How should perimeter treatments be applied for tick control in residential landscapes?

• A. Only around the home foundation.
• B. Along the property border to create a protective barrier around lawns and vegetation.
• C. Only indoors inside the home.
• D. Only on driveways and patios.

Answer: (B)

Tick exposure in residential areas mostly comes from ticks living in the outdoor habitats at the property edge—leaf litter, tall grasses, and brush where the yard meets wooded or overgrown areas. Applying perimeter treatments along the property border targets those transition zones, creating a protective barrier around lawns and vegetation that people and pets use. This approach intercepts ticks before they reach outdoor living spaces like patios, play areas, and walkways, reducing the chance of contact.

Focusing only around the home foundation misses the main tick habitats that exist beyond that narrow zone, while treating only indoors does nothing to reduce outdoor tick populations. Treating driveways and patios alone ignores the surrounding grasses and border vegetation where ticks are most likely to reside. So, the best strategy is to establish a barrier along the property border to protect the entire outdoor play and recreation areas.