April 3rd

By Mutt Mulligan

Use landscaping to control ticks & help prevent Lyme Disease

April is Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month, while May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium that is carried through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Symptoms typically include fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash.

Mowing frequently can help create a “tick free zone” in your backyard.

You can use your landscaping to help prevent Lyme disease by creating a “tick-free zone” in your backyard. Here’s how:

• Mow frequently.
• Regularly remove leaf debris and clear tall grasses and brush from around your home and at the edges of your lawn.
• Place wood chips or gravel between your lawn and any wooded areas to restrict tick migration to your backyard.
• Keep the ground under your bird feeders clean.
• Situate playground equipment, decks and patios away from trees and the edges of your yard.