The Best Way To Get Rid Of Ticks In Your West Chester Yard For Good

The Life Cycle Of Common Ticks

Most ticks progress through four stages of life: eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. The process usually takes two to three years, and ticks require a host to progress to each new stage. 

Tick eggs are laid in the spring and hatch into larvae in the summer or following spring, depending on the species. The larvae grow and, as long as they are able to feed, will transition into nymphs the following spring. Assuming nymphs find a suitable host they become adults the following year. 

The Problems Ticks On Your Property Can Create

The major problem with having ticks on your property is the risk of diseases spread by tick bites. The most common ticks in our area and the diseases they spread include:

• American dog ticks: Tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Lone Star ticks: Ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland virus, Bourbon virus, and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI)
• Black-legged ticks: Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, B. miyamotoi disease, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus

Not every tick is infected with these diseases, but the risk of contracting them through a tick bite is always present. The longer an infected tick stays embedded in your skin, the more likely they are to transmit an illness, so it's important to educate yourself about proper tick removal.

If you find a tick attached to your body, you can either use a tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers to remove it. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible and pull upward with steady pressure. (Be careful not to twist or jerk the tick because this can cause the mouthparts to break off in your skin.) Wash the area thoroughly and dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, a sealed container, or wrapping it in tape. Consult with a doctor if you have a rash or other symptoms of illness following a tick bite.

How To Make Your Property Less Appealing To Ticks And Their Hosts

Ticks are outdoor pests that prefer damp, shaded environments. Rather than jump or fly to access their hosts, they will lay in wait in bushes and tall grass and latch onto people or animals that wander by. One method of pest control is to make your property less appealing to ticks by doing the following:

• Keep grass cut short. Make sure to pay special attention to fence lines, sheds, trees, swing sets, and other hard-to-mow areas. 
• Eliminate debris. Weeds, leaf litter, wood piles, and other outdoor debris make excellent nesting areas for both ticks and pests like rodents who host them.
• Install a buffer between wooded areas and your lawn with crushed stone, gravel, or mulch.
• Keep your pets up to date on tick preventatives year-round.
• Deter wildlife that may carry ticks onto your property by keeping garbage cans covered, removing bird feeders, and cleaning up after outdoor meals.

These tips should help with tick prevention, but it's always a good idea to wear insect repellent with DEET and long sleeves and pants when spending time outdoors. If you are in an area with a high population of ticks, keep your dogs leashed and stick to the middle of trails and always check for ticks when returning home.

The Most Effective Tick Control For Your Yard

While there are steps you can take to naturally prevent ticks on your property, there's no guarantee these methods will work over time, and depending on what borders your property you may be fighting a losing battle. To truly get rid of ticks and keep them from coming back, it's worth investing in mosquito and tick control solutions near you. 

At Masters Touch Pest Solutions, we offer backpack misting to treat the perimeter of your home and yard, reducing tick populations and creating a barrier of protection. Call today to find out more about our tick control solutions.