Ticks can be more than just a nuisance. These bloodsucking pests can transmit different diseases such as Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis to both humans and pests.
The good news is there are many ways you can keep ticks away without exposing you and your family to toxic chemicals.
If you are looking for a natural way to keep ticks away, you’re in the right place!
In this article, we’ll go over 25 plants that are proven to repel ticks effectively.
Let’s dive in!
1. Turmeric
Most of us know turmeric as a superfood, but did you know it’s also known to be an effective repellent for ticks?
Turmeric oil has been shown to repel bed bugs when sprayed on dogs.
One study showed that of all the dogs subjected to turmeric oil sprays, only 85% were left alone by ticks.
Besides repelling ticks, turmeric is also useful to us as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
The turmeric in curcumin has been related to helping slow down the aging process, prevent Alzheimer’s disease and improve the symptoms of depression.
2. Lavender
Lavender’s benefits to us go beyond its vibrant flowers and pleasant scent. Its oils can also provide a natural repellent to pests, one of which is ticks.
Lavender oil can provide a 100% repellent to ticks for up to two hours.
However, it’s repellency goes down to zero after four hours. As such, if you’re looking for long-lasting repellant, lavender oil may not be the best option for you.
3. Garlic
Garlic oil is not only effective at repelling ticks, but it’s also effective at killing them.
In this study, garlic yielded a 69% mortality rate on tick larvae and an 80% mortality rate on adults. Garlic oil was also shown to inhibit ticks from laying eggs by 85.3%.
A more recent study showed that garlic oil can eliminate 75% of the tick population in as little as six hours when combined with other natural oil.
The study’s natural oil consisted of 2.5% garlic oil, 0.05% alicin, and 8% rapeseed oil.
Ticks were completely eliminated within one to three weeks after treatment.
Other than ticks, garlic oil is also known as an effective, natural mosquito repellent.
Garlic oil is also known to help boost the immune system, relieve toothache, treat dandruff and acne.
4. Mandarin and Sweet Orange
Orange oil is an essential oil extracted from the rind of an orange fruit.
We use orange oil in many household products, such as cleaning solutions, aromatherapy, and face creams. But the benefits of orange oil extends to repelling many household pests.
When sprayed on dogs, studies show that only 15% of dogs attracted ticks. In other words, 85% of the dogs that were sprayed with orange oil were able to avoid ticks.
Other than repelling ticks, orange oil is also effective at repelling and killing other pests such as termites and cockroaches.
5. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil is known to repel pests such as ticks and mosquitoes.
However, similar to lavender, it’s repellency does not last very long. Eucalyptus repellency to ticks becomes completely ineffective after four hours.
This, if you’re looking for long-lasting repellent Eucalyptus oil may not be the best option for you.
6. Geranium
Geranium is a popular plant amongst gardeners. Not only are they easy to grow, but they produce vibrant flowers and pleasant scent.
But what many don’t know is that Geranium oil is also an effective tick repellent. It can repel ticks for about two hours.
7. Peppermint
Peppermint oil is another proven effective repellent against ticks. They are also more long lasting than other oils mentioned in this article,
In this study, peppermint oil was shown to have a 50% repellency on ticks after four hours of application and 10% repellency after six hours.
Other than ticks, peppermint have also been shown to repel other insects such as spiders, mosquitoes, and ants.
Other than controlling pests, peppermint oil also offers various health benefits such as improved energy, better sleep, and migraine relief.
8. Lily of the Valley
Lily of the valley plants are known for its fragrance and bell-shaped white flowers.
But lily of the valley is also one of the most highly repellant plants for ticks. It is also one of the most long lasting.
In one study, lily of the valley oil was shown to have a 67% repellency rate on ticks even after 8 hours of application.
Lily of the valley oil is also used to relieve depression, heart problems, urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, and eye infections among others.
9. Cloves
Clove trees grow upto about 40 feet tall. They are evergreens with smooth bark and long leaves. They are known for their fragrance and aroma.
Clove trees are also known to be a powerful tick repellent. Clove oil, the essential oil that’s derived from clove trees, can repel ticks for an extended period.
One study shows that clove oil can repel 82% of ticks after six hours of application and 78% of ticks after 8 hours of application.
10. Marigold
Marigolds are incredibly popular around the world for their beauty. But what many do not realize is that these plants provide many benefits beyond aesthetics.
Marigolds have a high tick repellency.
A .1 mg dose of marigold can produce 80% tick repellency and 50mg provides 100% repellency.
While marigolds repel ticks, the good news is they also attract beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs.
11. Mexican sunflower
Mexican sunflowers, also known as tithonia, are not just beautiful but also effective at repelling ticks.
In one study, Mexican sunflowers showed a 40% repellency to ticks for .1mg and 100% repellency for 50mg.
Besides repelling ticks, Mexican flowers are also beneficial at attracting butterflies and other pollinators in your garden.
12. Rosemary
Rosemary is an evergreen herb bush that is valued in culinary for its aroma and in medicine for its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
But, Rosemary is also cherished in pest control for its ability to chase away bugs and insects, including mosquitoes, flies, and ticks.
In this study, researchers examined the effect of essential oils extracted from various plant species’ dry leaves.
Results showed that Rosemary oil exhibited the highest tick repellency (100%) compared to Rosemary Spearmint Marjoram and Basil.
The oil extracted from 100g of dried Rosemary leaves.
13. Spearmint
We are all familiar with spearmint’s delicious, minty flavor.
But what many of us don’t know is spearmint is also an effective tick repellent.
In this study, researchers examined the repellency of the essential oils extracted from four different plant species.
To do this, they extracted oil from 100g of dried Rosemary leaves.
Results showed that spearmint produced the second-highest tick repellency at 93.2 %.
Spearmint oil did better than Marjoram and Basil.
14. Marjoram
Most of us recognize Marjoram is a common herb used in culinary.
But Marjoram also holds an interesting place in pest control.
In this study, researchers wanted to learn if the essential oil extracted from the leaf of Marjoram contains repellents for ticks.
Marjoram oil was examined along with the essential oil of various plants.
The study showed that Marjoram exhibited a strong repellency for ticks at 84%.
15. Basil
Basil may be a famous herb in Italian cuisine, but it’s also an effective herb for repelling pests such as mosquitoes and ticks.
One study showed that basil oil exhibited 64.5% repellency on ticks.
Besides repelling ticks, we also use basil in medicine in various ways, including stomach spasms, kidney conditions, fluid retention, and warts.
16. Indian Bael
Indian Bael (Aegle marmelos) is a tree native to India and is considered sacred by Hindus.
When it comes to repelling ticks, bael is also quite effective.
In this study, an essential oil extracted from bael leaves was shown to have a 100% mortality on ticks within 24 hours.
Bael is also valued for its nutritional and medicinal benefits.
It is known to help treat digestive problems, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and ulcer.
17. Pineapple
When we think of pineapples, we think of a delicious fruit we mix with our food and drinks.
But the benefits of pineapple goes beyond being tasty and nutritious.
Pineapple is also beneficial as a pest control.
The essential oil extracted from pineapple skin is considered to be a powerful natural repellent for ticks.
This study shows that essential oil extracted from pineapple has a 59.4 % mortality rate for adult ticks.
18. Common Wormwood
Wormwood is an herb commonly used to make tea. But it is also a potent tick repellent.
In this study, the essential oil extracted from wormwood aerial parts was shown to a 93% mortality rate on ticks within 24 hours.
Wormwood is native to Eurasia and Northern Africa but has spread and naturalized in some parts of the United States and Canada.
Other than insect repellent, Wormwood is also beneficial for various digestion problems such as upset stomach, intestinal spasms, and appetite loss.
It is also known to help treat fever, muscle pain, memory loss and depression.
19. Neem Tree
The neem tree is native to Asia but has spread in other warm areas across the globe.
Many know the neem tree for the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties found on its bark.
It’s also prized for its sweet aroma.
But what many don’t know is that neem tree oil is also an effective insecticide for ticks and other invertebrates.
Neem oil has been proven to repel ticks and cause an 80% mortality rate in their population.
20. Milkweed tree
Milkweeds get their name from the milky white fluid that seeps from their leaves when they cut.
They are known for their beautiful flowers and their ability to attract beneficial insects such as monarchs, honey bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
Other than these benefits, the essential oil extracted from milkweed is also effective pest control.
This study shows that milkweed essential oil can cause a 100% mortality in ticks within 48 hours.
21. Lemon Grass
Lemongrass is famous for its stems and leaves in Vietnamese and Thai cuisines.
That’s because they add a delicious lemon flavor in food when used in cooking.
But lemongrass is not only useful in the kitchen. It’s also helpful in repelling and eliminating ticks.
In this study, oil extracted from lemongrass Leaves, seeds, and root exhibited a 100% mortality rate in ticks within 24 hours
22. Tea Tree
The essential oil extracted from tea trees is valued for many things, from treating skin irritations and to insect repellent.
A few Tea Tree Oil drops can work against different pests, including mites, flies, lice, and ticks.
Tea tree oil also prevents ticks from laying eggs. In this study, tree oil showed 100% reproduction inhibition on ticks.
One study also found that tea tree oil works better at repelling mosquitoes than the most widely used insect repellent, DEET (6Trusted Source).
23. Oregano
Oregano is an herb best known as a culinary ingredient.
But concentrated essential oil extracted from oregano is filled with potent compounds that have been related to many health benefits.
Oregano oil is valued as an antioxidant, antibiotic and antifungal agent. It’s also been associated with weight loss and cholesterol control.
But one benefit of oregano many tend to miss is its insect-repelling abilities.
Oregano oil contains carvacrol, thymol, and α-terpinene, highly effective in repelling mosquitoes and ticks.
In this study, oregano oil exhibited 100% mortality when applied on ticks.
24. Marsh Labrador Tea
Labrador tea, also known as Eskimo tea, is a flowering shrub that grows in North America’s coldest parts.
It’s valued for its fragrance and medicinal properties.
Labrador tea contains antibiotics, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
It’s also commonly used as tea and seasoning to add flavor to the meat.
While it seems unlikely, Labrador tea is also an effective tick repellent.
Labrador tea has exhibited 95% repellency to ticks when processed as an essential oil.
25. Chamomile
German chamomile is a herb native to the southern and eastern parts of Europe.
It’s famous for its aromatic scent and therapeutic benefits.
But chamomile is also useful when it comes to keeping ticks away from your pets.
In this study, ethanol from German chamomile’s flowers exhibited a 26.67% mortality rate in ticks within 24 hours and 47% in 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Naturally Keeps Ticks Away?
One of the most common ways to naturally keep ticks away is by using plants.
You can use plants in two ways:
- Live plants to repel ticks
- Essential oils extracted from plants
There are also some other things you can do to keep ticks away naturally.
- Keep tick bearing animals away using fences and inedible trees.
- Destroy tick habitat by keeping up with your landscaping.
- Keep insect predators around. This includes wild birds and domesticated birds such as chickens.
- Change your diet to make you less appetizing to ticks.
What Attracts Ticks To Your Yard?
There are several things that can attract a tick to your yard.
- Potential host for the tick this includes dogs, cats, yourself, or other pets.
- Unkempt grass makes a perfect habitat for ticks.
- Lack of tick predators in your yard can force ticks to retreat to your yard for friendship and survival.
- High CO2 and heath releases will also attract ticks to your yard as well.
What is the Best Tick Repellent For Yards
The best way to avoid ticks is to make as unwelcoming to ticks as possible.
If it is too late for natural prevention, you can use tick repellents.
Some of the most common and effective active ingredients used in are:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- PMD
You can also use essential oils or essential oil-based treatments to prevent ticks as well.
Using essential oils such as garlic, Eucalyptus, and Hawaii for another.
Some with the most common essential oils used as repellents.
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptus
- Clove
- Garlic
Plants That Attract Ticks
There are no particular type of plants that attract ticks to your yard.
Rather ticks want hiding spots.
Ticks commonly hide in unkempt grass and bushes. They will hide and wait in this long grass until they can attach themselves to a host.
It’s also common to find ticks under trees, logs, or dead material.
Ticks prefer shady and moist places to hide. Dead organic material and fallen logs provide the perfect habitat for ticks.