Tips to Help Protect Your Pasadena Yard From Ticks

There is a lot to like about living at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. But the trouble with that is it also puts you right next to all the little places that ticks like to live. You can find them hiding in chaparral and oak woodlands, and especially the foothill trails that make this area so appealing to outdoorsy types. The ticks just wait in the brush and catch a ride on whoever happens to be their next host. That’s why a lot of people around this time of year start looking into Pasadena tick control.

In Southern California, you might be surprised that it’s the cooler and wetter months of the year that cause the most trouble when it comes to ticks. Ticks don’t do well in the heat and they tend to dry out. So when the heat breaks around here, the ticks can much more easily go about their usual business.

This also means tick problems are year-round ones that you continuously have to manage in Pasadena. It’s easy to overlook tick problems in your yard until you find one on your leg. But the good news is that simple habits can make a big difference.

Keep Your Yard Dry and Trimmed

Ticks need shade and moisture to survive. Dry, sunny yards are not very hospitable environments. That means one of the clearest actions you can take to manage ticks is simply to mow the grass, rake up leaves, and clear brush.

Trimming back shrubs and low branches lets more sunlight reach the ground too. Conditions here are already hot and dry, so nature does the rest from there. Pay special attention to the edges of the lawn, along fence lines, beneath decks, and in shaded and humid pockets where ticks tend to spend the most time.

Build a Barrier Against the Foothills

If your property backs up to open space, a trailhead, or a wooded edge, put a buffer between it and your lawn. You can do this by adding a three-foot strip of gravel or wood chips along that border. Most ticks will not readily cross that border.

Another smart thing to do is keep patios, play sets, and seating areas closer to the sunny middle of the yard. That way, they’re not right up against the shaded areas where ticks are likely to spend time looking for hosts.

Make Your Yard Less Inviting to Tick Hosts

Ticks don’t fly or jump. They can only hitchhike. Deer and rodents are their cab drivers of choice, as they tend to cross through all kinds of natural environments and shake off ticks as they go. That means the fewer deer and rodents you have around, the fewer ticks you’ll probably have too.

First, secure your trash cans with a tight lid. Don’t leave pet food outside. If you have woodpiles, keep them tidy and off the ground. Consider also planting deer-resistant plants if foothill deer are constantly in your yard going after your landscaping.

Check Yourself & Your Pets

Pets are one of the most common ways that ticks get from the yard into the house. Talk to your vet about tick-prevention products for your dog or cat. When they come inside, be sure to check them for ticks and remove any you find.

As you do that, be sure to also check yourself and your kids for ticks. If you find one, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers and by pulling up straight and with steady pressure. This habit alone can help a lot because quick tick removal is one of the better ways to reduce tickborne illness. It makes a huge difference.

Consider Professional Pasadena Tick Control

You can do a lot to manage ticks on your property on your own. But that doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone. Professional Pasadena tick control treatments can target the places where ticks like to spend time during the day. That can knock them down on contact and leave a lasting residue that helps control ticks for up to 21 days at a time.

Ready to take back your yard from ticks? Mosquito Squad of Pasadena can help. Call (213) 238-5564 or contact us online for a free pest control assessment and quote, backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Ask about our tick control options.