18 Plants That Keep Ticks Out Of The Yard

A pleasant day spent outside can quickly turn into a nightmare if you are bitten by a tick. If you want to keep ticks out of the yard, planting certain species may do the trick. While no plant is a sure-fire deterrent against ticks, there are multiple plants that have the ability to repel them from your yard. Many feature strong aromas that affect the ticks’ ability to detect hosts, such as humans and pets, using their sense of smell. You may recognize some of these plants for their ability to keep away insects, such as mosquitoes. Ticks are not insects (they’re arachnids) but researchers commonly find the same efficacy as insect repellents for many of these species.

Ticks live throughout the United States. Many can transmit serious illnesses such as Rocky Mountain fever and Lyme disease. Creating a tick-repellent garden is one crucial step to ensuring you have a healthy, safe backyard for your family and pets. Doing it alongside other mitigation steps to stop ticks from taking over your lawn is best for active prevention. As you add any of these plants, also make other changes to reduce chances of a tick encounter. Adding a mulch barrier around the perimeter of your yard, trimming your grass, and pruning overhanging branches to introduce more sun can all make a big difference. As a bonus, many of these plants can attract pollinators to your yard and fill it with a glorious scent. They can also add a bright dash of color, all the while helping you mount a defense against the bothersome tick. Most require full sun and well-drained soil, unless otherwise noted. If ticks are driving you up the wall, these plants can help.