Although ticks are small, you should be wary of their presence on your property because some varieties like the lone star tick are carriers of diseases that can transfer through their bites. These blood-feeding parasites are active during the warm months of spring to fall and they usually like to nestle into your grass. Without proper treatment, they may cause harm to you and your pets.

The best way to protect your property from ticks is to apply professional preventative treatments, however, there are a few things that you can do around your property to limit their numbers. Continue reading to learn more about ticks and how you can keep yourself and your family safe from them.

What are ticks & should I be worried about them?

A red tick found on a stem of a plant in Ashland, OH.

Contrary to popular belief, ticks are not insects but arachnids, just like spiders and scorpions. Depending on their life stage and whether they are fed or not, their size can range from a poppy seed to a ladybug. They look like flat seeds if unfed but their abdomen blows up like a balloon after feeding on blood.

Some ticks can cause a little itch after attaching themselves to the host, while some species pose medical threats. Take a look at some varieties of tick found in Ohio that you should know about:

  • Blacklegged tick (AKA deer tick): These are often are hard to find during their larval stage as they are almost translucent. Blacklegged ticks are also relatively small compared to other varieties when fully grown. They are a carrier of Lyme disease that can lead to other severe illnesses if left untreated.
  • Lone star tick: Lone star ticks often gather in large numbers on your lawn. They transmit the southern tick-associated rash illness as well as tularemia which can be fatal if untreated.
  • Dog tick: As the name suggests, dog ticks mainly latch onto dogs and rarely on humans. They are also known to be a vector of the Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

When and where do ticks appear?

Just as humans enjoy the outdoors from spring to fall when the air is warm, so do ticks. They appear as early as April during spring and can linger into fall as late as November.

Ticks are usually found in the grass, specifically longer grass where they can get some shade. From this low level on the ground, they are able to attach themselves to pets or humans walking through.

Defend your yard from ticks by regularly mowing your lawn and keeping the grass at a minimum height.

Protecting Yourself & Your Property Against Ticks

Tick prevention is the key to avoid even having to deal with them in the first place. We recommend having flea and tick treatments applied to protect your property from infestation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends various steps to help decrease the number of ticks that may reside in your lawn, including:

  • Mowing tall grasses and brush around your home
  • Clearing out leaf litter
  • Removing old furniture, as this gives ticks a place to hide
  • Preventing rodents and unwanted animals from entering your property as they may carry ticks

Avoid being bitten by ticks by using repellents when out and about in nature, as well as wearing light-colored long sleeves and pants so you can easily find the pesky parasites. Remove them with tweezers if you were bit, making sure you take out its entire head. Save the tick in case of infection so it can be tested for diseases.

Protect your household pets as well from tick-borne disease by inspecting them for ticks after being outdoors. It is also good practice to have your dogs vaccinated for Lyme disease as it is common among them.

Take precautions with our 5-treatment flea and tick program today!

Ticks are dangerous to both animals and humans and should be prevented with professional treatments. Our team at Ohio Green Lawn & Pest has carefully designed a treatment plan that makes sure your property is protected from spring until fall when ticks are most active. You can rest assured that our flea and tick control services are safe for your pets and children.

We service commercial and residential properties in Mansfield and Ashland, OH, as well as nearby areas. Call us today at (419) 528-5698 to schedule our top-notch, 5-step flea and tick program!