Illinois Tick Season: 10 Plants To Keep Them Out Of Your Yard

We love it when the cold weather goes and the warm weather comes in, but that warm weather brings some nasty creepy-crawlies we didn't have to deal with when there was snow on the ground.

If last year’s tick season in Illinois felt especially bad, you weren’t imagining it, and unfortunately, 2026 is shaping up to be even worse. Warmer winters and wetter springs are creating ideal conditions for ticks to thrive, and experts say that means more of them, and more potential health risks, for anyone spending time outdoors.

Illinois is home to several tick species that actively bite humans, including the American dog tick, lone star tick, blacklegged (deer) tick, brown dog tick, and even the winter tick. These tiny pests can carry serious illnesses like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and even alpha-gal syndrome, which can trigger a red meat allergy.

Short of staying indoors until winter comes back, what can you do about them?

Ticks Live In Grassy, Bushy, And Wooded Areas, But They're Also Very Happy In Your Backyard

That’s why many homeowners are looking for natural ways to make their yards less inviting. One increasingly popular method is something called Strategic Planting.

A recent piece from Southern Living highlights 10 plants that may help repel ticks thanks to their strong scents and natural compounds that these pests simply don’t like. The cool thing about this list is that the plants are not hard to find or terribly expensive:

• Lavender
• Marigolds
• Oregano
• Mint
• Eucalyptus
• Rosemary
• Catnip
• Thyme
• Chrysanthemums
• Garlic

Many of these plants are not only useful in the kitchen, but they also add color and fragrance to your yard while helping deter unwanted visitors. For example, chrysanthemums contain pyrethrins, a natural insecticide known to repel ticks, while herbs like mint and rosemary give off strong aromas that ticks avoid.

Even with the help of these plants, remember to keep expectations realistic. Planting these alone won’t make your yard completely tick-proof. Experts still recommend basic prevention steps like keeping grass trimmed, removing leaf litter, and checking yourself and pets after spending time outside.