For many homeowners, it has come as no surprise that the backyard is now the most important and utilized room in the house. Entertaining at home, in small groups, has quickly become the new norm. Many have even replaced their summer vacations and summer camps with more intimate gatherings in the backyard. But for the whole family to stay safe this year, it’s critical to build protection from mosquitos and ticks, which are known to carry a variety of common diseases and illnesses.

So, when does the season start? In years past, ticks and mosquitoes were most prevalent May through November, however, over the past five years, we have seen warmer months leading to an expansion in the season. Ticks specifically can be active any time the temperature reaches above freezing, rising just above 45 degrees. As more tick bite cases are being documented, new research has shown that tick and mosquito season has expanded to be most prevalent from April through October.

So, what can homeowners do to protect their families and pets? Tick control is mostly about wildlife. If your backyard is not fenced in, the chances of animals bringing ticks into the lawn are very high. Investing in a property fence that will prevent larger animals like deer, raccoons, and squirrels from entering your lawn is the first act in prevention. However, many fences come with a heavy price tag. If putting up a fence is not in the budget for this year, there are still other options that homeowners can do today to protect their families.

Tick Maintenance

With just a little bit of elbow grease and some sweat equity, the backyard lawn can become a safe outdoor oasis. The most important step should be to start with a maintained lawn. Ticks do not like dry, hot environments. They prefer taller grass, where the temperature is a bit cooler, as they wait to attach themselves onto a new host – like your child or pet. Aiming for weekly cuts and keeping your grass 4 to 4.5 inches will eliminate that cool environment ticks prefer and make your lawn less attractive to those harmful pests.

The most common spots for tick attachment are behind the knees, underarm, scalp, navel, and back. If you do spot a tick, it must be removed immediately. Studies have shown that a tick removed within the first 24 hours drastically reduces the risk of developing Lyme disease. The quickest and most safe way to remove a tick is grabbing the tick by its head, with tweezers, and firmly pulling back. Following any tick removal, it’s also best to reach out to the family physician or pediatrician to determine if a doctor visit is needed.

Mosquito Maintenance

While ticks prefer cooler temperatures, mosquitoes, on the other hand, thrive in humidity and stagnant water. Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs and can lay their eggs in as little as a bottle cap of water. A few things homeowners can do is to remove any bottles or cans after consumption, avoid overwatering the lawn, and drain any toddler-sized wading pools or water toys when not in use. Another way to protect your family is by planting items like lavender, mint, rosemary, and marigold flowers which are known to repel mosquitoes thanks to their citronellal substance.

But if your lawn isn’t fully fenced, or you’re noticing a larger than a normal amount of mosquitoes congregating around you and your family, consider a targeted approach to spray the lawn professionally.

One thing to keep in mind is that not all lawn treatments are created equally. Many, contain harmful chemicals that can be toxic not only to children and pets but to our environment. We know chemicals can run off and contaminate groundwater, they create environmental issues and even endanger aquatic life if too much enters our lakes and streams. Chemicals can be toxic to the beneficial insects we want to keep around, most important pollinators.

The Department of Environmental Protection suggested that an all-natural insect repellent is better for your family and your pet’s health. Many natural alternatives even work better when compared to their chemical counterparts. If the chemical usage in insect repellents does not impact your thought process, consider this: natural alternatives work better. Not only do they cause fewer side effects, but they also have a higher success rate with preventing bug bites. Safer, all-natural alternatives, like Tick Killz, are safe for kids, pets, and the environment.

With summer just a few weeks away, we all must stay vigilant when it comes to protecting our family and pets this season from ticks and mosquito bites.

Mark Wilson is the President and Founder of Tick Killz, an all-natural product that can be used to control ticks, mosquitoes, and other nuisance insects all year round. Tick Killz continues to post impressive year-on-year growth because of the high demand for effective ‘All Natural’ alternatives to the chemical treatments often used for tick and mosquito control. To learn more, please visit https://tickkillz.com/.