03/30/2026
MAKE YOUR YARD A TICK-FREE ZONE
TICK-FRIENDLY HABITAT
Ticks prefer shady, damp places where they won’t dry out. Common hiding spots include:
• Leaf litter
• Tall grass
• Brush and undergrowth
• Shady, wooded areas
• Stone walls
• Wood piles
Keep your yard bright, dry, and well-maintained to make it less tick-friendly.
PREVENT TICK BITES
• Use EPA-registered insect repellent
• Wear long clothing and stick to clear trails
• Check yourself, children, and pets after being outside-especially ears, neck, and paws
• Shower soon after coming in and dry clothes on high heat
• Talk to your vet about tick prevention
LANDSCAPING TIPS
Tick Zone
Avoid areas with forest and brush where deer, rodents, and ticks are common.
Wood Chip Barrier
Use a 3-ft barrier of wood chips or rock to separate the “tick zone” and rock walls from the lawn.
Wood Pile
Keep wood piles on the wood chip barrier, away from the home.
Tick Migration Zone
Maintain a 9-ft. barrier of lawn between the wood chips and areas such as patios, gardens, and play sets.
Tick Safe Zone
Enjoy daily living activities such as gardening and outdoor play inside this perimeter.
Gardens
Plant deer resistant plants. If desired, an 8-ft. fence can keep deer out of the yard.
Play Sets
Keep play sets in the “tick safe zone” in sunny areas where ticks have difficulty surviving.
PLANTS THAT DISCOURAGE DEER AND TICKS
Perennials
• Daffodil
• Columbine*
• Hyacinth
• Iris* (Pictured)
• Snowdrops
• Bleeding Heart*
• Butterfly W**d*
• Beebalm* (Pictured)
• Foxglove
• Poppy
• Silvermound
• Wild Bergamot*
• Yarrow*
Shrubs and Vines
• Andromeda
• Boxwood
• New Jersey Tea* (Pictured)
• Leucothoe
• Weigela
• Sweetfern*
PLANTS THAT ATTRACT DEER AND TICKS
• English Ivy^
• Japanese Barberry^
• Amur Honeysuckle^
• Pachysandra^
• Dense Bushes
• Hosta
• Roses
• Tulips
• Daylilies
• Forsythia
^ Invasive Plants
* Native Plants
More Info About Ticks: cdc.gov/GetTipsStopTicks
More Info About Native Plants: flnps.org
