Understanding when and how to best spray your yard to repel and eliminate ticks can help you and your family safely enjoy the outdoors this summer.

Acaricides are a class of pesticides that are designed to kill ticks and prevent them from inhabiting your yard, but they are highly toxic and potentially dangerous.

The CDC recommends checking with local officials regarding any environmental restrictions before using acaricides. They also suggest hiring a professional to do the work for you.

Broad-spectrum insecticides such as permethrin are also effective at preventing and eliminating ticks. They’re sold in a concentrated form that is mixed with water.

Permethrin SFR, a popular tick treatment, calls for 1 and ⅔ fl. oz of concentrate to one gallon of water for every 1,000 sq. ft that you want to treat.

Remember to wear protective clothing when spraying any chemicals, and wait for the area to completely dry before coming into contact with it or allowing pets to do so.

To minimize the amount of harsh chemicals you are introducing into the environment, focus on spraying the perimeter of your yard as opposed to the entirety of it.

If you want to opt for a non-toxic alternative, cedarwood oil spray is a natural repellent that you can use in your yard in place of dangerous pesticides.

The best time to spray your yard for ticks is before they have a chance to populate, meaning in the spring before eggs laid by adult ticks hatch.

Even though treatment is usually recommended in the spring, it's most effective if you continue to spray your yard throughout the calendar year into the fall.