Ticks and the diseases they carry pose a threat to the health of your family and pets. It’s important to understand how to prevent ticks in your yard and what to do when you find them. As our winters warm, tick season is expanding, and preventing ticks becomes a bigger concern in more parts of the country. Let’s explore some essential information about ticks and the potential harm they represent. Then we’ll dive into our seven tips on how to prevent ticks in your yard.
First, Understanding Different Kind Of Ticks
Out of approximately 850 species of ticks worldwide — over 90 can be found in the United States. However, most tick species don’t bite humans, though they do feed on our pets. The ticks that are most likely to bite people and transmit disease are:
American dog tick also called a wood tick
Blacklegged tick, also called a deer tick
Brown dog tick
Gulf Coast tick
Lone star tick
Rocky Mountain wood tick
Western black-legged tick
Fortunately, tick-preventing techniques are equally effective for all varieties.
Why Is It Important to Efficiently Control Ticks?
It’s true that most ticks don’t bite humans, and those that do, don’t always transmit disease. However, don’t skip learning how to prevent ticks because you like your odds! Every tick bite sucks the blood from its warm-blooded host, whether wildlife, pets, or people. While doing so, they cut a hole in the skin to insert a barbed feeding tube.
If not removed, a tick will remain attached to its host, feeding on blood for seven to ten days. Unless the tick is removed properly, tugging stimulates the tick to salivate and regurgitate into the host’s bloodstream. Meanwhile, improper removal may cause the tick’s head and jaws to pop off the body and remain embedded in the host.
Even when they don’t transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick bites get infected and can cause anemia for your family members and pets. So, let’s see how to prevent ticks in your yard.
7 Tips for Preventing Ticks in the Yard
The following tips will help you in preventing ticks in the yard and keeping your family and pets safe from these nasty biters:
Cut down on hiding places for ticks by keeping the grass mowed, shrubs and trees trimmed, weeds pulled, and leaf litter picked up and discarded.
Move swing sets and sandboxes away from wooded areas.
Keep fences and other barriers to wildlife in good repair. A tick can ride in on an animal, drop off and be ready to bite your pet.
Create a barrier between the lawn and garden areas and any surrounding woods by laying down gravel or cedar wood chips.
Don’t overwater. Ticks are attracted to moisture.
Keep bird feeders, bird baths, and squirrel feeders well away from pet areas.
Most Americans who get bitten by ticks pick them up in their own garden. That’s why it is so important to learn how to prevent ticks in the yard. However, ticks are commonly found at most of our favorite outdoor destinations, including the mountains, the woods, and beaches. Let’s consider additional steps to prevent ticks from ruining your outdoor fun .
Know When to Apply Tick Spray
Consider using a tick-repellant spray with a concentration of 20-30% DEET. Several on the market are effective at preventing tick bites on hiking and camping trips for people and dogs. When it is tick season in the area, a repellant spray is an excellent way to protect your family on vacation.
Know Which Areas to Avoid
Do some basic Google research to learn whether you live, work, or vacation in an area with tick infestations. This knowledge can help you prioritize your tick prevention efforts.
Dress Accordingly
If you go hiking or camping in an area where ticks are a problem, wear light-colored clothing, so tiny ticks are easier to spot. Also, choose clothing that covers your skin, including long sleeves, a high neck, long pants with the legs tucked into your socks, full-coverage shoes, and a hat. Using a DEET tick repellant spray and then dressing carefully is the best approach to preventing tick bites while hiking and camping.
Remain Vigilant for Ticks and Bites
As important as preventing ticks in the yard is, it’s vital to avoid an infestation in your home. Take care to inspect yourself, your kids, and your pets when coming in from exposure to ticks. Shower or bathe to easily dislodge any ticks that have not attached. Then, carefully search for ticks, with particular attention given to the following areas:
Neck
Under arms
Behind ears
Behind knees
Inside elbow joints
Under hair and on the scalp
Inside the belly button
Around the waist
Groin area
When examining pets, run your hands along their skin, feeling for bumps. Check the spots listed above and your pet’s mouth, ears, and between their toes.
Have Routine Tick Control Treatment by a Trusted Specialist
A professional tick control service makes preventing ticks in your lawn and garden much easier. Together with our tips above about denying ticks a habitat in your yard will help to keep ticks from taking over your property.
Contact Mosquito Joe for Tick Control!
Mosquito Joe provides more than effective and efficient mosquito control service and flea control. We have also been providing reliable tick control since 2010. As a proud Neighborly company, we have made it our business to become the local pest control experts in neighborhoods across the county.
When you hire Mosquito Joe, you trust that your service will be done right and on time. Every visit is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise and the Mosquito Joe® Satisfaction Guarantee!
At Mosquito Joe, preventing ticks from feeding on your family is our business. Call us today at 1-855-275-2563 or contact us online for a free quote or to schedule professional tick control services. We make your pool, patio, and yard safe for bite-free fun!
Creating a pollinator garden is an excellent way to support biodiversity and contribute to the health of the environment. Pollinators are an imperative part of the ecosystem. Not only do these gardens provide habitats for pollinators, but they also enhance the beauty of your home.
In this guide to planting a pollinator garden, we will cover what pollinators are and how they benefit the environment, the best pollinator plants for your garden, landscaping maintenance tips, and additional resources to gather more information that will explain the important role pollinators play in our environment.
What Is a Pollinator?
A pollinator is any animal or insect that carries pollen from the male part of one plant to the female part of another. Some of the most popular examples of pollinators include bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats. Each species plays an important role in the pollination process, though bees tend to be the most relied upon. This is why many people choose a bee garden when deciding to plant a pollinator garden.
Why Are Pollinators Important?
According to an article published in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, “pollinators and pollination are crucial in the functioning of almost all terrestrial ecosystems including those dominated by agriculture because they are in the front line of sustainable productivity through plant reproduction.” These tiny creatures make such a large impact that, without them, our world as we know it would not exist.
Pollinators are so important that some companies — even those who specialize in insect extermination — have protection management programs in place to help safeguard the environment for pollinators and actively work to protect them. You can do your part with pollinator plants.k
The Relationship Between Pollinators and the Environment
Don’t be fooled by their name. Pollinators do more than transfer pollen from flower to flower. The same article published on ScienceDirect explains that another role of pollinators is to “monitor environmental stress brought about by introduced competitors, diseases, parasites, predators, as well as by chemical and physical factors, particularly pesticides and habitat modification.”
Scientists can analyze these species to better understand the condition of the various crops vital to our food system. When they see signs of a decreasing population, it could be an indication of an increase in pesticides being used for crops. However, in more recent studies, parasites, disease, and habitat modification have proven to have a larger impact than pesticides as more land is cleared for additional crops.
The decline in the bee population is so severe that various activists, scientists, organizations, and others have made it their mission to spread awareness about the importance of this species. This has led to an increase in the number of bee conservation programs and activities that individuals can take part in to help prevent this vital species from going extinct. A bee garden is a great way to contribute to saving the bee species.
Pollinator Conservation
Coming together both at home and within your community can help spread awareness about the importance of conservation. Protecting these animals and insects is vital to their existence and will benefit our ecosystem as well.
Finding ways to educate others on the benefits of conservation can help spread awareness and understanding about the importance of these species. If you have children, try to engage in more backyard activities, like building a backyard habitat, to capture their attention, get them involved, and teach them about the importance of pollinators. Involve them in the planting and maintenance of your family’s garden. Even suggesting the idea of starting a community garden can be beneficial.
One of the many benefits of educating your children on conservation is that it will teach them habits that will help them make eco-friendly choices as an adult. They can take what they learned as a child and apply it to their future — educating others along the way. Aside from personal development, planting a pollinator garden has numerous benefits. For example, attracting bees and butterflies to your garden and community can:
Help signal when something is awry in the ecosystem
Reduce the number of pesticides that are being used
Provide educational opportunities
Help foods and flowers thrive
Contribute to the life cycle of flowers and other plants
Best Pollinator Plants for Garden and Yard
Not all plants attract pollinators. Some may even do the opposite. This is why it is important to know which plants to choose for conservation landscaping and a pollinator garden. You will want to find plants that are in season and are compatible with your area. Let’s take a look at which types of plants are most attractive to the various pollinating species.
Bees:
Alyssum
Anise hyssop
Aster
Bee balm
Black-eyed Susan
Butterfly weed
Clover
Coneflower
Cranesbill
Poppies
Butterflies:
Black-eyed Susan
Bottlebrush
Butterfly bush
Coral bean
Coral honeysuckle
Dill
Fennel
Firebush
Firecracker plant
Firespike
Gumbo-limbo tree
Horsemint
Jatropha
Lantana
Lion’s ear
Milkweed
Parsley
Passionflower
Pawpaw
Providing water to wildlife
Purple coneflower
Saltbush
Hummingbirds:
Beardtongue
Bee balm
Butterfly bush
Catmint
Clove pink
Columbine
Coral bells
Daylily
Larkspur
Desert candle
Iris
Flowering tobacco
Foxglove
Lily
Lupine
Pentas
Petunia
Pincushion flower
Red-hot poker
Scarlet sage
Scarlet trumpet honeysuckle
Soapwort
Summer phlox
Verbena
Weigela
Like the bee balm and sage, some of the plants are also great ways to help combat,ticks and mosquitoes.
How to Plant a Pollinator Garden
Planting a pollinator garden involves a few key steps to ensure success.
Plan and design: Determine the size and shape of your garden, keeping in mind how large the plants you want to include in your pollinator garden will become. Sketch out a design of your backyard pollinator garden, including areas for different types of plants and any additional features you want to include, such as water sources or nesting sites.
Research native plants: Visit your local nursery to determine what plants will grow in your area and when the best time to plant is. Native plants are adapted to local conditions and provide better food sources for native pollinators. Focus your research on the types of pollinators you want to attract. If you want a bee garden, focus on plants that attract bees. Hummingbirds and butterflies will like different types of plants than bees.
Prepare the soil: Ensure your existing soil is free of vegetation, weeds, and grass. Add organic matter such as compost to improve the soil structure, fertility, and water retention.
Planting: Holes for each plant should be large enough to accommodate the root system of the plant. Remove the plants from their containers carefully to not disturb the root system. Gently loosen the soil the plant is in before planting to give the roots room to spread out. Backfill the holes with soil, ensuring that no roots are showing above the soil line.
Mulch: A layer of organic mulch helps plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate the soil temperature.
Water: Water your plants thoroughly right away to help plants establish roots and settle the soil.
All of these steps will set you up for success with your pollinator-friendly yard.
Tips for Landscaping Maintenance
Just as it is important to purchase plants that attract bees and other pollinators, it’s essential to maintain the land around them. Bees and butterflies get their water from puddles and damp soil. If your yard doesn’t allow for that, you may want to consider finding alternative ways to water them.
Installing ponds, fountains, creeks, shallow pans of water, or birdbaths can serve as watering stations for pollinators. However, if you choose one of these options, you must clean them often. Mosquitoes and other pests and bacteria are often attracted to stagnant bodies of water. Cleaning a birdbath with a garden hose and a non-bleach mixture is a great way to ensure the birds and bees are hydrated without attracting mosquitoes.
Other ways to ensure your pollinator garden is well maintained include the following:
Mow often.
Don’t overwater the lawn.
Fertilize your lawn, trees, shrubs, and garden.
Inspect your trees and shrubs for broken branches.
Pull weeds often.
Understand what type of soil you have.
Pollinator-friendly gardens and habitats will require standard maintenance such as thinning, fertilizing, amending the soil, removing dead stalks, watering, and removing invasive plant species. When attracting butterflies and bees, you might also attract other insects and pests. You can deter these pests by investing in barrier spray services or an all-natural treatment option for mosquitoes and other pests.
You can always discuss it with a specialist if you are unsure of how to properly maintain your landscaping.
Landscaping Alternatives for Rentals and/or Apartments
Those who live in a rental and/or an apartment may not have as much freedom with landscaping options as those who own their home. But this doesn’t mean that they can’t have any of the flowers and plants listed above to create their own pollinator garden.
Participating in a community garden, making use of planters, and (if able) installing window boxes are excellent alternatives to landscaping while in a rental.
Alternative Ways to Shelter Pollinators
If you have a difficult time maintaining a pollinator garden, don’t worry! There are ways you can house pollinators without having to maintain landscaping. You can still do your part in the conservation process by investing in bee hotels and butterfly houses.
Serious gardeners and pollinator enthusiasts may even consider taking their conservation a step further by becoming their own beekeepers.
Beekeeping 101
Beekeeping is commonly taken on as a career. However, some may choose to pick it up as a hobby. But it isn’t as easy as it may look. Beekeeping takes a lot of time, patience, and dedication.
There are a lot of benefits associated with beekeeping. You can have access to an endless supply of honey, make various products out of beeswax, and help with repopulating the species.
However, along with the pros come the cons. Beekeeping can get expensive. You have to purchase the right clothing, smokers, hive tools, frame grips, and the bees themselves. These expenses can add up.
Beekeeping is a serious commitment. Before deciding what you want to do, you will want to be sure that you can provide the bees with everything they need.
Additional Resources and Further Reading
Here are additional resources to help answer any leftover questions about pollinators, how to attract them to your pollinator garden, and/or the impact they have on the environment.
Creating a pollinator-friendly yard can feel intimidating at first. However, armed with the information above, you can confidently begin your landscaping journey with your pollinating pals firmly in mind. However, when dealing with pests like mosquitoes and ticks, it’s best to call in the pros. Your local Mosquito Joe® has the training and expertise to help keep mosquitoes and ticks at bay for up to 30 days. We offer both traditional and natural mosquito barrier sprays that can help make your outdoor time fun again. To learn more or to get started, call us at 1-855-275-2563 or request a quote online today!
Pollinator FAQs
Are pollinator gardens low maintenance?
Pollinator gardens can be low maintenance, but the level of maintenance required depends upon the size of the garden, the plants in the garden, and local environmental conditions.
Do pollinator gardens need full sun?
Not all pollinator plants require full sun. While many thrive in full sun, some pollinators, such as certain butterflies and bees, can be attracted to gardens with partial shade.
What flowers are not good for pollinators?
While most flowers provide some level of benefit to pollinators, there are certain varieties that may not be attractive or beneficial to pollinators. Here are some examples:
Double-flowered varieties – Double-flowered plants have extra petals and often lack or have reduced reproductive structures such as stamens or nectar-producing glands. While these flowers are appealing to humans, they can provide limited benefits to pollinators.
Hybrid or Cultivated varieties – Some cultivated or hybrid flowers have been bred for certain traits, such as larger blooms or extended flowering periods. However, in the breeding process, some of the natural characteristics that would normally attract pollinators are lost.
Non-native and invasive species – Non-native and invasive species may not have coevolved with local pollinators and may not provide suitable nectar and pollen resources. Invasive species can outcompete native plants and reduce the overall biodiversity and available resources for pollinators.
A sandbox can create hours of fun for kids but sharing it with bugs is nobody’s idea of a fun time. If you’re looking for safe and effective ways to keep ants and other creepy crawlies away from the kids’ sandy playtime, cinnamon in the sandbox may be your solution.
This fragrant spice and pantry staple just so happens to be highly offensive to unwanted sandbox intruders. You sprinkle, they run!
While you may be hesitant to put pesticides and other chemical-based repellant products in or around the sandbox, cinnamon is child-safe, eco-friendly, and affordable.
Read on to learn more about keeping bugs out of the sandbox with cinnamon, so the kids can enjoy bug-free fun in the sand and sun.
Does Cinnamon Keep Bugs Out of a Sandbox?
Yes, cinnamon in the sandbox does more than creating a pleasant aroma. The strong, spicy scent also repels bugs—they want nothing to do with it! The spice contains eugenol, an aromatic compound commonly found in traditional insect repellants.
Bugs also don’t like cinnamon’s powdery texture, and cinnamon has chemicals that have been shown to kill mosquito eggs and repel adult mosquitos, making it a triple-whammy to keep bugs out of the sandbox.
If you’re ready to add cinnamon to the sandbox, you may be wondering how much is enough. Sprinkling too much cinnamon in the sandbox can lead to eye irritation for the little ones who are playing in the sand.
For best results, start with one tablespoon of powdered cinnamon for an average-sized sandbox (typically 48” x 48”). Sprinkle the cinnamon evenly over the surface of the sand and mix it with a rake to disperse the spice throughout the box.
Another natural bug-repelling option is to use cinnamon oil: add a few drops of the essential oil to a spray bottle full of water and spray the entire sandbox area. Once dry, the kids can jump in for bug-free sand play.
Keep in mind that although cinnamon will repel bugs, it won’t necessarily kill them. If you notice too many bugs in the sand, it’s a good idea to dump the sandbox, fill it with fresh sand, and add the cinnamon to prevent a bug infestation from reoccurring.
Added Cinnamon to the Sandbox but Still Got a Bug Problem?
If you’re overwhelmed by bugs in your sandbox, it can be a sign that your yard needs some pest control help. The trusted pest control experts at your local Mosquito Joe can help make your yard itch-free with natural barrier treatments that can last up to thirty days. Give us a call at 1-855-275-2563 or request an estimate online today.
Outdoor weddings can be a wonderful experience shared with family, friends, and plenty of natural beauty. But along with that beauty can come a fair number of complications, including unwelcome guests: bugs. No one wants their special day to turn into a flurry of swatting or slapping away bugs. The experts at Mosquito Joe have some advice that can help make your special outdoor event memorable for all the right reasons.
How To Get Rid of Bugs for Outdoor Wedding
While you could end up with any number of party-crashing bugs, there are a few that are more likely to show up at an outdoor wedding. Some of the most common pests include:
Mosquitoes
Flies
Ants
Yellowjackets
There are several things you can do to make your wedding less attractive to these pesky party crashers. If possible, have your wedding in the spring or fall. Summer is the peak of insect season and a time when many insects are the most active. Make sure there’s no standing water since this can also attract a variety of insects. Keep shrubs and trees neatly trimmed, and be sure to rake up any plant debris that might be a haven for insects
You’ll also want to consider the time of day. Dusk is the worst time to hold an outdoor event because that is when many insects are on the hunt for a meal. If you can, an afternoon or late-morning wedding is ideal. This should help you avoid spending most of the ceremony swatting at mosquitoes.
However, if you prefer to have your wedding in the spring or summer during dusk or early evening hours, then you’ll need to do some pre-planning to keep your guests from becoming a meal. One way to keep you and your guests comfortable is to contact your local Mosquito Joe. They can help keep bugs away and your guests itch-free on your big day.
Also, if all or part of your event takes place on a lawn, make sure it has been mowed to the lowest possible length. This will reduce hiding spots for insects. Here are some other insect repellent alternatives you might want to consider.
What’s the Best Insect Repellent for an Outdoor Wedding?
Insect repellents can be a useful tool for keeping you and your guests comfortable during your special event. Candles, sprays, and other products can prove effective at keeping insects away. So, it is a good idea to have them available, just in case.
Citronella candles are a good, easy-to-use option for mosquito control at an outdoor wedding. Lit citronella candles or torches arranged around the event space can help keep insects such as mosquitoes away. To create a barrier around the perimeter of your wedding event, consider spacing citronella candles about three feet apart. Although effective, this can be a somewhat unpleasant alternative for you and your guests because citronella candles do give off a very distinct odor.
Insect repellent spray can also be effective but is not always ideal. Although you can have cans or bottles available, some guests may be reluctant to use them because most leave a residue and have an odor that can linger for some time.
If you know the site you selected is particularly prone to insects, having the area treated in advance will help discourage pests. As mentioned, treatments like those available from Mosquito Joe are effective for up to 30 days. You can choose a natural barrier treatment that uses garlic or a botanical option derived from natural plant oils to keep pests away from your event.
Outdoor Wedding Mosquito Prevention
Aside from candles, torches, and barrier treatments, there are also some natural options you might want to consider to keep mosquitoes and other pests away from your wedding.
Essential oils such as citronella and eucalyptus are known for their insect-repellent qualities. Consider placing diffusers in the area, using incense made from these botanicals, or buying lotions or sprays that you and your guests can apply.
Grow citronella, mint, and marigolds. These plants naturally repel insects, including mosquitoes, and can be grown in containers and placed around your venue.
Consider a screened pavilion or tent. If none of these options appeal to you, consider renting a screened pavilion or tent for your ceremony. The only drawback is that it might not be easy to find one that’s large enough, and a tent or screened pavilion can detract from the natural beauty of your outdoor event (which defeats the purpose).
Keep Uninvited Pests Away
An outdoor wedding can be a very special, beautiful, and memorable event. However, if insects arrive, it could be memorable for all the wrong reasons. No one wants something as special as their wedding spoiled by insects. If you’re looking for an effective way to keep insects from crashing your wedding, contact your local Mosquito Joe.
Our traditional and natural barrier sprays effectively keep pests away for up to thirty days. If you’re planning an outdoor event, make Mosquito Joe a part of your planning. This way the only guests that show up are the ones you invited. To learn more, or to get started, call us at 1-855-275-2563 or schedule an appointment online today.
Invasive bugs are a huge problem in the United States. According to Entomology Today, the economic impact of invasive insects is more than $30 billion each year. These pests can degrade, change, or even displace native habitats and cause all kinds of disruptions for other wildlife.
And when it comes to you and your yard, invasive bugs are a big inconvenience. While some invasive insects like stinkbugs are harmless, they can end up everywhere—including your underwear drawer! Other invasive bugs, like termites, could do real damage to your home. Any kind of invasive insect is a nuisance. By learning more about them, you can better take control of your space.
Common Types of Invasive Bugs
These are some of the most common invasive insects in North America:
Several types of moths, like the leek moth and cactus moth
Wooly adelgids
Asian tiger mosquitoes
Several types of fruit flies, black flies, and sawflies
Termites
Earwigs
Stinkbugs
Mealybugs
Spotted Lantern Flies
There are so many other invasive bugs in the states, including many types of beetles, borers, scale bugs, wasps, flies and ants. It’s worth researching an insect if it seems to be destroying plants and trees on your property, or your house.
Wait … Are Mosquitoes Invasive?
When you’re thinking of bugs that are a nuisance, mosquitoes are probably the first ones to jump to mind. But are mosquitoes invasive? Actually, yes, there are species of invasive mosquitoes. The Asian tiger mosquito and the yellow fever mosquito are both examples of invasive mosquitoes that have snuck into North America in hiding spots like used car tires. Typically, these types of invasive mosquitoes prefer warmer areas like southern California.
The mosquitoes that most US households deal with are the Aedes mosquito, the Anopheles mosquito, and the Culex mosquito. Since an invasive bug is defined as a species that was introduced to an area where they don’t naturally occur, these mosquitoes are not technically invasive. But they sure are annoying!
While it’s normal to find a tick from time to time while you’re outside, finding them consistently could point to a problem. Ticks are tiny, parasitic bugs that generally live in wooded areas and fields. They need human or animal blood to survive and can be carriers of serious diseases, like Lyme disease. When you suspect you have a tick invasion (because they are frequently showing up on you or your pets), act fast so they don’t get inside of your house, where they could survive for a while. An effective way to get rid of these creepy creatures is to have your yard professionally sprayed for ticks during their most active months. You can also keep your grass and trees trimmed and try to weed your garden regularly to deter ticks.
While ticks often burrow under hair before biting their victims, they also attach themselves to other areas of the body, like:
Under the knees
Under the arms
The groin area
Inside or around the ears
Inside the belly button
The base of the neck
During tick season, which is any time of year when temperatures stay above 45 degrees Fahrenheit, be sure to check these areas on yourself and your kids. And don’t forget to check your pets regularly too!
Professional Invasive Species Control
As a homeowner, there isn’t much you can do to prevent invasive insects from migrating to your area. What you can do is prevent them from taking up residence in your own backyard and jeopardizing the safety of you and your family. At Mosquito Joe, our mission is to help homeowners take back the outdoors. Our traditional and natural barrier sprays effectively keep pests away for up to thirty days, which can make the time you and your family spend outdoor fun again! To learn more, or to get started, give us a call at 1-855-275-2563or request an estimate online today.
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Coming together both at home and within your community can help spread awareness about the importance of conservation. Protecting these animals and insects is vital to their existence and will benefit our ecosystem as well.
