Drive Ticks Away From Your Yard With The Help Of A Simple Landscaping Trick

Sometimes it feels like it's a battle between you and a most formidable foe: the tick. There isn't one foolproof method to stopping ticks altogether. Instead, it's best to make smart landscaping choices that make ticks feel unwelcome. You can get one over on the ticks by making one simple landscaping change: using gravel as a barrier. Implementing a barrier made of gravel, mulch, or wood chips can be an effective way of keeping ticks out of your yard. A tick may still hitch a ride on passing wildlife, such as deer or wild mice, but the gravel barrier helps create an inhospitable environment for the pests, forcing them to move to greener pastures.

Mounting a defense against these arachnids is especially important during tick season, which is the period where they're most active, between the months of April and September. Ticks prefer moist, shaded environments such as wooded areas, but they'll easily make themselves at home in your backyard. Using gravel in the yard removes the moisture ticks crave and may reduce the likelihood that they continue into your space, thereby reducing the chance of a tick bite. 

If you live near the woods, it's especially important that you are vigilant with your landscaping against ticks. However, even if you don't live in an area near the woods, proactive moves are still important because bites can still occur in your yard, especially during times of heavy tick activity in your area. Many ticks carry bacteria and diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Heartland virus, transmitting them as they feed on human and animal hosts.

Consider what type of gravel you'll use for your barrier, which often comes down to your preference. For example, river rock offers an aesthetically pleasing option while pea gravel is more comfortable to walk on and drains well. Once you've decided, you'll need enough to form at least a 3-foot wide perimeter between the wooded area, though it's sometimes suggested to make your barrier as wide as 7 feet. After you've placed the gravel, you can move on to other areas of your yard. Regularly check to keep it free of any leaf litter or anything that may provide cover for ticks.

If you have children, try sprinkling the gravel lightly near play equipment, particularly anywhere that's shaded, which can be a prime tick hotspot. This can help create a play area with less risk of ticks. You can also place gravel around your patio or deck, as well as any moisture-loving plants that could harbor ticks. The new gravel barrier is a good weapon towards these pests, but you shouldn't become complacent. Use it alongside other ways to deal with ticks in your yard, such as keeping your grass trimmed to 2 inches and trimming branches to allow more sunlight to reach the ground.