Protect your garden: Eliminate tick eggs to prevent infestations

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### ✅ 2. **Apply Diatomaceous Earth**

Diatomaceous earth is a natural, pet-safe powder made from fossilized algae. It dries out and kills soft-bodied insects and parasites, including tick larvae.

* Sprinkle it in areas where you suspect ticks may lay eggs: along fences, in mulch beds, and under bushes.
* Reapply after rain for ongoing protection.

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### ✅ 3. **Use a Natural Tick Spray**

Make your own tick-repellent spray using essential oils like **cedarwood, eucalyptus, or rosemary**—all known to repel ticks.

**DIY Tick Spray Recipe:**

* 2 cups water
* 10 drops cedarwood oil
* 10 drops eucalyptus oil
* 1 tablespoon witch hazel or apple cider vinegar

Spray around the garden perimeter, shrubs, and known tick hotspots weekly.

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### ✅ 4. **Introduce Tick Predators**

Encourage **natural tick predators** like chickens, guinea fowl, or certain birds (e.g., robins, wrens) to visit your yard. They’ll snack on larvae and adult ticks.

* Install bird feeders or birdbaths to invite feathered allies.
* Consider backyard poultry if allowed in your area.

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### ✅ 5. **Create a Tick-Free Border**

Form a dry, mulch-free buffer zone between wooded areas and your garden using **gravel or wood chips**. Ticks avoid dry, sunny areas and are less likely to cross into your garden.

Aim for a 3-foot-wide barrier between lawns and wild vegetation.

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## 🐾 **Bonus: Protect Pets and People**

Ticks often hitchhike into your home on pets or clothing. Take these steps to break the cycle:

* **Check pets daily** during tick season (spring to fall).
* Use vet-approved tick preventatives.
* **Wear light-colored clothing** and tuck pants into socks when gardening.
* Shower and check for ticks after outdoor activity.

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## 🌼 **Final Thoughts: Stay Ahead of the Infestation**

You don’t need harsh chemicals to defend your garden against ticks—just a little know-how and consistency. By **eliminating tick eggs before they hatch**, you stop infestations before they start, keeping your garden safe, beautiful, and bite-free.

Don’t wait for the ticks to come to you—**take action now**, and enjoy your garden with peace of mind.

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