Ticks are a major issue in Maryland yards, but target residential pest control keeps them under control.
Effective prevention comes down to a few simple steps: keep your grass short, clear leaf litter, build a woodline barrier, and use a targeted tick and mosquito spray.
Read on to learn where local ticks hide, when they’re most active, and how to clear your property.
Which Ticks Live in Maryland?
Maryland is home to many tick species that are active year-round in overlapping periods.
The three most medically important are:
Blacklegged (Deer) Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
These ticks are the primary vector of Lyme disease in Maryland and can also carry anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus. They are commonly found in wooded areas, leaf litter, and brush.
These ticks are active year-round, whenever temperatures exceed 35 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes them an ongoing risk during winter, unlike the other two medically important species.
Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)
These aggressive ticks actively seek hosts and can carry Alpha-gal syndrome, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and Heartland virus. They typically hide on forest edges, tall grass, and shrubs.
American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
These ticks get their name because they primarily target dogs and pets, but can be a health concern to humans as they carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. They are often found in fields, lawns, trails, and other grassy areas.
Where Do Ticks Hide in Your Yard?
Ticks have to wait for hosts to pass by before they can climb onto them. This means they have to hide in areas rich with opportunity.
Preferably those that are cool and shaded, avoiding direct sunlight as much as possible. In your yard, that includes areas such as:
Leaf Litter
Leaf litter is an ideal hiding location for ticks, as it offers plenty of shade and moisture. Rodents also tend to dwell here, which immature ticks tend to favor. These factors allow tick populations to quickly grow.
Tall Grass
Untrimmed grass offers plenty of shade and moisture for ticks. It also presents opportunities for ticks to latch onto passing hosts.
Woodland Edges
Wooded edges are where many ticks transition into residential landscapes by latching onto passing pets and animals that carry them into yards.
Dense Ground Cover
Shrubs and other ornamental plants create protective environments for ticks to thrive in. Limiting and maintaining them is key to reducing tick activity year-round.
8 Ways to Make Your Yard Tick-Resistant
Reducing tick activity in your yard is a multi-step process that requires ongoing effort. It’s not as difficult as it sounds, though, and it can also help you reduce other seasonal pest populations.
These eight steps can be incorporated into existing yard-care programs to stop ticks from taking over your living space:
1. Keep Grass Mowed
Keep your grass managed throughout the growing season. Shorter grass receives more sunlight, making it harder for ticks to survive.
2. Remove Leaf Litter Regularly
Clear out leaves from beneath trees, along fence lines, and other parts of your property. Both rodents and ticks are attracted to it, so removing it goes a long way in preventing either from thriving on your property.
3. Trim Overgrown Shrubs
Pruning brush and branches increases sunlight and reduces moisture, thereby making the environment less attractive to ticks.
4. Install a Wood Chip or Gravel Barrier
Creating a three-foot barrier between your lawn and wooded edges creates a dry buffer area that works to keep ticks out.
5. Reduce Wildlife Activity
Animals transport ticks throughout neighborhoods. By reducing the number that visit your yard, you reduce the likelihood of ticks coming with them. Secure trash cans, store firewood appropriately and remove brush piles to keep them away. You can also opt for landscaping that intentionally keeps them out.
6. Place Play Equipment Away from Wooded Areas
Placing swing sets, patios, and seating areas near tree lines is an open invitation for ticks. Instead, locate them in sunny areas where ticks aren’t prone to hiding.
7. Check Pets Frequently
Dogs and cats pick up and carry ticks when walking through grass and wooded areas, then transfer them into your home. Regularly checking them after outdoor activity is key to keeping ticks out.
8. Schedule Seasonal Tick Treatments
Expert yard treatments are a great way for homeowners to keep tick activity at bay. Applications during spring and routine follow-up treatments will reduce their presence in high-risk parts of your yard.
What Tick-Borne Diseases Are Common in Maryland?
Maryland ticks carry several illnesses that can cause serious health problems for residents. This, combined with year-round activity, makes it especially important for homeowners to take the risk seriously. Common tick-borne diseases in Maryland include:
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most serious tick-borne disease in Maryland. It is primarily transmitted by blacklegged ticks.
Without treatment, Lyme disease can affect the nervous system, heart, and joints.
Early symptoms include:
- A bull’s-eye or expanding rash (although not everyone develops one)
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is also spread by blacklegged ticks. Older adults and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for serious illness, and common symptoms include:
Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Severe headache
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Unlike the previous bacterial infections, alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic condition triggered by bites from lone star ticks. People with alpha gal syndrome develop allergic reactions hours after eating mammalian meats like beef, pork, and lamb.
Symptoms include:
- Rash
- Fever
- Hives
- Stomach pain
- Flu-like conditions
This illness can also create life-threatening anaphylaxis. It’s especially important to seek medical attention early if any of the symptoms arise to improve the outcome of Alpha-Gal syndrome.
How Do You Check for and Safely Remove a Tick?
A tick inspection is simply the process of checking key areas to ensure no ticks have crawled onto you. Performing a full-body check after outdoor activity is important to reduce the likelihood of them latching on long enough for disease transmission.
Be sure to check:
- Behind the knees
- Around the waist
- Under the arms
- Behind the ears
- Along the hairline and scalp
- Between the legs
If a tick has latched on, you must remove it as soon as possible. To do so:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
- Pull upward slowly and steadily without twisting
- Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol
- Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag, or flushing it down the toilet
- Monitor the bite area and your health for several weeks
When Should You Get a Professional Tick Yard Spray?
Professional tick treatments for your yard are always a worthwhile consideration in Maryland because ticks are active throughout the state year-round. They are especially important for residents who:
- Spend a lot of time in their yard
- Spend a lot of time outdoors
- Live near wooded areas
- Have a lot of animal traffic in their neighborhood
- Have pets
- Have children who frequently play outdoors
An expert will apply treatments to key areas to reduce tick activity and limit populations. They will focus on property edges, wood lines, landscaping beds, and high moisture areas. Treatments typically begin in spring with follow-up visits throughout the warm seasons to maintain low-tick activity around your home.
FAQs
What is the best way to keep ticks out of your yard?
The best way is to stay on top of yard maintenance and focus on limiting desirable hiding spots for ticks. Regular mowing, pruning shrubs and branches, removing leaf litter, creating physical barriers between wooded edges, and scheduling professional tick treatments will all reduce tick populations in your yard.
When are ticks most active in Maryland?
Ticks are active year-round in Maryland, whenever temperatures are above freezing. Peak activity typically occurs during spring and fall, but caution should be taken any time you are outdoors.
Can ticks survive in a well-maintained lawn?
Yes, but they are less likely to. Ticks prefer shade and moisture to avoid drying out in direct sunlight. Regular lawn upkeep increases sun exposure, making it harder for ticks to survive.
Is tick spraying safe for pets and children?
Professional tick control products are generally safe if applied properly and given time to dry. The expert you work with will provide specific reentry instructions to avoid issues.
How often should a yard be treated for ticks?
Maryland properties benefit from multiple treatments throughout the warmer parts of the year. They typically start in the spring, with follow-up visits scheduled through the fall. The specifics of a plan depend on the size and features of the property.
Can mulch attract ticks?
Yes. Thick mulch beds can provide shaded, moist conditions ticks prefer. Keeping mulch layers thin and dry will prevent populations from thriving, though.
Do professional tick treatments kill ticks immediately?
No, but they do begin to work shortly after applications. Treatments create a barrier that kills ticks as they move through targeted areas, reducing the overall population over time. Combining them with regular, thoughtful yard maintenance will produce long-lasting results quickly.
Can pets bring ticks into the house?
Yes. Pets can transfer ticks indoors. They pick them up when walking past tall grass, wooded trails, and landscaping that ticks hide in. This is why it’s important to regularly check your pet after outdoor activity.