Ticks are a real concern for families and pets in New Hampshire. They do not fly or jump. They wait on grass blades and brush and grab on when something brushes by. Knowing where they like to hide in your yard and how to reduce those spots helps you stay safer and makes any professional treatment you choose more effective.
Here is a practical guide for homeowners in Exeter, Manchester, Concord, the Lakes Region, and the rest of our service area.
Where Ticks Like to Be in Your Yard
Ticks need moisture and cover. They avoid hot, dry, open lawn. They show up where the conditions are right.
Tall Grass and Weedy Edges
The edge of the lawn, especially where it meets woods or weedy areas, is a prime spot. Ticks climb grass and weeds and wait. Keeping the grass cut and trimming back brush and weeds along the property line removes a lot of that habitat.
Shady, Damp Spots
Shaded areas under trees, around sheds, and along north facing sides of the house stay damp longer. Ticks do well there. Raking leaves and clearing debris in those spots helps. So does letting in more sun where you can by trimming low branches.
Wooded Borders and Stone Walls
If your yard backs up to woods or has a stone wall with weeds and leaves, ticks can be thick right at that border. Creating a clear strip (mowed or mulched) between the lawn and the woods cuts down on the number of ticks that make it into the main yard.
Under Decks and Around Foundation Plantings
Cool, shaded spots under decks and in dense plantings near the house can hold ticks. Keeping those areas tidy and reducing clutter and leaves makes them less attractive.
Simple Habits That Reduce Your Risk
- Stay in the center of the lawn when you can. Avoid brushing against tall grass and weeds at the edges.
- Wear long pants and tuck them into socks when walking in tall grass or woods. Light colored clothing makes ticks easier to see.
- Do a quick tick check after being outside. Pay attention to legs, waist, underarms, and behind ears. Check kids and pets too.
- Shower within a couple of hours of coming inside. It can wash off ticks that are not attached yet.
- If you find a tick attached, remove it with fine tipped tweezers by pulling straight out. Save the tick in a bag if you want it tested. Note the date and where you were.
Why Professional Tick Spraying Helps
Even with good yard care, many properties still have ticks along the perimeter and in grass. Our tick control program treats the perimeter and the lawn with a product that keeps working between visits. We come on a set schedule so coverage stays strong through the season. That reduces the number of ticks in the areas where you and your pets actually spend time. You can read more about how we do it on our tick control page.
When to Start and How Often
Ticks become active in Southern New Hampshire when the ground thaws and temperatures stay above about 50 degrees. For most of our area, that is April into May. Starting your spray schedule then and keeping it going through the season gives you the best results. We serve Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Strafford, Belknap, Carroll, and Grafton counties from our Exeter and Gilford offices. If you want a free quote or to see if we cover your town, call 603-778-1471 or check our service areas page.
Combining Tick and Mosquito Control
Many of our customers sign up for both mosquito and tick control. We can treat the yard in one visit: perimeter and hot spots for mosquitoes, plus the lawn and edges for ticks. That way you get a single schedule and one less thing to track. Details are on our main mosquito control page and our about page.
Ticks are part of life in New Hampshire, but you can make your yard less welcoming and rely on a consistent spray program to cut down the number that you and your family run into. A few changes to where they hide, plus regular checks and smart habits, go a long way toward staying safe.