Can A Trusty Medicine Cabinet Staple Handle Garden Ticks? Here's What We Found

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that ticks have become a growing concern in backyards and gardens across the country. Ticks can spread close to 20 different illnesses, and experts continue to discover new pathogens as research expands. These tiny pests may be easy to overlook, quietly hiding in tall grass, shrubs, and shaded corners of your yard. But their real danger lies in how easily they find a host. They prefer to cling to warm-blooded animals and feed on their blood to survive and reproduce. While the bite itself is often painless and easy to miss, the diseases they carry can lead to serious health problems, ranging from Lyme disease to anaplasmosis and Bourbon virus. 

Because of the risks, it's natural to look for quick, DIY solutions, and rubbing alcohol often shows up on those lists. It's true that alcohol can kill live ticks on contact. Once a tick is removed, placing it in an airtight jar of rubbing alcohol is a surefire way to finish the job. But when it comes to using rubbing alcohol as a spray repellent for ticks in the garden, the evidence is thin. While it might dehydrate pests on contact, there's little proof it works as a lasting deterrent, and it can easily harm your plants. Alcohol can burn leaves, disrupt moisture balance, and affect growth if it's not diluted very carefully.

If you're still tempted to try it, make sure to use a highly diluted mix. A general mix is 2 cups of rubbing alcohol to about a quart of water, though you can adjust as needed. Before treating the entire plant, test a small area and wait 24 hours to check for any signs of leaf damage. If you notice browning or wilting, add more water to further dilute the solution. The safest time to spray is during the cooler hours, like mornings or evenings, and avoid application if the weather is especially hot or sunny. While rubbing alcohol isn't the best organic spray to get rid of ticks, it might still have a place if you're cautious and mindful of its downsides.

However, there's still another option that's far more effective and consistent. Permethrin spray is one of the most potent choices out there. Look for permethrin-based products that are labeled safe for plants and follow the instructions on the packaging closely. Just make sure you handle it with care. Permethrin can trigger a skin reaction, so avoid spraying it on yourself or pets directly. And never pour leftover spray into the soil, as it can harm helpful insects like honeybees and linger in the environment longer than you might expect.

When it comes to ticks, a little prevention goes a long way. Since they can carry several diseases, it's worth taking a few simple steps to make your garden less inviting to them. Start by cutting back tall grass and thick growth to remove the spots where ticks like to hide. Since ticks live in long grasses and dense vegetation, trimming these areas makes your yard far less inviting to them.

Another way to limit ticks is by creating dry, open spaces that discourage them from crossing into your yard. You can lay down a strip of gravel or wood chips around the edges of your garden beds. Since ticks prefer cool, moist areas, these dry, hot surfaces make it harder for them to move. You can also recruit a few plants to do some of the work for you. 

Certain plants may naturally help keep ticks at bay by giving off smells that these pests can't stand. Marigolds, rosemary, lavender, mint, garlic, and chrysanthemums are all great options. Not only do these plants possibly help keep ticks away, they also add color, fragrance, and a bit of charm to your yard, making it more enjoyable for you and much less inviting for unwanted visitors.