5 Best Tick Repellents for Your Yard [Reviews]

Ticks carry dangerous illnesses, and if you live near the woods or your lawn has cool, shaded areas, ticks might pose a bigger risk to you, your family, and your pets. To help you stay safe, we’ve rounded up the best tick repellents for your yard.

As a bonus, we’ve also listed the best tick repellents to use on yourself for added protection and a buyers guide to help you know what to look for.

Our Top Picks

1. Ortho BugClear Lawn Insect Killer1

2. Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer For Lawn & Landscapes Ready-to-Spray Concentrate

3. Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray

4. Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate

5. Thermacell Tick Control Tubes for Yards

Oh, and how big is your risk of getting bitten and sick from ticks? Our sister site, Pest Gnome, ranked Worst States for Tick-Borne Illnesses.

Best Tick Repellents – Reviews

1. Ortho BugClear Lawn Insect Killer1 – Best Granulated Tick Repellent 

As a granulated tick repellent, Ortho’s BugClear Lawn Insect Killer1 provides long-lasting protection against pests both above and below ground. It kills ticks and other insects on contact and keeps them away for three months; against ants, this product is effective for up to six.  However, you do need to water it in to activate this tick repellent.

Once the granules have dried, your treated lawn is safe for you and your pets. Additionally, your lawn remains protected from ticks after a rain shower. Ortho BugClear Lawn Insect Killer1 is a great choice for large lawns and homeowners looking for a cost-effective way to keep your yard tick-free – one 10-pound bag can cover up to 16,500 square feet.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: Bifenthrin
• Package size: 10 lb.
• Duration of protection: 3 months
• Coverage area: 16,500 sq. ft.
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Other tools needed: Spreader
• Price range: Affordable

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Covers a large area ✔ Works fast ✔ Targets multiple pests ✔ Long-lasting ✔ Unaffected by rain	✘ Can have an unpleasant smell when wet

2. Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer For Lawn & Landscapes – Best Tick Repellent Spray 

If you need a tick repellent that you can apply to plants, then the Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer For Lawn & Landscapes Ready-to-Spray Concentrate is one to consider. This 32 fluid-ounce bug spray attaches easily to your garden hose to spray over your yard and landscape plants, including trees, ornamentals, and even edibles. As a bonus, it doesn’t stain most common siding materials, so you don’t have to worry about spraying too close to your house.

Like the Ortho BugClear Lawn Insect Killer1, Spectracide’s product offers up to three months of protection against ticks, fleas, Japanese beetles, and other outdoor pests. In fact, it kills more than 260 pests.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: Gamma-Cyhalothrin
• Package size: 32 fl. oz.
• Duration of protection: 3 months
• Coverage area: 5,120 sq. ft.
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Other tools needed: Garden hose
• Price range: Affordable

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Kills and repels on contact ✔ Targets multiple pests ✔ Long-lasting ✔ Ready-to-spray ✔ Can be used on plants	✘ Needs to stay dry for 24 hours or else you’ll need to reapply ✘ Unpleasant smell lingers

3. Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray – Best Natural Tick Repellent Spray

Do you want a more environmentally friendly tick-repellent option? Made with peppermint oil and clove extract, Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray is a natural alternative to chemical tick repellents. Aside from being safer for you and your family, it’s also quite pleasant-smelling.

It’s easy to use — hook it up to your garden hose and spray away. You can reenter your yard after the product dries, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes. While it’s quite effective, its natural ingredients have limitations: It doesn’t last as long as chemical tick repellents, it only affects ticks and fleas, and it washes away easily.

Specifications

• Active ingredients: Peppermint oil, eugenol (clove extract), sodium lauryl sulfate
• Package size: 32 fl. oz.
• Duration of protection: 1 month
• Coverage area: 5,000 sq. ft.
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Other tools needed: Garden hose
• Price range: Affordable

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Natural ✔ Ready-to-spray ✔ No chemical smell ✔ Targets fleas too ✔ Can be used on plants	✘ Doesn’t last as long as chemical alternatives ✘ Will need to be reapplied after rain

4. Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate: Another Good Tick Repellent Spray 

The Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate is quite similar to other products on this list. It’s a ready-to-spray concentrate that connects to your hose and kills ticks and other insects like house crickets, earwigs, and mosquitoes. It lasts for up to three months.

So, what makes this different? Compared to Spectracide’s product, the Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate targets different insects. Most importantly, it targets four different types of ticks (lone star ticks, brown dog ticks, American dog ticks, and deer ticks).

Unfortunately, this product can’t be used on edible plants. If you want to use an insect killer around your vegetable garden and fruit trees, look for a different product.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: Lambda-Cyhalothrin
• Package size: 32 fl. oz.
• Duration of protection: 3 months
• Coverage area: 5,000 sq. ft.
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Other tools needed: Garden hose
• Price range: Affordable

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Kills and repels on contact ✔ Targets multiple pests ✔ Long-lasting ✔ Ready-to-spray ✔ Can be used on plants	✘ Can’t be used around edible plants ✘ Unpleasant smell lingers

5. Thermacell Tick Control Tubes for Yards – Best Tick Control Tubes

Don’t like spraying products or watering in granules to repel ticks? You have another option to keep ticks at bay: tick control tubes. Developed in Harvard University’s School of Public Health, Thermacell’s Tick Control Tubes for Yards are a no-spray, no-mess, environmentally friendly solution to annoying deer ticks. The biodegradable components don’t harm you, your family, or the environment.

These tubes contain cotton treated with permethrin, an insecticide that kills ticks. However, this product only works in tandem with nature; particularly, you’ll need to place these near areas frequented by mice. The mice — which the ticks feast on — bring the cotton to their nests, which then kills the ticks. A pack of six tubes covers one-quarter acre.

The downside of using this product is that you won’t see results fast. There’s also not much feedback to begin with, The ticks die in the mice’s nests, so you won’t see any dead ticks. You’ll also need mice for this product to work.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: Permethrin
• Package size: 6, 12, 24, or 48-tube packs
• Duration of protection: 6 months (You can only use them twice a year)
• Coverage area: ¼-acre, treats up to 5,500 sq. ft.
• Affects other pests? No
• Other tools needed: Mice activity
• Price range: Moderate

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ No smell ✔ Environmentally-friendly ✔ All-weather ✔ Easy to use	✘ Needs mice to work ✘ Difficult to assess the effectiveness

Bonus: Best Tick Repellents for People

What if you’re stepping out of your yard and want to avoid ticks? Tick repellents for humans come in many forms, from sprays to lotions and wipes. Here are some of the best personal tick repellents that you can take with you into the great, tick-infested outdoors:

• Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent
• Murphy’s Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent Spray
• Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion
• Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes
• Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray

1. Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent – Best Tick Repellent Aerosol Spray

Although advertised as a mosquito repellent, Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent also repels gnats, biting flies, chiggers, fleas, and ticks. It’s powered by a 25% DEET formulation that protects you from pesky pests for up to 10 hours. You can use it for yourself and your children, but avoid contact with synthetic fabrics, plastic, watches, leather, and painted or varnished surfaces because the DEET can damage it.

This aerosol spray is sweat-resistant, so you can enjoy outdoor activities without worrying about your tick repellent wearing off. However, it does feel oily. It also smells like other common insect repellents because of the DEET.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: 25% DEET
• Package size: 6 fl. oz. can, 11 fl. oz. can, 2-pack of 11 fl oz. cans
• Duration of protection: 10 hours
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Price range: Affordable

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Long-lasting ✔ Sweat-resistant ✔ Targets multiple pests ✔ Good value	✘ Smells unpleasant ✘ Oily ✘ Can damage materials

2. Murphy’s Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent Spray – Best Natural Tick Repellent Spray 

There are many alternatives to DEET sprays, but Murphy’s Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent Spray is one of the best natural and plant-based options. This tick repellent keeps ticks away with lemon eucalyptus oil that’s hand-harvested from sustainable lands. It’s also environmentally friendly in other ways thanks to its packaging made from 25% recycled materials.

The natural ingredients aren’t as strong as their chemical counterparts, but they still last a while. This product protects users from deer ticks for up to four hours, and lone star and brown dog ticks for up to eight. It also repels mosquitoes for up to six hours.

Don’t worry about getting this on your clothing or gear either. It’s not oily, doesn’t damage materials, and won’t stain. It also smells quite nice if you like the smell of eucalyptus.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: Oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Package size: 4 fl. oz. bottle, 6 fl. oz. bottle, 2-pack of 4, 6 fl oz. bottles, 3-pack of 2 fl. oz. bottles
• Duration of protection: 4 hours for deer ticks, 8 hours for lone star and brown dog ticks
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Price range: Moderate

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Pleasant smell ✔ Natural ingredients ✔ Targets multiple pests ✔ Not oily ✔ Won’t stain or damage clothing	✘ Not sweat-resistant ✘ Doesn’t last as long ✘ Smell can be overpowering ✘ More expensive than other products

3. Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion – Best Tick Repellent Lotion

For long-lasting protection, opt for a lotion. Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion’s tick and mosquito protection lasts for a whopping 14 hours, and it also protects against flies, gnats, and chiggers for eight hours. As a bonus, this product does the job without DEET; its active ingredient is picaridin, which is similar to the compound found in black pepper.

Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion is non-greasy and doesn’t stain. It also won’t damage your clothing or gear, and it doesn’t smell bad.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: 20% picaridin
• Package size: 2 and 4 fl. oz. bottles, 2-pack of 4 fl. oz. bottles, and 1 quart, 0.5 gal, and 1 gal dispensers
• Duration of protection: 14 hours
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Price range: Affordable

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Long-lasting ✔ Not made with DEET ✔ Targets multiple pests ✔ Pleasant smell ✔ Not oily ✔ Won’t stain or damage clothing	✘ Not sweat-resistant ✘ Can hurt your eyes

4. Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes – Best Tick Repellent Wipes

Tick-repellent wipes are quite convenient because they don’t take up much space and can be used on the go. Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes use a 30% concentration of DEET to protect you against ticks and other pests for up to 10 hours. Each resealable pack contains 15 wipes.

This product does have the downsides that most DEET products do, though. Namely, it smells, stains, and can damage clothing.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: 30% DEET
• Package size: Pack of 15 wipes and a pack of 20 wipes
• Duration of protection: 10 hours
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Price range: Affordable

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Convenient ✔ Long-lasting ✔ Targets multiple pests  ✔ Affordable	✘ Unpleasant smell ✘ Stains and damages materials

5. Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray – Best Tick Repellent Spray for Clothing and Gear 

For added protection, outdoors enthusiasts may want to consider treating their clothing and gear with tick repellent. Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray is one such product, and it’s one of the longest-lasting ones we’ve reviewed. It can protect against ticks, mosquitoes, spiders, and other pests for up to six weeks or six washings (whichever comes first).

Its active ingredient is permethrin, which is non-staining and odorless. You can apply it on fabric of all kinds without the fear of ruining it, like tents, socks, netting, and sleeping bags. You can also apply it to plastic and finished surfaces. Just make sure to apply it in a well-ventilated area and wait for the treated objects to dry before using them.

Specifications

• Active ingredient: Permethrin
• Package size: Various sizes ranging from 4.5 to 24 fl. oz. containers
• Duration of protection: 6 weeks or 6 washings, whichever comes first
• Affects other pests? Yes
• Price range: Moderate

Pros and Cons

What We Liked	What We Didn’t Like
✔ Long-lasting ✔ Targets multiple pests ✔ Made for clothes and gear ✔ Odorless	✘ Packaging can leak

Buyers Guide to Tick Repellents for Your Yard

Tick repellents are a great tool for keeping you and your family safe from dangerous tick-borne diseases. However, there are factors to consider when shopping for a tick repellent to fit your yard’s needs:

Ingredients

Tick and insect repellents use different active ingredients, both synthetic and natural. While most of them are unsafe for the environment and people, some are more dangerous than others. Synthetic ingredients like lambda-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin are toxic to wildlife, including bees. Natural ingredients like essential oils are less potent and offer shorter protection, but are typically less harmful.

Make it a habit to treat your lawn when there isn’t as much wildlife activity and keep your family and pets off the lawn until the yard treatment has dried. For added protection, wear protective equipment while treating your lawn.

Type of Tick Repellent

Tick repellents come in different forms: granular, liquid, and tubes. Liquid tick repellents are the easiest to use, especially if they’re ready to spray. While we didn’t include any, some liquid tick repellents come in a concentrated form without a hose attachment.

Granular tick repellents have to be scattered around your yard with a spreader (similar to fertilizer) and then watered in for the pesticide to seep into the soil. Tick-repellent tubes have to be placed in areas of your yard that are frequented by mice; without mice, these tick repellents won’t work.

Duration of Effectiveness

Do you mind treating your lawn for ticks more frequently, or would you rather minimize the work? Some tick repellents last as long as three months, while others only last a few weeks. Typically, this is affected by the ingredients used, but heavy rain can also be a factor.

If it often rains in your area, you may want to consider a tick repellent that is rain-resistant. Otherwise, you’ll need to reapply, but only if the product permits it. Some tick repellents can only be reapplied after a few weeks from the last use.

Coverage Area, Size, and Cost

How big is your yard? Is it filled with lots of cool, shaded hiding spots that ticks love? Some tick repellents treat a larger area than others despite costing similarly to others, making them more cost-effective. 

If your lawn is on the bigger side or if you want more bang for your buck, always check how much product you’re getting and the area it covers in relation to its price. Typically, granulated tick repellents are more cost-effective than their liquid counterparts.

Other Pests

Tick repellents can target just ticks or also affect other pests. If you’re also dealing with other creepy crawlies you’d like gone from your yard, then pick one that affects multiple types of insects and other arthropod pests. Otherwise, it might be better for the environment (especially beneficial insects) to pick a tick-only repellent.

Tick Prevention Tips

They say that the best offense is a good defense, and this also applies to tick control. While tick repellents can help prevent ticks, there are other ways you can prevent ticks from getting in your yard. Here are some tick prevention tips that can save you the headache and cost of killing ticks.

1. Stay on top of lawn care. Keep your lawn short through regular mowing. Ticks hide in tall grass to escape the heat.
2. Keep your lawn clean. Clean up debris around your lawn, especially piles of leaves. There are many ways to use fallen leaves, so you don’t have to throw them out. You may want to clean up lawn clippings after mowing too, but you can use the grass clippings as mulch or compost material.
3. Mulch around your yard. If you live near a wooded area, you can add a mulch barrier around the perimeter of your lawn. Ticks don’t like mulch very much as it’s dry and traps heat.
4. Move your lawn furniture around. Keep your lawn furniture and playground items in the sunniest areas, where ticks don’t like to go.
5. Prevent tick carriers from getting in your yard. Larger animals like deer and stray dogs can be kept out with sturdy fencing. Getting rid of mice and smaller tick carriers can be a bit more difficult, so you may need to call a professional pest control service.
6. Entice tick-eaters into your lawn. Many wild birds love eating ticks and other insects. Setting up bird boxes, feeders, and bird baths are some ways to attract birds. If you keep chickens or ducks, they also eat ticks.

FAQ About Tick Repellents For Your Yard

What is the best time to treat your yard for ticks?

The best time of year to treat your yard for ticks is the early spring, just after the ground has dried from melted snow. Ticks are active from April to September. Target wooded areas with a lot of shade, tall grass, bushes, trees, and other cool areas.

As for the time of day, it’s best to spray when there isn’t much wildlife activity. Bees stop flying around in the late afternoon and into the evening hours. Some ticks actually become more active later in the day because it’s cooler.

What plants repel ticks?

Like many insects, ticks hate plants with strong smells, such as lavender, marigold, and beautyberry. There are some edible plants that they dislike too, like lemongrass, garlic, sage, mint, and rosemary, so growing an edible garden can help repel ticks and other insects.

What are some natural ways to remove ticks?

Many natural plant oils, like cedar, eucalyptus, and neem oil repel or kill ticks. Some of them are even used to make natural tick repellents on the market. 

Another natural pest control option is diatomaceous earth. It kills a variety of outdoor pests, including ticks, mites, roaches, and fleas. It’s environmentally friendly and safe for people, many animals, and fish; just be careful as it attacks beneficial insects too.

When to Order Professional Pest Control

You can never be too careful with ticks because tick bites can make you and your family sick. If you want to make sure you can enjoy your yard without worrying about ticks, then consider hiring a pest control pro with the experience and tools to get the job done. 

While LawnStarter doesn’t deal with pest control, Pest Gnome can connect you with local pest control professionals who can handle your tick problems while you sit back and relax.

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