Key Points
Diatomaceous earth can kill ticks in dry, sheltered areas but is often not effective outdoors.Plant herbs, remove animal attractants, and use other deterrents to reduce tick presence.Keep your yard well-maintained, consult your vet, and consider hiring a pro if needed.
If you’ve been dealing with ticks on your property and are considering turning to diatomaceous earth as a means of killing them, you will want to do some additional reading first. While effective in some scenarios, DE is by no means a foolproof solution and must be used within the right environment to function at its full potential.
Here, two pest pros share their insights regarding all things diatomaceous earth and explain how it works with regard to killing ticks. They also offer five other tips for ways to deter ticks from visiting your backyard so that they don’t attach themselves to you or your pets.
Meet the Expert
Shannon Harlow-Ellis is an associate certified entomologist and technical services manager at Mosquito Joe, a Neighborly company.
Nicole Carpenter is a pest control professional and the president at Black Pest Prevention.
What Is Diatomaceous Earth?
You may have heard the phrase “diatomaceous earth” or “DE” before without knowing exactly what it describes. According to Shannon Harlow-Ellis, an associate certified entomologist and technical services manager at Mosquito Joe, a Neighborly company, diatomaceous earth is a soft sedimentary rock that you can find in nature. It can crumble into a fine, white powder.
“DE is made from fossilized remains of microscopic aquatic organisms known as diatoms, and its microscopic particles are razor sharp,” Harlow-Ellis says.
She explains that DE comes in two forms: one that is food-grade and often used in gardens, making it safe for humans and pets, and another that is filter-grade and not safe for consumption.
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Does Diatomaceous Earth Actually Kill Ticks?
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Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images
If you’re looking for a quick, highly effective tick killing solution, diatomaceous earth is not the best material to rely upon when it comes to killing ticks, Nicole Carpenter, who is a pest control professional and the president at Black Pest Prevention, explains.
“It works best on bugs that crawl around in dry, dusty spaces, like roaches in a wall void or ants behind your baseboards,” she says.
While it will effectively kill ticks if they walk through it, DE requires a few days to take effect and must remain dry, Carpenter notes. And it won’t have any effect on a tick that’s stuck to your pet, she adds.
Another issue is that DE won’t stay in place for long when brought outside, where it’s far less reliable, Carpenter adds, explaining that rain and wind can wash or blow it away.
“For full-blown infestation, you’ll need a more aggressive plan,” she says.
5 Alternative Ways to Get Rid of Ticks
Call a pro. Rather than attempting a solely DIY approach, Harlow-Ellis suggests hiring a professional to treat your yard so that you can enjoy spending time outdoors without worrying about ticks.
Grow a garden. Planting lavender, rosemary, mint, and marigolds won’t just add color to your yard or flavor to your food—these plants also repel ticks, Harlow-Ellis explains.
Don’t invite animals to visit. It’s wise to make your yard less appealing to animals in order to keep ticks away, Carpenter notes, and she suggests removing anything that attracts mice (which in turn results in ticks). This means getting rid of bird feeders, piles of wood where mice like to gather, and more. Another tactic is to install motion lights or sprinklers, which will startle any raccoons or possums running through your yard. “By controlling the carriers, you starve the tick population,” she says.
Speak with your vet. If you have pets at home, speak with your vet about how to best protect them against ticks, Harlow-Ellis suggests.
Maintain your yard. To discourage ticks from settling in your backyard, you will want to keep your grass trimmed short and remove leaf litter and brush, Harlow-Ellis advises. “If you are just treating the lawn itself, you’re missing 80 percent of the habitat,” Carpenter says.
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