Thank you for reaching out to us! 

Unfortunately, we are not aware of any scientific studies demonstrating that the presence of specific plant species in a landscape effectively repels ticks. We urge folks to be cautious in regards to articles like these as they may not be scientifically accurate.

The confusion can sometimes stem from studies around botanical compounds. There are certain plants that contain chemical properties which can repel, deter, and/or harm pest insects, some of which are used in botanical insecticides, but simply having these plants in your yard does not mean you can obtain the pesticidal/repellent properties as many of these chemicals need to be physically extracted at certain amounts and concentrations in order to significantly impact pests.

There are certain landscape modifications that can be done to help reduce tick habitat. Ticks tend to be found in wooded areas, tall grass or brush, the edges where woods and lawn meet (0-3 meter zone), in leaf litter, under ground-cover plants, and around stone walls and woodpiles where small mammals, particularly mice (a host some ticks like to feed on and can be a vector of Lyme disease), may be. 

Also understanding these "risk zone" areas in your landscape can help you and any pest you have, either avoid these areas or if you enter these areas other precautions may need to be taken such as wearing or treating clothes with insect repellent, tucking tall socks into long pants, and checking yourself and/or pets for ticks after entering these areas.

Here are some credible resources on ways to reduce tick habitat by the University of Maine Extension and the University of Rhode Island:

• https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/management/landscape-management/
• https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/prevention/protect-your-yard/

TickEncounter, a program by the University of Rhode Island, is a great resource for up-to-date credible resources on ticks, like their top 5 actions for protecting yourself from ticks in your yard.

We cannot prevent all ticks from our landscapes, as other animal carriers of ticks like mice can freely move in and out of our greenspaces, but there are things we can do to reduce preferred tick habitat and/or be mindful of tick habitat while using other protective measures and regular body checks.

If you are looking for beneficial plants to add to your landscape, we would recommend checking out our resources on native plants, pollinator gardens, and the new Maryland Native Plant Guide for the Piedmont Region (by the Maryland Native Plants program). This plant guide is available online as a PDF and features plant profiles, site-specific plant lists, and practical guidance on topics like invasive species management, supporting pollinators, climate-resilient planting, native plants, aquatic gardening, and deer resistance. As a part of the Maryland Native Plants program, their web page also hosts a commercial native plant list and a list of certified retailers that sell native plants in Maryland.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Happy gardening and happy spring!