Eliminate Tick Habitat: Deer ticks are not out in the middle of your lawn, they live where yards border wooded areas, ornamental plantings and gardens, or anywhere it is shaded and there are leaves with high humidity. By raking leaves, trimming shrubs and low branches you can make certain areas where ticks cannot survive. Pay special attention to frequented border areas, woodpiles, stonewalls and sheds. Creating borders of wood chips stone or any other landscaping material helps to serve as a reminder between tick-safe and Tick-danger zones.

Don't Attract Wildlife: Ticks are brought to your yard by deer and become infected mainly by feeding on mice. Keep deer out by planting undesirable plants, installing deer fencing or applying deer repellents. Mice like to live in stonewalls, around sheds, woodpiles or any enclosed area they can get into. Clean up brush, keep stonewalls clear of leaves, move woodpiles away from daily activity. Birdfeeders also attract deer and rodents that may drop ticks off right where you are standing.

Perimeter Sprays and Granules: The single most effective way to reduce ticks in your yard is by perimeter sprays. Performed by professional tick control applicators, perimeter sprays target the area where the ticks are - NOT ON LAWNS and the chemicals used today to control ticks are much less toxic than in the past and are used in very little quantity.

Mouse-Targeted Devices: Don't forget, mice are the primary culprits for making infected ticks. By targeting the ticks that feed on mice you can greatly reduce the number of infected ticks in your yard. You can do it yourself or hire a professional applicator.