Our yards can be breeding grounds for fleas. They provide an avenue for these fleas to hitch ride on your pets into your homes. While pets are a major culprit in bringing fleas into our homes, it is not unheard of for you yourself to serve as a conduit for these fleas into your home. It happens. And once inside, the cycle of wrecking havoc begins. Only to be stopped by an aggressive control measure.
Although it can be tricky trying to spot fleas in the yard, if you stick to the right precautionary and preventive strategies, you can have a yard free of fleas.
How To Spot Fleas In Yard
For your search party, you will need a flashlight and a pair of tall white socks. Wear your white socks and slowly move around areas you suspect harbors fleas. These areas may include shady shrubs, under and around trees and bushes, under or on decks and porches, and heaps of decayed leaf debris. All areas where your pets usually frequent should also be checked. If truly you are harboring fleas in your yard, then these fleas will stick on your socks. Care should be taken to dispose of the socks properly.
Treating Your Yard For Fleas
Once it has been established that you have fleas in the yard, many treatment options can be adopted. You can start with insecticides or outdoor sprays. If yours is a huge yard, you may not need to treat the entire area. Concentrate your efforts only in places where you or your pets regularly access.
Using Insecticides
Most flea pesticides will come in the form of sprays or tank pumps. Get yourself familiar with their method of application, and with the product itself. A professional can be called in to help if you’re not conversant with either.
Wear protective clothing, masks, and gloves, then commence the application. Remove toys and other children’s equipment off the area. Your pets and kids should be taken off the field until the place is safe. Treatment should be repeated in a week or two intervals.
Flooding Your Yard
This approach works well to kill off the eggs and larvae of fleas. Ensure to flood your yard with water until the water is a few inches above the ground level. It is widely known that the eggs and larvae of fleas will not survive to flood with water.
Diatomaceous Earth
This is one natural way of killing fleas without breaking a sweat. DE is non-toxic and very safe for the environment. It works by dehydrating the exoskeletons of fleas, leaving them to die off gradually.
Using Nematodes
This is one biological control measure that is very effective. It employs the use of microscopic worms that feed on the larvae of fleas. Its feeding habit extends to other destructive insects, such as termites. Nematodal sprays are harmless to humans and pets if you’re concerned about their toxicity. Apply then to shady areas where your pets .
Other noteworthy treatment options include using cedar wood chips, building barriers around your yard to keep out wild animals and feral pests, and clearing clusters. CDC Tips
If your pets are already infected with fleas, flea shampoo or other types of flea treatment should suffix.
The bottom line is this, a flea free yard is our first line of defense against flea infestations. Do you have fleas in your yard? Then it’s just a matter of time before they invade your home and cause devastating problems. Read More…