The Ticks Are Back — Here’s Our Tried-and-True Natural Pest Spray
Here on Magnolia Hill Homestead in Western Kentucky, the arrival of Summer means three things: The pool is open, the garden starts to explode with life, and so do the ticks.
If you’ve spent even five minutes outside this time of year, you know what I mean. Despite having free-ranging chickens and ducks helping with pest control, the ticks still find a way. Our animals pick them up, and if we’re walking through the orchard, fields, or even the garden edges, we do too.
I’ve learned over the last five years that you can’t completely get rid of ticks, but you can protect yourself and your animals without loading everyone up with chemicals every single day.
Which brings me to a little celebration…
On June 3rd, we’ll be celebrating five beautiful years on Magnolia Hill Homestead.
In that time, I’ve tested and tweaked every natural pest remedy you can imagine - and today I’m sharing the fourth version of my homemade pest spray.
Why version four? Because each season brings new challenges, and I keep improving it based on what actually works for us in the field. This is my most effective blend yet, and it’s 100% natural. No harsh chemicals, no synthetic fragrances - just clean, high-quality ingredients that help keep ticks (and other biting pests) off your skin, clothes, and fur babies.
Even though I fully believe in using high-quality flea and tick meds when absolutely necessary, I also believe we should have safer, more natural options available, especially for everyday use and for those who are sensitive.
If you live in a pest-heavy area or just want something that works for your walks, farm chores, or evening porch sits, I think you’ll really love this.
A word of caution…
Pets can possibly have a reaction to certain oils, so it’s important to use the highest quality and test them out on a tiny spot first. (I would also pair this with a food-grade Diatomaceous Earth dusting just to cover all bases) …
Here’s a pet-safe bug spray you can confidently use on and around your pets:
Ingredients:
1 cup distilled water
1 tbsp vegetable glycerin
1 tsp jojoba oil (optional)
10 drops lavender oil
8 drops lemongrass oil
4 drops rosemary oil
2–3 drops sandalwood oil
Our secret ingredient: Homegrown lilac-mint oil (optional)
Get yourself a continuous spray bottle (this is the Continuous Spray Bottle I use & it’s great coverage). Shake and apply a light spray on fur and on your own feet, legs & arms just before going out into grass (avoid eyes, mouth, nose), clothing, and bedding. Reapply as needed.
Try it out and let me know how it works for you!