Fleas multiply rapidly and can live anywhere from a few weeks to a year. Fleas living outdoors might hitch a ride on you or your pets and infest the interior of your home. Keeping the amount of fleas in your lawn under control helps prevent infestations on your pet. Several all-natural pesticides control the outside flea population without poisonous chemicals and harsh residue.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural approach to control fleas and other annoying pests. DE is a sedimentary material containing fossilized diatoms. It is made up of sharply crystalline particles that cut the insect’s exoskeleton as they move through it. Diatomaceous earth causes dehydration and death in insects. This powder-like material is usually harmless to pets and people. However, inhaling diatomaceous earth can cause nose and throat irritation. To control fleas in your yard, either sprinkle the diatomaceous earth over the region or use a garden spreader to disperse it throughout the lawn. DE is also bad for honeybees so refrain from applying it close flowering plants. The diatomaceous earth used must be organic DE and not the kind employed in pools.
Nematodes
Depending on the species, nematodes are damaging pests or beneficial predators. The Steinerema genus of nematodes feed on immature cat fleas along with various other pests creeping around in your lawn. Nematodes are applied to the lawn by combining them with water and spraying the fluid above the ground. Because nematodes need moisture to survive, water the lawn within two-day intervals after the initial application. On the other hand, the University of Florida says that extensive research has not yet been conducted to determine the efficacy of Steinerema nematodes as a flea pesticide. It adds that dirt composition — clay, sand or loam — may affect the performance of nematodes to control pests.
Spinosad
Spinosad is a bacterium that naturally occurs in the dirt and kills insects that take it. The Safer Pest Control Project lists Spinosad as a safer alternative to toxic substances. Spinosad is the active ingredient in several flea control products, including prescriptions for pets and as a concentrated spray for lawns. Each brand of pesticide that has Spinosad has its own recommended application speed and also you should adhere to those directions for best results. Most manufacturers recommend applying the diluted spray early in the afternoon and thoroughly covering the lawn. A second application 7 to 14 days later will help control patients who have emerged from the larval phase. Spinosad is poisonous to bees so refrain from applying pesticides containing Spinosad to blooming, fruiting, or pollen- or even nectar-producing plants. What’s more, do not apply Spinosad to water, because it’s harmful to aquatic invertebrates and never remove the unused chemical down drains.
Considerations
Flea larvae need moisture and cool temperatures to thrive. Together with natural sweeteners, keep the grass mowed regularly to a height of no taller than three inches and trim shrubs and trees. This will allow sunlight to flood the ground, which kills flea larvae. The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine recommends keeping the yard free of debris to help control unwanted pests, like fleas. What’s more, vacuum carpets, couches, pet beds and drapes consistently to help control fleas that could be hiding in your home.