Nematode Nick's Landscaping

A Beautiful Yard Naturally

Flea Control

 

Just thinking about fleas makes me itch.  I am always amazed how something so small and insignificant so bothersome and difficult to control.  Fleas under ideal conditions will lay 500 eggs each and they will hatch in 2 weeks.  Then those 500 lay 500 eggs each, well you get the picture.  So what to do?  Fleas due to their diminutive size travel from your yard to the inside of your house undetected.  To effectively control them you need to attack them on several fronts.  Your yard, your pets and your home.  Treatment for all three need to be done simultaneously, otherwise you will continue the cycle. 

 

Yard: 

There are several ways to attack the fleas in your yard.  I recommend treating the yard with beneficial nematodes.  The beneficial nematodes control the fleas by interrupting the life cycle.  The nematodes infect the larvae stage thus preventing them from maturing to adults.  There are several contact organic pesticides that work by killing the adult fleas but offer little to no residual to kill the hatch out from the eggs.  (eggs are not penetrated by insecticides)  Some of the organic pesticides that can be used are:

Bioganic and Neem to name a few.  Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) can also be broadcast on the yard but if it gets wet, even from a heavy dew then it needs to be reapplied.

 

House: 

I recommend a very light dusting the fabric of sitting areas (chairs sofas etc.) with Diatomaceous Earth, let it sit for a day or two then vacuum it up.  Repeat in two weeks.  When applying the D.E. try to keep it out of your eyes and from breathing it as it is abrasive.  D.E. is an inert

 product, it is not a poison it kills by abrasive action.

 

Pets: 

I recommend dusting them with the D.E. and massaging it into their fur.  The D.E. can be left on them as it is an inert product.