The Best Green Ways to Rid Your Yard of Ticks and Mosquitoes

I went about writing this article as if I were researching tick and mosquito abatement I would consider doing myself. For something I would buy myself, it has to be non-toxic, and because I am well-read in the green field, a relatively sophisticated product in terms of understanding of the science, and one that is green. I have a vested interest in this because I have just fallen in love with gardening and we live in one of the East Coast’s tick epicenters. What can I do to keep them out of the garden so that I can comfortably weed? What would I do for mosquitoes if I were to have an outdoor party?

In researching tick repellents for a retreat center a number of years ago, I came across the research that carbon dioxide attracts ticks like no other, and mosquitoes, too. At that time there were no contraptions on the market to establish carbon dioxide and catch ticks. At the time, if you can believe it, I bought dry ice, put it in Styrofoam ice chests (not too eco-friendly, sorry), and caught ticks in there with masking tape!

How wonderful that the product world has caught up to the science about what an attractant carbon dioxide is for ticks and mosquitoes, to make products for us that don’t require a DIY contraption. In looking around the Internet I’ve found a few that I like, both because they don’t use propane, the commonly used method of creating carbon dioxide in these types of pest control products. You can read more about H-man at a distributor site, and buy an H-man, here. There is also another type of propane-free CO2 pest trap called an Eco Trap.

I am also considering doing a non-toxic garlic juice spray on my lawn and garden a few times a year. Ticks are such a huge problem for my environment, and I have had a few serious cases of Lyme disease to prove it. The garlic spray will also repel mosquitoes because, apparently, they simply hate garlic. For more detailed information about safe mosquito control and guidelines, read my Safe Mosquito Control.
For a small gathering outside with friends, I’ll use beeswax candles with citronella. I’ve written about citronella candles recently, in Green Touch for the Tiki Torch.

You can also easily custom make your own insect repellents.

Annie B. Bond is the author of four books on green living.

Read more: Nature, Natural Pest Control, C02, gardening, garlic, mosquitoes, ticks

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

William A.

3:44PM PDT on Mar 16, 2012

The USDA did a test in 2010 in New Haven, CT using a chemical and a product containing
nothing but garlic juice, but very strong stuff. It kept ticks out of the area better than the
chemicals so the rest results show and cleared the area for 30 days. No ticks, no chemical
and no poisons. I am using it also and have similar luck. The stuff is available on the internet.

send a green star

Jeanne R.

7:13AM PDT on Jun 26, 2011

Thanks for the info about garlic spray!

Kathy D.

9:48PM PDT on Jun 24, 2011

Look on Amazon for reviews- everyone said the eco-trap does not work!

Jennifer C.

5:11PM PDT on Jun 23, 2011

Great info. Thanks.

Melody A.

12:50AM PDT on Jun 3, 2011

install houses for bats, and for birds works the best to keep all mosquitoes at bay yes no side effects too...

Mark C.

6:04PM PDT on Aug 25, 2010

Awesome, thanks for the info.

Ildi P.

1:49PM PDT on Aug 17, 2010

thanks annie, an herbal infusion or spray of pennyroyal can also be used to bathe pets in to keep them tick and flea free.

Mary E.

11:12AM PDT on Aug 17, 2010

For the garlic spray, I usually boil a few whole heads of garlic in a pot of water until the garlic is soft. Then pour the mixture into a spray bottle. This can be safely sprayed anywhere you are wanting to keep the mosquitoes away from (works on yellow flies to !)

For Ticks - if you go to a feed store (where horse feed is sold), you can buy large sulfur salt blocks. Place the block in the area in your yard where you are having the biggest problem (or scatter a few about if you have a large yard). When it rains it releases the sulfur into the soil and ticks Hate sulfur. My horses used to get ticks, and an old farmer taught me this trick. It keeps ticks out of the yard as well as off your animals. Horses have added protection from this, as they tend to lick the salt - ticks already on the animal will begin to drop off as the sulfur is passed through the sweat glands.

Kim S.

10:04PM PDT on Jul 15, 2010

Thanks

Past Member .

8:16AM PDT on Jul 3, 2010

thanks for this info