Blacklegged ticks thrive in damp, shady environments. They cannot survive for long in dry, sunny areas. To create an environment that is unfavourable for tick survival:
- mow the lawn regularly to keep the grass short
- remove leaf litter, brush, long grass and weeds at the edge of the lawn and around stone walls and woodpiles
- prune shrubs and trees to allow sunlight to filter through
- create a 1-metre or wider wood chip, mulch, or gravel border between your lawn and woods, shrubs and stone edges:
- seal stone walls and other openings to help prevent animals such as deer, mice and other rodents from bringing ticks into your yard
- place patios, decks and children's playground sets in sunny areas of the yard and away from yard edges
- place playground sets on a mulch or wood chip surface