The DIY Lemon Spray That Repels Ticks From Your Home And Garden

Ticks are an unavoidable nuisance for those who spend large quantities of time in the great outdoors. These tiny cousins of spiders may look harmless, but their bites can actually cause serious illnesses including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If you work at an outdoor job or regularly spot ticks in your home or garden, it is essential to utilize a tick repellent to reduce your chances of being bitten and potentially infected by these insects. Many people choose to forgo traditional tick repellent products, however, because of the potentially harmful nature of their chemical ingredients. Instead, people are looking to use natural options to protect their bodies and gardens, such as a spray made from lemons and water. This solution can even be used on your pets.

Most tick repellents out there contain DEET, which can be toxic if used against product label — and either way, is something that many people choose to avoid. It can also harm vegetation, which is why it shouldn't be used to keep pests off plants in the garden. Fortunately, natural ingredients like citrus fruits and essential oils are positioning themselves as a possible way to stay safe from ticks without needing to use chemical-based insect repellents. Consider mixing up a DIY lemon spray that might be able to protect your garden, yard, and home.

Making your own tick repellent spray for your home or garden is incredibly simple and only requires two ingredients: lemons and water. Place a few lemons in a pan with enough water to cover them. Boil your lemons with the peels on and then remove the pan from the heat. Allow the mixture to steep and become infused with the peels' citrus oils at least overnight or up to 24 hours. Then, strain out the lemons and pour the liquid into a spray bottle.

Spray your lemon mixture wherever you suspect that ticks might be hiding in or around your home or yard. The bugs so strongly dislike the smell of citrus that they may flee and avoid the area as long as the scent remains. For extra protection, you can spray the mixture onto your clothing or even your dog when you head out to the garden. Just make sure Fido isn't habitually licking the spray off; citrus oils contain compounds that can cause toxicity at high concentrations.