Fleas are often carried into yards on animals, and once they get established, it can be tricky to get them to leave. To protect your pets and prevent fleas from infesting your home, you’ll want to take steps to remove these pests from your outdoor space. Check out a few tips to help you get rid of fleas in your yard.
1. Take Care of Your Lawn & Vegetation
Fleas like to find places to hide in yards that provide shelter and shade. Overgrown vegetation and tall grass are ideal spots. Mowing your lawn regularly and trimming plants, shrubs, and bushes will help to reduce potential harboring sites. Trimming back tree branches can allow more sunshine into your yard, minimizing dampness and shade. You’ll also want to remove any layers of dead grass that can act as a hiding spot for fleas too.
2. Minimize Moisture Build-Up
These pests are fond of damp environments, so you’ll want to minimize excess moisture in your yard. Empty and remove items that can collect water such as buckets, flowerpots, and toys. Look for areas where water pools in your yard and work to remedy the issue. Make sure your spigots and hoses aren’t leaking and your gutters are working properly. It’s best to avoid overwatering your plants to minimize moisture build-up.
3. Remove Yard Debris
Other items in your yard could provide hiding spots for fleas. Removing these sources of shelter will help to kick these pests out of your yard. Remove any dead or fallen leaves, weeds, twigs, fallen branches, and other yard debris. Clean up any trash that might attract wildlife that could be carrying fleas. Store your woodpiles off the ground and in sunny parts of your yard to make them less attractive to fleas.
4. Create a Physical Barrier
Fleas often make their way into yards on animals. Deer, rodents, raccoons, and opossums are potential carriers of fleas. Make sure your fence is secure and repair any holes or gaps where animals could access your yard. If you don’t have a fence, consider adding one to your property to discourage wildlife. Fleas aren’t fans of cedar chips or cedar mulch, so adding these to the perimeter of your yard or in areas where fleas are likely to hang out can help to deter them.
5. Take Care of Your Pets
If you have pets, then protecting them from fleas is important. If fleas are active in your yard, you’ll want to limit your pet’s time outside until the infestation is controlled. Regularly check your pets for fleas or signs of their presence such as your pet scratching more than usual. Talk to your veterinarian about preventative measures that will be best for your furry friend. If your pets are dealing with fleas, your veterinarian will be able to provide you with a treatment plan.
6. Clean Outdoor Furniture & Pet Toys
Though fleas like to stay on their host, they can fall off and hide in furniture. If your patio furniture has cushions with washable covers, you’ll want to wash and dry them on a high heat setting. You can also use a vacuum to remove fleas from outdoor furniture. Be sure to place the contents of the vacuum in a sealed bag before disposing of it in a trash can with a tight-fitting lid. Any pet toys left outdoors should also be washed or cleaned.
7. Treat Your Lawn & Vegetation
Treating your lawn with a plant-based insecticide spray can help to control fleas. Our Yard Bug Spray kills fleas and provides residual repellency protection. It is formulated with plant oils and will cover up to 5,000 sq ft. You’ll want to spray your lawn and vegetation where fleas are likely to be found. You can also create a protective barrier around your home by spraying the perimeter of your house. The repellent properties of the spray will help to keep fleas from entering your home. Apply the spray to the lower portions of your foundation and the ground to about three feet out.
Having fleas in your yard can make it hard to enjoy your time outside. Removing potential attractants and treating your yard will help to get rid of these pests. If you’re dealing with fleas or other bugs, we want to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution when used as directed.