Your garden might look great—but if you’re unknowingly growing a plant that attracts ticks, it could come with a hidden risk. One common plant invites these pests right into your yard, increasing the chance of bites and disease.
The good news? There are 10 beautiful, low-risk alternatives that add charm without bringing the creepy crawlies.
1. The Hidden Danger in Your Garden: Why Ferns Might Be a Tick Magnet
Ferns may look lush and inviting, but their dense, shaded foliage creates the perfect environment for ticks to thrive. These pests love cool, moist spots where they can stay protected from heat and dehydration—and ferns offer just that. Their thick fronds provide a shady canopy and trap humidity, making the base of the plant an ideal hiding place for ticks waiting for a host.
Adding to the problem, ferns often grow in wooded or less-manicured parts of a yard—exactly where ticks are most active. If your ferns are near walking paths, pet zones, or seating areas, they may be increasing your risk of tick bites without you even realizing it.
Choosing alternative plants that don’t trap moisture or provide dense ground cover can help reduce tick presence while keeping your garden beautiful.
2. Lavender: Nature’s Tick Repellent
Lavender doesn’t just smell amazing – it actually helps keep ticks away! The strong scent that we find pleasant is actually offensive to ticks and many other pests.
Growing lavender near patios, walkways, or play areas creates natural protection zones. The plant contains linalool and linalyl acetate, compounds that naturally repel ticks and other insects without harsh chemicals.
As a bonus, lavender attracts helpful pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it a win-win addition to any garden. It’s also drought-resistant once established!
3. Rosemary: Aromatic Tick Barrier
Rosemary packs a powerful punch against ticks with its strong pine-like scent. The intense aroma masks the carbon dioxide we exhale – one of the main ways ticks detect potential hosts.
Plant rosemary along garden borders or pathways to create natural tick barriers. Its woody stems and needle-like leaves make it difficult for ticks to climb or hide, unlike the dense undergrowth they prefer.
Beyond tick protection, you’ll have fresh herbs for cooking right outside your door! Rosemary thrives in sunny, well-drained spots and needs minimal care once established.
4. Mint: Refreshing Tick Deterrent
Mint contains natural compounds like menthol that ticks absolutely hate. The strong smell interferes with a tick’s ability to find hosts, keeping them far away from your outdoor spaces.
Growing mint in containers near seating areas or children’s play spaces provides extra protection. Just be careful – mint spreads aggressively, so keeping it in pots prevents it from taking over your garden.
Bonus use: Crush fresh mint leaves and rub them on exposed skin for a quick, natural tick repellent during garden work. The pleasant cooling sensation is just an added perk!
5. Chrysanthemums: Beautiful Pest Control
Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrum, a natural insecticide that farmers have used for centuries. This compound attacks ticks’ nervous systems, making these colorful flowers a powerful addition to tick-resistant landscapes.
Plant mums along the edges of your yard where it meets wooded areas – these transition zones are where ticks often enter properties. The bright blooms add vibrant color while creating a protective boundary.
Fall-blooming varieties provide protection during peak adult tick activity seasons when many other plants have stopped flowering. They’re also incredibly easy to grow!
6. Garlic: Potent Tick Shield
Garlic’s strong sulfur compounds don’t just keep vampires away – ticks hate them too! The pungent aroma masks the scents that attract ticks to your yard and disrupts their ability to find hosts.
Plant garlic bulbs around the perimeter of gardens, play areas, or patios. As an added benefit, garlic is easy to grow and provides a harvest you can use in cooking.
Some gardeners even make a natural tick spray by steeping crushed garlic in water overnight and spraying it around yard boundaries. The smell dissipates quickly for humans but continues repelling ticks!
7. Sage: Aromatic Tick Protection
Sage contains powerful essential oils that naturally repel ticks and other unwanted insects. The silvery-green leaves release their protective scent whenever the wind blows or someone brushes against them.
Unlike many ornamental plants, sage thrives in poor soil conditions and needs little water once established. This makes it perfect for those dry, sunny spots in your yard where other plants struggle.
Try planting sage near outdoor living areas or along walkways. The beautiful purple flowers attract butterflies and bees while the aromatic leaves keep the ticks away – a perfect balance!
8. Lemon Balm: Citrusy Tick Barrier
Lemon balm contains citronellal, the same compound found in commercial insect repellents. This natural chemical masks the scents that ticks use to locate hosts, making your yard less attractive to these pests.
Growing lemon balm near play areas or garden benches creates pleasant-smelling protection zones. Children especially love the bright, lemony scent that provides invisible tick protection.
For maximum effectiveness, occasionally brush against the plants or trim them lightly. This releases more of the protective oils into the air and refreshes the plant’s tick-repelling properties.
9. Marigolds: Colorful Tick Defense
Marigolds contain natural compounds that ticks find extremely offensive. Their bright orange and yellow blooms aren’t just pretty – they’re actively working to keep pests away from your outdoor spaces.
Plant marigolds as borders around vegetable gardens, playgrounds, or patios. Their roots release chemicals into the soil that deter ticks and other underground pests from settling in.
French and Mexican marigold varieties offer the strongest protection. As an added bonus, they’re incredibly easy to grow from seed and provide continuous blooms from spring until the first frost!
10. Thyme: Low-Growing Tick Repellent
Thyme creates a carpet of protection with its spreading growth habit and powerful aroma. The thymol in its leaves actively repels ticks while releasing a pleasant herbal scent into your garden.
Consider planting creeping thyme varieties between stepping stones or along pathways. Each step releases more of the protective oils, creating an invisible shield against ticks in high-traffic areas.
Thyme also attracts beneficial pollinators while requiring minimal maintenance. Its drought tolerance makes it perfect for sunny, dry spots where other plants might struggle to survive.
11. Eucalyptus: Powerful Tick Deterrent
Eucalyptus contains powerful essential oils that ticks absolutely cannot stand. The distinctive menthol-like scent that we find refreshing actually disrupts ticks’ ability to detect potential hosts.
In warmer climates (zones 8-11), eucalyptus grows as trees or shrubs. In cooler areas, try growing eucalyptus in large containers that can be moved indoors during winter months.
For quick protection, try adding dried eucalyptus branches to outdoor seating areas or hanging bundles near entryways. The aromatic oils will continue working even after the branches have dried!