Why I Never Get Bit By Ticks on My Own Property Anymore

If ticks are a regular problem in your yard, you’re not alone. They hang out in tall grass, hide along fences, and show up in places you’d never expect. But you can keep them under control.

With a few smart habits and the right kind of prep, you don’t have to deal with bites every time you walk outside. These are the tricks that actually work—and once you make them part of your routine, you’ll notice the difference.

Keep the Grass Short

Ticks love tall grass. The higher it grows, the easier it is for them to cling to your legs or latch onto pets. If you’re only mowing the obvious spots, that gives them plenty of space to spread.

Mow all of it—front, back, fence lines, walking paths, and the spots around coops or outbuildings. Don’t wait until it looks bad. Short grass makes your yard less tick-friendly from the start.

Lay Down a Barrier Around Wooded Areas

Where the lawn meets the trees or brush, that’s where ticks usually cross into your space. Laying down mulch, gravel, or even just a cleared path creates a simple barrier they don’t like to cross.

This works especially well along fence lines, gardens, and animal runs. It doesn’t have to be deep or wide—just enough to break up the path they’d usually take into the yard.

Treat Your Outdoor Clothes With Permethrin

Permethrin-treated clothing is one of the most effective ways to keep ticks from ever biting you. Spray it on a few dedicated work shirts and pants, and let it dry completely before wearing.

Once treated, the clothes stay tick-resistant for several washes. It’s a solid layer of defense that doesn’t wear off after a few hours outside. You’ll seriously reduce your chances of bringing a tick inside.

Do a Quick Tick Check at Night

Even if you think you avoided them, it’s smart to check before bed. Ticks like spots like behind the knees, around the waistline, or in your socks—places you might miss until it’s too late.

A one-minute check can catch them before they’ve had a chance to bite. Make it part of your daily routine during tick season, and it becomes second nature.

Use Tick Tubes to Hit the Source

Ticks don’t just wander into your yard—they hitch rides on mice and small animals. Tick tubes are filled with cotton treated with permethrin. Mice collect the cotton for nesting, killing the ticks before they ever reach you.

Toss a few tubes around your yard in early spring and again in midsummer. You’ll be cutting down the next generation of ticks before they spread.

Move Brush and Firewood Away From the House

Piles of brush, leaves, or stacked wood are prime tick habitat. If you’ve got any of that sitting close to your porch, garden, or fence line, you’re basically inviting them in.

Keep woodpiles dry and off the ground, and store them away from the house. Clean up brush piles regularly so ticks don’t have a cozy place to hide.

Let the Chickens Patrol

If you’ve got chickens, let them work for you. They’ll eat ticks while they scratch and peck, especially if you let them roam in problem areas.

They won’t wipe out every tick, but they’ll help keep the population down in the spaces you use most—like near the porch, coop, or garden path. Plus, they love the job.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.