Photos of Actual Yard Improvements
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Create a woodchip, mulch or gravel barrier where your lawn meets the woods. 
A dry barrier makes it more difficult for ticks to migrate from the woods to your lawn.

Keep benches and other sitting areas away from brush and high grass. 
Put dry woodchips or gravel beneath benches to reduce your risk of a tickbite.

Fencing at least 8 feet high is one of the most effective ways to keep deer out of your yard. 
Ticks reproduce on deer so it is important to discourage deer browsing on your property.

Mow the fields that are close to your home to discourage deer and rodent activity. 
Ticks are more common in tall grass.

Keep grass cut short. Trim away branches and open up the yard to
as much sunlight as possible. Ticks are more likely to dry up and die in full sunlight.

Keep leaves raked especially under decks and near stone walls.

Research shows that pesticides are one of the most effective ways to reduce ticks. 
If you choose to spray, only spray in the edge areas where the lawn meets the woods.

Move swing sets out of wooded areas. Cut back brush, let the sun shine in and 
put a layer of dry woodchips beneath the area.

Make sure stone walls are filled tightly with rocks. Stone walls that are not 
well maintained proved shelter for small mammals that carry ticks.

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