The Backyard Trick That Helps Keep Ticks Away for Weeks

With warmer weather comes the threat of ticks. If you have a yard that backs up to a woods or heavy brush, then ticks will find their way into lawn, threatening pets and family members. Given the prevalence of tick borne illnesses like lyme disease, this is no small concern. Don't reach for pesticides to deal with this issue. You can create a quick $2 barrier against ticks using a common essential oil, which works as an environmentally friendly natural tick repellent that lasts for weeks. 

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Why Cedarwood Oil Repels Ticks

A recent CDC study on the efficacy of minimum risk products used to kill and repel ticks showed that cedarwood oil can be particulalry effective these little blood suckers. Ticks use built-in sensors to locate their hosts. The scent of cedarwood oil overwhelms those sensory organs while at the same time driving them away. Cedarwood oil can even take out ticks by dissolving their exoskeletons. And, unlike other bug repellents that  have a chemical smell, cedarwood oil has a pleasant aroma. 

How to Use Cedarwood Oil to Prevent Ticks

All you need to create this tick repellent is cedarwood oil, water, and a hose end sprayer.

• Mix 5 ounces of cedarwood essential oil to 32 ounces of water in your hose end sprayer’s reservoir. Add a few drops of dish soap to act as a binder that helps the water and oil to mix. One batch is enough to treat about 5,000 square feet. 
• Mow your lawn about 2 or 3 days before applying the mixture to expose ticks, making them more susceptible to the oil. 
• Check the weather and choose a day when there’s no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours. 
• Apply the mixture in the early morning to prevent the oil from evaporating before it has a chance to work its magic. 
• Spray the 3 foot border around your yard where the lawn meets trees or tall brush, which is where most ticks live in your yard
• The treatment will repel ticks for about two weeks or until you get a heavy spring rain, after which you’ll need to retreat to the area. It’s important to note that while cedarwood oil can be effective, the CDC study found that it significantly loses that effectiveness after a couple of weeks, so reapplication is crucial. 

FAQs

Is cedarwood oil safe for pets?

While essential oils are natural bug repellents, some essential oils, like tea tree oil, aren’t safe for pets. However, cedarwood oil is generally safe for pets when it’s properly diluted. It's only harmful to pets in high concentrations. 

Does cedarwood oil harm beneficial insects?

Cedarwood oil is safe for most pollinators when used as directed above. Unlike other broad spectrum insecticides, cedarwood oil does not harm bees or butterflies. That’s because the oil itself doesn’t hurt insects but rather functions as a fragrance wall that drives certain insects, in this case ticks, away.