Hello Cathleen,

Here’s a clear, research‑backed way to get a handle on ticks in a Michigan garden, drawing only from .edu sources so you’re getting reliable, extension‑based guidance. Great information at this link:

Protecting Your Yard

What Actually Works for Tick Management in Michigan

1. Create “Tick‑Safe Zones.”

Ticks thrive in shade, moisture, and clutter. Opening up the garden reduces the habitat dramatically.

Keep grass trimmed to about 3 inches

Prune overhanging branches

Remove leaf litter, brush piles, and dense groundcovers

Place seating, play areas, and garden beds away from wooded edges

Cornell’s Integrated Pest Management program emphasizes that sunny, open areas significantly reduce tick presence. More information at this link:

Managing Ticks in the Landscape | CALS

2. Reduce Moisture & Organic Debris

Ticks dry out easily. Michigan State University Extension notes that ticks are most abundant in humid, shaded environments. Removing leaf litter and excess mulch helps make the area less hospitable. More information at this link:

What You Need to Know About Michigan’s Ticks - Integrated Pest Management

3. Discourage Wildlife That Carry Ticks

Deer, mice, chipmunks, and some birds bring ticks into yards.

Helpful steps:

Seal gaps under sheds or decks

Store birdseed securely

Use fencing or repellents to reduce deer browsing

Clean up fallen fruit and dense brush where rodents hide

4. Use Targeted Treatments (When Needed)

Diatomaceous earth has mixed results outdoors because it loses effectiveness when wet. University extension programs generally do not list it as a reliable tick control method.

More effective options include:

Permethrin‑based yard sprays are applied to perimeter vegetation, not the whole lawn

Tick tubes (cotton treated with permethrin that mice use for nesting) — useful if you have heavy mouse activity

These are typically recommended as part of an integrated approach, not a standalone fix.

5. Monitor Your Yard With Tick Drags

Cornell CALS recommends using a simple “tick drag” to understand where ticks are hiding. This helps you target your efforts instead of treating the whole yard. More information at this link:

Managing Ticks in the Landscape | CALS

A drag can be as simple as:

A 1‑yard square of flannel or corduroy

Attached to a stick and pulled through vegetation

Check the cloth for ticks afterward to identify hotspots.

6. Personal Protection Still Matters

Even with good yard management, Michigan State University Extension stresses that preventing bites is the most reliable defense. More information at this link:

Preventing tick bites and detecting invasive ticks: A citizen science study - Invasive Species

Wear light‑colored clothing

Tuck pants into socks when gardening

Use repellents (DEET, picaridin, or permethrin‑treated clothing)

Put garden clothes in a hot dryer for 20 minutes after use

7. Get Ticks Identified if Needed

MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics will identify ticks and confirm their species, helping you understand your risk and tailor control strategies. Details at this link:

Plant & Pest Diagnostics

I hope this helps!