What can I spray on my lawn to kill ticks?

Ticks are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, waiting to attach themselves to a host as it brushes by. Ticks are concerning because they can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and others to humans. If you have a yard with lots of ticks, you may be wondering what you can spray to get rid of them and protect your family. There are several pesticide options available to kill ticks in your lawn, but you need to use them properly for the best results.

What ticks are commonly found in lawns?

The two tick species most often found in suburban lawns and gardens in the United States are:

• Blacklegged tick (Deer tick) – Ixodes scapularis
• Lone star tick – Amblyomma americanum

Blacklegged ticks are the primary carriers of Lyme disease, babesiosis, and other diseases. Lone star ticks can transmit ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). Both species will bite humans and pets if given the chance.

When are ticks most active in lawns?

Ticks quest for hosts more during certain times of the year. Their activity peaks in spring and early summer when temperatures are cooler and the lower humidity allows them to venture further from their habitat. Another smaller peak occurs in late summer and early fall before the first hard frost. So to maximize your control efforts, spray in early spring as temperatures start to warm up through early June. Spray again in late August/early September if tick problems persist.

Chemical pesticides to kill ticks

There are several chemical pesticide options labeled for tick control in lawns and landscaped areas around homes. The most common active ingredients are:

• Pyrethroids like permethrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin
• Carbamates like carbaryl
• Organophosphates like chlorpyrifos
• Neonicotinoids like imidacloprid, dinotefuran

These broad-spectrum insecticides will kill ticks on contact. They can be purchased as ready-to-use pump or trigger sprays, concentrates to mix with water, granules to spread with a broadcast spreader, or even impregnated into stakes or disks placed around the lawn perimeter.

Pyrethroids

Pyrethroids are synthetic versions of pyrethrins, which are derived from chrysanthemum flowers. They work by quickly paralyzing and killing insects upon contact. Pyrethroids like bifenthrin are commonly used for ticks and other lawn pests. Trade names to look for include:

• Bifenthrin: Ortho Bug B Gon Max, Ortho Home Defense Max, Talstar Professional
• Cyfluthrin: Bayer Advanced Lawn & Garden Multi-Insect Killer
• Deltamethrin: Bonide Eight Insect Control Vegetable, Fruit & Flower Concentrate
• Lambda-cyhalothrin: Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer for Lawns
• Permethrin: Gordon’s Trimec Lawn Insect Killer, Hi-Yield Lawn, Pet & Livestock Insect Control

Carbamates

Carbaryl is the most common carbamate insecticide. It works by disabling an insect’s nervous system. Carbaryl products labeled for lawn tick treatment include:

• Sevin Concentrate Bug Killer
• Bonide Carbaryl Insect Control

Organophosphates

Organophosphates are nerve agents that cause paralysis and death in insects, though their use has declined in recent years. Chlorpyrifos is still available for residential tick control. Look for:

• Dursban Lawn & Garden Insect Killer Concentrate

Neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoids overstimulate and destroy insects’ nervous systems. Imidacloprid and dinotefuran options include:

• Bayer Advantage Lawn & Landscape II
• Bayer Complete Insect Killer for Soil & Turf
• Spectracide Triazicide Once & Done Insect Killer Granules

Natural tick sprays

If you want to avoid synthetic chemical pesticides, there are some natural spray options that can help reduce ticks in your yard.

Essential oil sprays

Spraying diluted essential oils like peppermint, clove, rosemary, thyme, lemon grass, cinnamon and garlic can deter and kill ticks. You need to spray these oils multiple times per week for best effect. Some popular essential oil tick sprays are:

• Wondercide Outdoor Pest Control
• EcoSmart Organic Tick & Flea Home & Pet Spray
• Cedarcide Original Lawn & Garden Spray

Garlic spray

Garlic contains sulfur compounds that are toxic to ticks. You can make a garlic spray by blending several garlic cloves with water and straining out the pulp. Add a few teaspoons of mild dish soap to help the spray stick to grass blades.

Diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder made from crushed fossils of aquatic organisms. DE sharp edges cut and damage the waxy outer coating on insect bodies, causing dehydration and death. Dust DE along your lawn edges where ticks congregate.

When to apply tick sprays

As mentioned previously, it’s best to treat in early spring, around late March/April, and again in late summer, August/September. Some tips for ideal treatment timing include:

• Apply in early morning or evening when lawn is damp from dew
• Avoid treating right after rain or irrigation
• Do not mow or water lawn for 24 hours after application
• Spray when no rain is forecasted for 24-48 hours
• Consider a follow-up application 7-10 days later if tick problems are severe

Where to spray for ticks

Focus on spraying these key areas of your yard to target ticks:

• Along lawn edges bordering woods, stonewalls, ornamental plantings
• Around landscape trees, shrubs, gardens
• Under decks, porches, patios
• Along walkways, driveways

Make sure to treat areas frequented by people and pets, like play structures, play sets, dog houses, etc.

How to apply tick sprays

Liquid spray formulations should be applied with a pump sprayer, hose-end sprayer, or backpack power sprayer. Follow all label directions for mixing and application rates. Spray the solution on grass blades, under decks, mulched beds, etc. targeting tick harborages and areas frequented by humans and animals.

Granular tick pesticides can be spread using a broadcast spreader or by hand. Use an application rate of 1-2 pounds of active ingredient per 1,000 square feet.

Tick tubes or stakes containing permethrin-treated cotton balls can be placed every 10-20 feet around the lawn perimeter and favored tick areas. As mice run by they pick of the cotton for nesting material, killing any ticks feeding on them.

Safety precautions when using tick sprays

When using any lawn pesticide, be sure to take proper safety precautions:

• Read and follow all label directions
• Avoid contact with skin, eyes, nose, and mouth
• Wear gloves and protective eyewear
• If using a sprayer, avoid breathing in mist
• Wash hands after application
• Keep children and pets off treated areas until dry
• Avoid runoff into storm drains, surface waters, vegetable gardens etc.

Other ways to reduce ticks in your yard

In addition to spraying pesticides, here are some other tactics to suppress ticks in your landscape:

• Remove leaf litter, clear tall grass/brush at lawn edges
• Place woodchip or gravel borders between lawns and wooded/brushy areas
• Keep lawns mowed short
• Clear out garden debris piles, rock walls
• Discourage rodent activity near home
• Treat your pets with tick prevention products
• Consider landscaping with less favorable tick habitats like mulches, stone, gravel, patios
• Attract or introduce natural tick predators like guinea fowl, chickens, bats

Conclusion

Ticks can be controlled in your yard through vigilant monitoring and properly timed applications of insecticides. Products containing bifenthrin, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid or other active ingredients registered for lawn tick control can provide contact killing of active ticks. Natural options like essential oils, garlic spray, or diatomaceous earth may provide some repellency and suppression. Combine chemical and/or natural sprays with landscape modifications and exclusion tactics to protect your lawn and family from tick-borne diseases.