Ticks are a conduit for diseases, being able to spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and others, and while most bites will not result in the transmission of an illness, it is still important to minimize the presence of these pests in your yard. Luckily there are products on the market that can repel or kill ticks easily, though they are not without their own risks. In this article, we’re going to take a look at how you can control a tick infestation on your property.
Finding the right pesticide
When it comes to anti-tick pesticides, you have two options: organic controls and synthetic chemical acaricides. Organic controls, or natural tick repellents, contain either Metarhizium anisopliae or Metarhizium brunneum which are fungi and work as the active ingredient. These fungi occur naturally in the soil and they are only harmful to ticks. However, the downside of these organic controls is that they are not as powerful as their synthetic counterparts, so you will likely need to apply the treatment more than once.
Also known as acaricides, chemical treatments are designed to target ticks specifically, and they usually contain the same active ingredients. The main differentiating factor is the form in which these treatments come. You have ready to use products that you can spray using your preferred method, ready-to-spray products that come with their own pump bottles, and products that you mix yourself.
Planning the extermination process
In order to correctly control a tick population, you will need to apply the pesticide in any area that is between a tick habitat (such as a brush or the woods) and the edge of your lawn. The spraying area should be several feet wide and you want to spray on all sides of any potential habitat.
Applying the spray
When applying the spray, you want to make sure that you are wearing your breathing mask and protective clothing. Then, you want to prepare the pesticide and apply it using the method outlined above. You should avoid spreading the pesticide across your entire lawn, especially if you are using a chemical treatment. Make sure that you follow the safety label recommendation and that you keep your children and pets away from the sprayed area for as long as needed.
Sometimes, a DIY control session is not enough to fully eliminate a tick infestation. This is where you want to call in a pro, because pros have access to more powerful equipment and stronger pesticides. If you are having any issues with a tick infestation, contact us today.