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Tick bites spread dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Once they attach themselves to a host, ticks are notoriously difficult to remove without breaking off the head under the skin, which causes infection. But the best tick spray for the entire yard kills ticks and other nuisance pests such as ants and mosquitoes.
Most yard tick sprays are packaged in containers that can be attached to a garden hose, diluted with water from the hose, and then sprayed in the yard. Shoppers looking to reduce infestations of unwanted pests on their property will want to read on to consider these top picks and gain tips for buying the right tick spray for yard infestations.
- BEST OVERALL: TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Yard Spray
- RUNNER-UP: Cedarcide Outdoor Bug Control Concentrate Yard Spray
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Natural Chemistry Yard and Kennel Flea & Tick Spray
- BEST SPRAY: Wondercide Ready to Use Flea and Tick Spray forYard
- BEST FOR PETS: Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray
Before You Buy Tick Spray for the Yard
There are many methods available to get rid of ticks, but before deciding on the best yard treatments, it’s a good idea to consider the active ingredients in some of the most popular tick-killer products. Powerful active ingredients that are common in complete insect killer yard sprays include imidacloprid, beta-cyfluthrin, and even DEET.
While products with these ingredients are successful at treating a tick infestation, they tend to linger in the environment, potentially contaminating the soil, groundwater, and nearby rivers or lakes. The insecticide chemicals can also get passed through the intended target and end up poisoning animals that prey on ticks. To keep the entire yard free of larvae and adult ticks without harming the ecosystem, consider using a natural solution geared toward repelling ticks so that they won’t be a problem in the first place. If ticks are already a problem, aim for a product that kills and repels.
How We Chose the Best Tick Sprays for Yards
We researched the most sought-after sprays for repelling ticks in their respective categories. Their type, application method, coverage area, compatible insect types, ingredients, and any additional features determined the best options among the top brands. Although our lineup includes both pesticides and plant-based formulas, which are ideal for homes with kids and pets, we prioritized all-natural solutions that will allow users to treat their yard for ticks without putting gardens, playground equipment, or the local biosystem at risk. What’s more, each of these tick sprays selected repels other pests, some reaching hundreds of other pest varieties.
The most popular type among users was concentrates because of their easy application and wide area coverage of 5,000 to 5,334 square feet. All of the tick sprays included in this list can be attached to garden hoses, and most include a built-in garden-hose attachment.
Our Top Picks
These top tick sprays were selected based on overall efficacy—type of treatment, ease of application, and the amount of coverage they provide. Shoppers will find good options among these products to treat large lawns or small gardens.
Best Overall
TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Yard Spray
Pros
- The eco-friendly formula is made with all-natural ingredients; safe for the environment and wildlife
- Designed with a garden-hose connection for easy and wide dispersion
- Treats ticks, fleas, and mosquito infestations
- Kills on contact and repels unwanted pests
Cons
- Multiple treatments may be necessary for heavy infestation
Product Specs
- Type: Natural tick spray
- Application type: Garden hose
- Active ingredients: Cedarwood oil, clove oil, lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate
- Coverage area: 5,000 square feet
Quickly and effectively banish existing tick, flea, and mosquito infestations with this powerful natural treatment that kills on contact. After treating the yard, the spray continues working as a repellent to help prevent pests from returning. This yard spray is designed to connect directly to a garden hose, allowing water to dilute the concentrated formula.
The tick control spray contains several potent natural ingredients that are effective against ticks, fleas, and other pests, including cedarwood oil, clove oil, lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Use this product to treat up to 5,000 square feet of yard without having to worry about the safety of kids and pets.
Get the TropiClean tick spray for yards at Amazon or Petco.
Runner-Up
Cedarcide Outdoor Bug Control Concentrate Yard Spray
Pros
- Pet-friendly and kid-safe formula; also safe for wildlife and the environment
- Lasts for up to a month before needing to be reapplied
- Includes a separate sprayer bottle for garden hose application
- Treats ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, ants, and mites
Cons
- Does not come premixed or premeasured
Product Specs
- Type: Natural tick spray
- Application type: Garden hose
- Active ingredients: Cedarwood oil
- Coverage area: 40,000 square feet
When harmful pests like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, ants, and mites invade the yard, consider this Cedarcide solution. The concentrated formula can treat up to 40,000 square feet of lawn, shrubs, and trees. It relies entirely on the power of natural cedarwood oil, which can kill ticks on contact and remain an effective repellent for up to a month before needing to be reapplied. It is safe for use around people and pets. However, this tick spray is not premixed or premeasured, so users must measure and mix the appropriate amount according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Get Cedarcide tick spray for yards at Amazon or Cedarcide.
Best Bang for the Buck
Natural Chemistry Yard and Kennel Flea & Tick Spray
Pros
- Made with natural oils; safe for the environment, wildlife, children, and pets
- Bottle design features a garden-hose connection for ease of use
- Effective against ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and black flies of all life stages
- Suitable for outdoor kennels and yards
Cons
- Rain may dilute the effects after the initial application; reapply as needed after rainfall
Product Specs
- Type: Natural tick spray
- Application type: Garden hose
- Active ingredients: Cedarwood oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil
- Coverage area: 4,500 square feet
Pet owners must consider the safety of their four-legged friends when selecting a tick spray for the yard. Natural Chemistry’s Yard and Kennel treatment, made with cedarwood oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil, is tough on ticks but fine to use where pets and people are enjoying the yard—and it comes at a budget-friendly price.
This eco-friendly, natural tick control solution is effective at killing ticks as well as mosquitoes, fleas, and black flies. After killing pests that it contacts, the spray acts as a repellent to help protect the home and yard from further infestations. Note that heavy or consistent rain can dilute the formula, so reapplication may be necessary.
Get the Natural Chemistry tick spray for yards at Amazon.
Best Natural Spray
Wondercide Ready to Use Flea and Tick Spray for Yard
Pros
- Natural formula is safe to use around children, pets, wildlife, and the environment
- Bottle includes a garden-hose connection for ease of application
- Works on ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas at most life stages
Cons
- Pricey compared to similar products
- Must be reapplied after 2 weeks for most effective use
Product Specs
- Type: Natural tick spray
- Application type: Garden hose
- Active ingredients: Cedarwood oil, sesame oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate
- Coverage area: 5,000 square feet
While some tick treatments require users to wait hours for the product to dry before entering the area, Wondercide works right away. The natural tick spray for yard infestations is made with three natural yet powerful active ingredients: cedarwood oil, sesame oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate. It kills ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas, and then continues to repel pests for up to 2 weeks.
The solution is concentrated and dispersed by connecting a garden hose to the hose-end sprayer, and the 32-ounce size treats up to 5,000 square feet. This natural tick spray is safe to use around kids and pets, making it a great option for parents, pet owners, and anyone reluctant to apply chemicals to their yards.
Get the Wondercide tick spray for yards at Amazon or Wondercide.
Best for Pets
Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray
Pros
- Plant-based formula is safe to use near backyard plants and gardens
- Works on mosquitoes, flea eggs, flea larvae, fleas, spiders, flies, and ticks
- Bottle includes a garden-hose connection for spreading around easily
Cons
- Rain may dilute the effects; must be reapplied as necessary after rainfall
- Short working time compared with similar options
Product Specs
- Type: Natural tick spray
- Application type: Garden hose
- Active ingredients: Peppermint oil, clove extract, and sodium lauryl sulfate
- Coverage area: 5,000 square feet
Vet’s Best tick spray is a plant-based formula designed for safe use around people and pets, making it well suited to treat outdoor kennels or household areas where four-legged friends like to lay and play. This treatment’s three natural active ingredients—peppermint oil, eugenol (clove extract), and sodium lauryl sulfate—can kill and repel ticks, fleas, spiders, flies, and mosquitoes.
This 32-ounce concentrated formula is diluted with water by connecting the bottle to a garden hose. Vet’s Best kills adults, larvae, and eggs on up to 5,000 square feet of yard, yet it isn’t harmful to trees, shrubs, or flowers. This kennel spray is effective for up to 2 weeks, but heavy rain can reduce the length of the efficacy period.
Get the Vet’s Best tick spray for yards at Amazon or Walmart.
Or, DIY Your Own Tick Spray for the Yard
If you’d rather not spend money on commercial products to keep ticks at bay, consider making your own DIY tick spray for the yard with a few simple ingredients. All these solutions are easy to make, safe for the environment, and relatively inexpensive.
- Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of cedar oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle and use it to treat the perimeter of the yard to repel ticks.
- Mix 2 teaspoons of neem oil with 4 cups of water in a spray bottle. This mixture is ideal for treating shady areas that have a lot of grass and weeds.
- Mix about eight drops of peppermint oil—which has been shown to be highly effective against ticks and fleas—with a cup of water in a spray bottle. Use it to kill ticks on contact and also act as a repellent for up to 2 weeks.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing Tick Spray for Yards
Not every tick spray is right for every property, and there are several different types from which to choose. Some are derived from natural ingredients, and others contain synthetic pesticides. Some bug sprays are sold as concentrates, while others are ready to use. Other considerations include application method and coverage area. Also remember that even natural insect repellents and killers should not be swallowed, inhaled, or allowed to get on bare skin, so be careful about using and storing these products.
Types of Tick Sprays
When shopping for the best spray to treat a yard for ticks, shoppers will typically find three different types on the shelves: concentrated tick sprays, premixed tick sprays, and natural sprays. The first two differ by formula; the last type differs by its ingredients.
- Concentrated tick sprays are generally packaged in a large container and are meant to be diluted with water, either manually or by connecting the container to a garden hose to disperse the spray. This type of tick killer is the most common option for treating yards because it can be sprayed over a large area.
- Premixed tick sprays come ready to use in a spray bottle. Don proper protective gear (mask, gloves, and long pants) and spray problem areas around the yard. Though convenient, premixed sprays are typically only useful for small gardens, smaller yards, and targeted spot treatments.
- Natural tick sprays are necessary for homes with pets and kids. Instead of relying on powerful chemical poisons such as permethrin or DEET, these sprays take advantage of essential oils’ natural tick-repellent properties. In concentrated amounts, these essential oils—among them peppermint and cedarwood—kill ticks and other insects while creating a scent barrier that drives pests away. The downside of natural solutions is that they’re not as effective as chemical treatments.
Application and Coverage Area
To help with our research, we spoke with Dr. Hamilton Allen, vice president of technical and safety at Fox Pest Control, which operates nationwide. He shared some expert advice in terms of application and coverage of tick sprays: “Applications of products labeled for ticks are effective when properly applied to known tick harborage areas such as the unmaintained transition zone between the woods and a homeowner’s yard.”
Tick spray can be applied to a yard via two methods: a garden hose sprayer or a spray bottle.
- Garden-hose sprayers connect directly to a hose. Water from the hose mixes with the concentrated tick spray and distributes the spray evenly over the yard. Typically, one 32-ounce bottle of concentrate can treat up to 5,000 square feet (0.11 acres), so two bottles would easily cover a medium-sized yard.
- Spray bottles contain a natural or premixed chemical formula that is ready to use simply by squeezing the trigger to apply the tick spray to targeted areas around the entire yard. These ready-to-use sprays typically treat small areas of only about 500 to 1,000 square feet. Connecting a spray wand to the bottle can increase the spray range somewhat.
Allen adds that “additional applications should be focused near ornamental plantings and areas where pets commonly roam.” He warns that when making these applications, homeowners will always want to read the product label before use and identify any laws/regulations specific to their community.
Safety
Safety should always be the top priority when using pesticides, herbicides, and other poison treatments for the yard. Many tick sprays, like Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer, contain dangerous active ingredients such as permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, zeta-cypermethrin, and bifenthrin, all of which are synthetic pyrethroids. Imidacloprid, beta-cyfluthrin, and DEET are other common ingredients in tick spray. If possible, it’s recommended to avoid using products with these harmful ingredients due to the impact they can have on the environment.
Instead, shoppers may want to opt for a more natural solution that keeps ticks out of the yard without putting the local biosystem at risk. Just keep in mind that even the concentrated essential oils in natural tick sprays can be harmful if the spray isn’t properly applied and package instructions are not followed.
When spraying a tick yard treatment, it’s important to make sure people and pets avoid the treated area for at least 2 hours after the treatment is applied (unless otherwise specified). This allows ample time for the spray to settle on the ground and in the foliage, and it reduces the likelihood that the product will be inhaled or transferred from the grass onto a person or an animal. The precaution bears repeating: Always wear appropriate protective gear when using tick treatments. Gloves, a mask, long pants, long sleeves, and eye protection help protect users from unwanted exposure to ingredients.
Tips for Using Tick Spray in the Yard
Before spraying the yard, always read the manufacturer’s directions to use the product properly. Begin treating the yard in the spring after any snow has melted and continue treating it regularly throughout the summer months. Avoid spraying the yard when rain is predicted or shortly after rainfall because water can dilute and reduce the efficacy of the product. Use proper personal protective equipment, such as gloves, a mask, long pants, long sleeves, and eye protection, when using pesticides.
Ticks are found primarily in wooded areas, deep foliage, gardens, tall grass, and under piles of mulch. For this reason, keep the yard well maintained and rake up grass mulch after mowing. Take away their favorite spots, and there will be fewer ticks. These pests also like piles of brush and wood because they prey on mice and other rodents that live in these cool locations.
Remember that some tick sprays contain dangerous active ingredients that are strictly regulated by local and state laws. Before choosing the best tick spray for yard infestations, check local and state laws in your region to make sure that the product is approved for use.
- Start spraying the yard for ticks in early spring, after snow has melted and the ground has dried out.
- Use tick spray in wooded areas, gardens, dense foliage, tall grass, and other areas where ticks are likely to live and feed.
- Check local and state regulations in your area before choosing a tick spray.
FAQs
After clearing the yard of brush and other areas where ticks congregate, it’s a good idea to protect your family and pets from these parasitic arachnids by spraying any lingering tick populations or using an effective tick repellent. To learn more about why ticks are invading the space and how effective the best tick sprays are, read on.
Ticks are attracted to wood piles, wooded areas, piled sticks, and brush, as well as grass that is over 4 inches high. These types of areas allow ticks to prey on mice, latch onto passing pets, and stay safely away from hot, dry locations. To reduce tick habitat and the tick population, remove any garbage, wood, and sticks that have been piled in the yard and keep the grass and foliage neatly trimmed.
The use of tick yard treatments can greatly reduce the number of ticks. For lasting results, keep the lawn and foliage neatly trimmed to avoid creating a dense, moist, breeding ground for these pests.
Overuse of pesticides can cause phytotoxicity in plants, which leads to symptoms like stunted or distorted growth, damage to plants’ leaves and flowers, and death. To avoid poisoning plants while treating a tick problem, always read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
