Fall Decor Could Bring Ticks Right to Your Front Door

So here it is just days before the American tradition of Thanksgiving is celebrated. Virtually everywhere throughout Chelmsford and Cambridge, home front entrances are still decked out with corn husk arrangements and pumpkins that have turned into Jack-O’-Lanterns.

And thanks to festive trend mavens like Martha Stewart and the variety of TikTokkers showcasing their holiday décor ideas, outdoor seasonal embellishments seem to be everywhere. As much fun and joyous as this time of year is, The Squad wants you to be mindful of keeping your fall and seasonal décor free from ticks.

Unfortunately, autumn and winter are a prime time for ticks. And they love lurking in natural habitats like corn stalks and hay bales.

PREPARING YOUR OUTDOOR DISPLAY AREA TO KEEP TICKS AT BAY

Before visiting your local nursery or farmer’s market to buy live fall props such as pumpkins and gourds, you should address any issues that could be attracting ticks around your home.

Remove fallen leaves and debris from your yard and porch. Bag up leaves since ticks tend to use leaf piles as temporary shelters. Trim back plants and trees, especially if any limbs appear damaged or diseased. And be sure to clear out your gutters as well before you decorate for the fall season.

CAREFULLY INSPECT BEFORE YOU BUY FALL OUTDOOR DECOR

As you browse through local farms and retailers to choose your fall décor items, inspect each item thoroughly. All flowers, corn stalks, hay bales, scarecrows and pumpkins should be checked for signs of ticks and other pests.

Signs may include leaf damage, bite marks, visible bugs on the items and mold growth. If everything looks good, go ahead and make the purchase. Keep in mind that throughout the season, you should inspect every item to ensure ticks haven’t made their way inside your outdoor décor.

BE SURE NOT TO NEGLECT YOUR BACKYARD FOR BETTER TICK CONTROL, TOO

The unfortunate thing about ticks this time of year is that they are bound to pop up and bite virtually anywhere. To ensure that they stay away from your home this holiday season, follow our Six C’s Golden Rule:

Clear Out: Reduce your tick exposure by clearing out areas where lawn and tree debris gather. This is extremely important during autumn when leaf foliage continually falls to the ground and gathers in your backyard and around your home exterior. Ticks thrive in moist, shady areas and tend to die in sunny, dry areas.

Clean: Eliminate leaf litter by cleaning it from around the house and lawn edges and dispose of it properly. We also recommend mowing tall grass to keep your lawn short.

Choose Plants: Since deer can bring ticks to your yard, select plants and shrubs that don’t attract deer. Remember, deer are frequent carriers of Lyme Disease, so you want to avoid attracting them to your property. You can also install physical barriers to keep deer out of your yard.

Check Hiding Places: Know tick hiding places and check them frequently. Fences, brick walls, and patio retaining walls are popular places where ticks live. They usually thrive in areas where you would not necessarily expect them. Be diligent and keep them at bay.

Care for Family Pets: Family pets can suffer from tick-borne disease and can also carry infected ticks into your home. Talk to your veterinarian about using tick collars and sprays. Preventing ticks on your pets is paramount this time of year.

Call the Pros: Professional tick control can offer two levels of service to eliminate ticks before they get to you. Our traditional mosquito control mist kills adult ticks on contact, while tick tubes are placed strategically around your property to entice mice. Mice collect the cotton in the tick tubes for bedding, and since most ticks get their first blood meals from mice, they are exposed to the treated cotton that effectively eliminates them and hundreds of tick nymphs found in each mouse nest. Our clients gladly attest to our tick control services.

BE SAFE, NOT SORRY. GET EFFECTIVE YEAR-ROUND TICK CONTROL FROM MOSQUITO SQUAD TO REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF A TICK BITE.

Contact Mosquito Squad of Chelmsford and Cambridge today for more information and a free quote, right here. Join the families we protect year-round in Acton, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Lowell and the