How to control ticks, fleas, and other insects in your yard

To prevent and eliminate ticks, fleas, and other insects in your yard, you should learn more about Nematodes. These are naturally occurring fungi that have the ability to kill ticks, fleas, and other insects in your yard. Another effective way of preventing ticks and fleas is to use Cedar mulch around your garden. Also, make sure to bag grass clippings and blow leaves into piles.

Keep a well-groomed yard

Keeping your lawn and backyard well-trimmed, especially, where your pets travel will help to deny the habit of fleas and ticks. So, regularly mow your lawn to the type of grass you have and the climate in which you live. Trimming bush and lower branches on trees will provide more clearance for your pet and make it harder for fleas and ticks to jump or travel onto your pet. trim backyard bushes and trees allow more sunshine to penetrate underneath. Mulching with fresh cedar each spring will also discourage fleas and ticks.

Cedar mulch repels fleas and ticks

While it may not be a natural solution to eliminate fleas and ticks, cedar mulch can be applied around the perimeter of your yard, including the foundation of your home. It can also be applied around trees and other boundary areas of your yard. Applying cedar mulch can also help repel fleas and ticks, as cedar oil is an effective deterrent for both insects and humans. Cedar oil can also be applied to clothing and skin, and it is a safe and effective way to keep biting pests away from humans and pets.

While you should never allow wild animals to live on your property, you can help your yard repel fleas and ticks by making it as shady as possible. Also, make sure that your lawn is free from tall ornamental grasses, as they provide shelter for fleas. Insect problems can also be caused by overwatering, and unkempt organic debris can be an attractive place for insects. Cedar mulch repels fleas and ticks and can also be applied to flower beds and border areas to keep them away from your pets.

Cedar mulch has several other benefits besides repelling fleas and ticks. While it is an excellent natural repellent for fleas and ticks, it can also deplete nitrogen in your soil. You should never mix cedar mulch with soil, as it will deplete the soil. It can also be used as a bedding for your dog. Nevertheless, be sure not to wash cedar bedding, as it can rot inside fabric.

Bagging grass

If you live in an area that is known for having ticks, it’s important to bag grass clippings and leaves, or blow them into piles. Composting leaves is another option, but make sure that you place the pile away from the house. This way, ticks can’t breed in the compost, and the compost can help your yard’s plants grow healthier.

Another way to keep ticks and fleas out of your yard is to keep your grass short. Tall grass is ideal for hiding ticks, and will make the environment cool. Taller grass will also provide shade and shadow for the insects. Leaving your lawn shaggy is a bad idea, especially in areas known for ticks. Grass with long blades can also trap flies, which will then bite people.

Another way to control pests is to apply an insecticide to the yard. The best insecticide for this purpose is Supreme IT, which is effective against 80 different types of insects and lasts for up to 90 days. Another good option is Bifen LP, a granular insecticide that can be used on soil, as it works long term.

Another method is to sprinkle finely ground salt on moist and shady areas of the lawn. Because salt is an ionic compound, it attracts moisture from the environment. Therefore, it will desiccate flea bodies. In addition, you can sprinkle a thin layer of diatomaceous earth around the yard to kill ticks and other insects that live there.

Blowing leaves into piles

If you’re concerned about ticks and fleas, you may want to start by bagging grass clippings and blowing leaves into piles. You can also compost leaves to feed plants. Just make sure there are no weeds or large trees close to the house. Blowing leaves into piles also prevents and eliminates ticks and fleas from your yard.

Ticks and fleas thrive in long grass and are an ideal habitat for the Lyme-transmitting black-legged tick. In addition, wooded areas near your property can be tick hotbeds. Using mulch, blow leaves into piles, or removing weeds, can help keep ticks at bay.

Fleas can be controlled with pesticides. You can apply them using a garden hose. Keep in mind that these products do not penetrate the pupae shell, so they need to be reapplied frequently. The entire process of eliminating fleas from your yard can take three to four weeks. When you’re finished, make sure to clean and sanitize outdoor furniture before storing it in an area away from your house.

Eliminating food and shelter

While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of ticks, fleas and other pests in your yard, there are several ways to make your home less inviting to these bloodsuckers. By cutting down on tall grass and removing dead leaves and twigs, you can make your home less of a haven for these insects. You can also use sulphur or nematodes to kill the flea larvae.

Ticks are not just unpleasant – they can carry diseases and be harmful to pets and people. Ticks are hard-bodied and can be found on mammals and animals with fur. Ticks may carry several diseases, depending on where you live. In dense wooded areas with deer populations, ticks carry Lyme disease. In the Fresno area, you can also find anaplasmosis and ehrlichia.

Getting rid of clutter in your yard is another important step in reducing the amount of insects in your yard. Trash, broken glass, and toys can provide an excellent shelter for pests. Insects love the dampness and dark, moist spaces. Eliminate these areas as much as possible to prevent infestation. And if you still can’t eliminate all the food and shelter for fleas, ticks and other insects, there are several other steps you can take.

You can also perform a simple test to find out whether ticks are in your yard. The CDC suggests that you run your fingers through your pet’s hair to check if it’s covered with ticks. If you find a tick, put it in a sealed Ziploc bag and discard the tick. If you do not find any ticks on your pet, it’s a sign that the tick has come from the yard.

Keep a well-groomed yard

Keeping your lawn and backyard well-trimmed, especially, where your pets travel will help to deny the habit of fleas and ticks. So, regularly mow your lawn to the type of grass you have and the climate in which you live. Trimming bush and lower branches on trees will provide more clearance for your pet and make it harder for fleas and ticks to jump or travel onto your pet. trim backyard bushes and trees allow more sunshine to penetrate underneath. Mulching with fresh cedar each spring will also discourage fleas and ticks.

Eliminating Ticks, Fleas, and Other Insects 

Nematodes prevent and eliminate ticks fleas and other insects in your yard

Nematodes are beneficial insects that live in the soil. When used properly, they can eliminate the population of a target pest while improving plant health. Beneficial nematodes can be applied in the soil at least twice a year to get the most effective results. However, be aware that not all nematodes will work on every pest. So, you should test the nematodes’ effectiveness with a pest-specific application before using them.

A beneficial nematode has six different stages. The adult nematodes live inside an insect’s body, while the juveniles live in the soil. The third stage of the nematode is the larva, and they enter the host insect through an opening on its body. They multiply in the dead insect’s body and leave the area once they’ve found a new host. In the absence of more larvae, they die. Nematodes are harmless to humans, pets, and plants. Their effects are long-lasting.

Although nematodes are not visible to humans, they live in soil and kill ticks, fleas, and other insects. They are particularly effective in hot spots, like the area where pets live or where the grass is overly dry. When applied to lawns, be sure to apply them before dawn. After a couple of days, they will continue to kill the insects in your yard and will provide months of flea-free lawn.

In addition to killing the bugs, nematodes also help keep beneficial soil bugs in check, while at the same time preserving the natural ecosystem in your yard. Dr. Albrecht Koppenhofer, a nematologist at the University of California-Davis, recommends applying beneficial nematodes to protect your lawn. The most important step in using nematodes is knowing which species of nematodes are most effective for the specific pest you’re trying to eradicate.

Apply a homemade rosemary repellant spray

Many plants, such as rosemary, bay leaf, lavender, and chives, have strong scents that can keep the annoying insects away. If you haven’t planted them in your garden, then you should try making a repellant spray, preferably rosemary.

To make a rosemary repellant spray for ticks and fleas, you will need to boil dried rosemary in water for about half an hour. Ideally, you should use 4 cups of dried rosemary for every quart of water.

Pass the liquid through a strainer and transfer it into a large container, which allows you to add a quart of cool water. Next, pour the repellant to spray bottles and apply it to the areas that receive the most activity.

Try a dish soap trap

It is an effective remedy when placed in a specific area where the insects have been. The dish soap trap should be left overnight because fleas usually become active in the night.

Making the trap is easy, as all you need is to mix water with dish soap. Soap reduces the surface tension of water, making the insects sink and drown.

Please note that the type of container you use can make a difference. We recommend using large, shallow containers with short sides. Also, make as multiple traps as possible.

Use sticky traps

Sticky traps come in several colors, but yellow is considered a general attractant for different insect species. The traps significantly suppress the population of the fleas within a short period, especially when placed in rows every 15 to 30 feet throughout a yard.

Organic Flea and tick shampoo

Maybe your four-legged friend loves being outdoors, and the fleas have collected on pets’ coat. If you are going to bathe her with a flea and tick shampoo, make sure it consists of natural, plant-based ingredients. Or make the shampoo yourself. Well, you will need to mix one quart of water, a cup of white vinegar, and a cup of liquid dish soap in a large bottle.

Flea and tick shampoo as a backyard spray

Also, an inexpensive pet flea and tick shampoo is a more pet-friendly method for controlling backyard fleas, ticks, and even mosquitoes. All you need to do is add it to a hose-end spray bottle and give your backyard a good spray when the weather forecast provides a few days without rainfall.  Be sure not only to spray the grass but also the brushes and trees in the backyard.  Avoid spraying flowering plants and any bee houses and hives which you may have.

Conclusion

As you can see, organically eliminating fleas and ticks in your yard is not difficult. However, if you are facing a large infestation, you might want to consider involving professionals.