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Harmful fleas and ticks are not a new problem, nevertheless, not all homeowners know the best ways to be rid of them. Of all the areas in your home, your lawn may host the most fleas, and if you don’t treat the problem in the right way, your whole house can become infested as well. We have a few hints that may be useful to you.
Mow the lawn properly
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There is no way to get rid of fleas in your lawn if you don’t mow it correctly. Fleas love cool, shady, moist conditions, so long grass is an ideal shelter for these annoying parasites as well as for their eggs and larvae. Taking advantage of the length of the grass, they hide from sight and from the sun. It’s important to mow your lawn fairly short for this reason, but not so short that it burns and dies in the hot summer sun. Try to find the correct balance.
Ensure good drainage and never overwater
Both poor drainage and overwatering can be responsible for the rampant development of fleas. Fleas and ticks thrive in damp, shady conditions. Check carefully that you are watering your lawn to the proper levels. It is better to water deeply and well once a week, letting it dry out in between, than to sprinkle smaller amounts more frequently. Moreover, pay attention to the drainage system because this is what causes your lawn to be healthy or not.
Keep the lawn clean
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The clearer your lawn is of leaves and other debris, the fewer fleas you will have. Fleas often lay their eggs and harbor their larvae under fallen leaves, old lawn clippings, overgrown shrubs and anything else you may have littered on the lawn. Clear up your lawn thoroughly, raking up all the dead leaves, discarded bottles and even food debris. Of course, don’t forget to remove all piles of trash from the surrounding area. With no shelter, fleas will “move house” in a short time.
Treat your pets
Pets always love to run and play on the lawn. If your pets are even slightly infested by fleas, they can easily transfer the parasites to your lawn, which will cause the problem to escalate.
Protect your lawn from wildlife or strange animals
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Perhaps your pets are not infested by fleas, but your lawn is. The reason probably comes from outside. Perhaps friends have visited and brought their pets along with them, or wildlife comes onto your lawn. Of course, you can’t prohibit your friends and their pets from visiting. Just make sure that after they have left you check the areas where their pets were playing and apply flea chemicals if necessary. As for wildlife, try as far as possible to stop them from coming into your garden by installing new fences, fixing holes in existing boundaries or by hanging some toy enemies to frighten the wildlife away.
Grow some plant repellent herbs around the lawn
Some common flea repellents are citronella, marigolds, lavender, rosemary, mint and many others. These plants will not only make your garden look more beautiful but will also prevent fleas from migrating into the lawn.
Purchase and apply some flea products
There are hundreds of products made from both chemicals and natural ingredients available on the market for you to choose from. However, before making a final decision, it’s always a good idea to ask your vet for advice to avoid your pets having an allergic reaction.
To sum up
We hope you find these tips helpful. Most of them are very simple, and yet they are highly effective. You can both deter fleas and kill them by using these easy methods. Refer to them often and apply them anytime they’re necessary. Bear in mind that the prevention is better than cure!