Ticks are small arachnids that often cause concern for those enjoying the outdoors. While many believe these pests are found only in tall grasses or dense wooded areas, ticks can also be present in shorter vegetation, including residential lawns and gardens. This article provides information on where ticks reside and strategies to protect your outdoor spaces.
Ticks Can Be Found in Short Grass
While ticks are frequently associated with tall grass, wooded areas, and leaf litter, they are not confined to these environments. Ticks adapt to various habitats, including mowed lawns and gardens. They seek shaded, humid spots rather than solely relying on vegetation height for survival. Ticks can find refuge in remaining grass, nearby vegetation, or even climb onto low-lying shrubs and bushes within a mowed lawn.
The presence of ticks in short grass relates to host availability and specific microclimates within the yard. Ticks thrive in moist, humid conditions, with activity often increasing after rainfall. Certain species, such as the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), are resistant to drying out and commonly found in open fields and lawns. These ticks are prevalent in suburban lawns and can be found on structures like picnic tables, playsets, and lawn furniture.
How Ticks Enter and Thrive in Lawns
Ticks primarily enter yards by hitchhiking on host animals. Wildlife such as deer, rodents, birds, and domestic pets are common carriers, transporting ticks from infested areas into residential spaces. As these animals traverse lawns, ticks can detach and establish themselves. Deer, for example, are known to carry black-legged ticks, often dropping them in residential yards near woodlands.
Ticks can also be inadvertently brought into a yard on clothing or gear after spending time in infested environments. While short grass does not offer extensive cover, ticks can still thrive in microclimates within lawns. Shaded edges, ornamental plants, and areas with leaf litter or debris provide sufficient humidity and protection for ticks to survive. Even after mowing, ticks may retreat to taller grass or low-lying vegetation.
Preventing Tick Encounters in Your Yard
Minimizing tick exposure involves landscaping adjustments and personal precautions. Maintain your yard by keeping grass cut short, ideally to about three inches. Removing leaf litter, clearing tall grasses, and eliminating brush around your home and lawn edges can reduce tick habitats. Stacking firewood neatly in a dry, sunny area also helps, as woodpiles can attract rodents that carry ticks.
Creating barriers between your lawn and wooded areas can deter ticks. A three-foot-wide strip of gravel, wood chips, or mulch between your lawn and unmaintained natural areas can restrict tick migration. These dry, hot barriers are inhospitable to ticks, making it difficult for them to cross into recreational areas. Discouraging wildlife with fencing to keep out deer and eliminating food sources for rodents can also reduce the number of ticks transported into your yard.
For personal protection, apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing ingredients such as DEET or picaridin when outdoors. When gardening or in tick-prone areas, wearing long sleeves and pants tucked into socks provides a physical barrier. After spending time outdoors, perform thorough tick checks on yourself, family members, and pets, paying close attention to areas like armpits, behind the knees, and in and around hair. Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash off unattached ticks.