's available on our website, DoMyOwnPestControl.com. This is important: Do not try to spot treat for tick control. Broadcast over infested areas in your yard to get rid of ticks. Ticks may be hidden in tall or dense brush so higher treatment volumes may be needed to treat the entire plant, not just the top side of the plant where it is easiest to spray. You can use any variety of sprayers, just depending on your preference and the size of your yard.
The backpack sprayer is a great one because it holds up to 4 gallons, so you probably won't have to refill halfway through your treatment. When you're applying, treat the underside of leaves and all the way to the bottom of the plant. We recommend treating the entire infested area (no spot treating). When you are dealing with an area that has a high tick population you may be required to treat once a month from spring through to the first frost, no matter what product you use. Be sure all pets are treated with a product labeled for tick control. By identifying the type of ticks you have on your property you can better understand what type of animals may be bringing them to your property and you can modify the environment to make it less favorable for that host animal. You can contact your local cooperative extension office to request an insect identification. With the right application and the right products, your outdoor ticks will be eliminated.

For more info, for our outdoor tick kit, or for more pest control products and how-tos, visit DoMyOwnPestControl.com. Thanks!