Better Than Chemicals: Drive Ticks Away With A Natural Solution They Can't Stand

Having a yard full of ticks can really get under your skin, especially when they make it difficult to maintain your garden or enjoy time outdoors. Besides sinking their tiny barbs into you to feed on your blood, they can also leave lasting effects on your health. Some ticks carry pathogens and transmit severe illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis, leading to a whole host of unfortunate symptoms such as rashes, fevers, and joint pain. They can also pass along some intense diseases to your pets. Fortunately, there are plenty of strategies to stop ticks from taking over your lawn. Among them, keeping bushes and shrubs trimmed, creating a barrier of gravel or wood chips that is tough for them to traverse, and using plants that keep ticks out of the yard. In addition to rosemary, oregano, and lavender, there's one plant-based scent they find particularly unappetizing: lemongrass. 

Ticks are among the many pests that are repelled by lemongrass. Since they're almost totally blind, black-legged ticks (i.e. the sort that carry Lyme disease) rely heavily on scent to target their hosts. Researchers at Canada's Acadia University discovered that lemongrass essential oil not only masks the human odors that attract these dangerous ticks; it also gives off a scent that they find disorienting. In other words, the compound is tough for them to sink their teeth into.

According to a study published in Current Research and Insect Science, citral and geraniol were the main chemicals in lemongrass oil found to repel ticks. These compounds can damage ticks' antennae receptors, making it harder for them to know you're there. "Ticks exposed to lemongrass oil are less likely to crawl on you, and even if they're brave enough to do so, they're far less likely to bite," explained lead researcher Dr. Nicoletta Faraone, an associate professor in Acadia University's chemistry department, "The tick will likely be repelled or become so disoriented that it drops off."

Lemongrass might have the added benefit of repelling fleas and mosquitoes too, so it's great at providing some all-around armor before you venture outdoors. To make use of the repellent, DIY a body spray by mixing 10 to 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil with two ounces of distilled water, plus a splash of witch hazel or rubbing alcohol. Be sure to test it on a patch of skin before spritzing the lemongrass mixture all over yourself. Those with sensitive skin can try using fewer drops. Apply generously from the waist down and on your arms, where ticks tend to latch on. Reapply every couple of hours when you're outdoors. 

If spraying the repellent it on your skin and clothes isn't an option or you'd like even more protection, spray diluted lemongrass oil around doors, windows, patios, and other entrances to your home. Suffering a tick bite can really, well, bite. It's important to protect yourself and your home from ticks by treating your lawn, covering bare skin, and always doing full-body checks when returning home from brushy woods or tall grass.