Wondering how to get rid of fleas in your yard this summer? Hoping to ensure Fido doesn’t end up with an infestation that demands yet another vet bill? Flea pest control can be a pretty serious problem in the summer, but there are ways of controlling fleas to ensure your home and your yard are protected.
Are They Actually a Problem?
Wondering whether flea control is actually worth your time? They absolutely are. These pests can lay up to 50 eggs every single day, and if the conditions are ideal, every one of those 50 eggs can live for up to two years. While they’re certainly going to be a problem for your pets, whether they live inside or outside, they’re also a problem for your friends and family. Flea bites cause sores and rashes, which can lead to infection. Flea control for your home and your yard this summer is nothing short of an absolute must.
Decide Whether Fleas Are In Your Yard
It can be tough to decide whether you have a problem with these creatures in your yard because they’re so small. They’re typically brown with a red tint. They don’t have wings, and their tiny little bodies are usually about a sixth of an inch in length. The best way to tell if you have a problem is to slip on a pair of white socks. Walk around your yard where your pets typically hang out. If there are fleas in that area, they’ll jump on your socks.
A Bit of Yard Work
If you have fleas (or you’d like to avoid having fleas in the future), there is some yard work you can do to stop the problem. Start by creating a barrier around your house that will be your “flea free” zone. To make it happen, make certain you don’t have any leaf litter or brush in the 18 inches that extend from your house. You should also make sure you don’t have any brush or plants where fleas might like to hide. Adding cedar mulch, though, may help, as fleas hate cedar. You may also want to mulch spaces where your pet loves to hang out (like under the porch).
Mowing regularly can help, too. You should decide on the ideal height for your grass. If it’s too long, fleas will hid there. If it’s too short (usually under two inches or so), spiders and ants won’t like it either. Why do you care what the spiders and ants want? They’re a flea’s natural predators, so keeping them around might be a good idea to stop the fleas.
Dethatching your lawn can also prove helpful. Thick thatch gives fleas (and lots of other pests) a great place to hide and lay their eggs. If possible, dethatch your lawn on a regular basis. You want a half inch or less of thatch to help prevent flea and other pest problems.
How much water your lawn has had recently can also affect your potential flea populations. Fleas need moisture to survive, so overwatering can actually encourage your flea population and create other lawn problems. Give it about an inch of water per week.
Ensuring your yard isn’t attractive to other wildlife is important as well. Feral cats can drag fleas in, but so can squirrels, rabbits, and deer, so if possible, make certain they don’t wander into your yard on a regular basis.
Keeping Them Out of Your House
If you have fleas in the yard, the chances are good that you’re going to have them in your house as well. If they’re already in the house, make sure you vacuum on a regular basis. You’ll want to do both the carpet and the furniture. Be sure to dump your canister and wash it with hot water as soon as you finish or seal your vacuum bag in a plastic garbage bag and put it in your trash. You’ll also want to wash your own linens and clothes as well as your pet’s bedding in hot, soapy water, and if possible, dry it on the hottest possible dryer cycle. That will kill the fleas and their eggs.
Calling In the Professionals
Flea control is a serious issue. The last thing you want to do is spend hundreds on store-bought solutions that won’t actually help. Instead, the moment you know fleas have become a problem, contact us at Slug-A-Bug! We’ll evaluate both your home and your yard and find the treatment method that’s right for you and your pets.