How to Protect a Yard From Fleas & Ticks

Fleas and ticks are most numerous in moist, shady areas of your yard.

Not just any insecticide will do when treating your yard for flea or tick infestations. The most effective products come on the recommendation of your veterinarian.

Things You'll Need

• Outdoor insecticide
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Be sure to look for these three active ingredients in outdoor flea or tick insecticides: pyriproxyfen, found in Archer and Nylar products; permethrin; or pyrethrin/pyrethroids. The latter two are found in many insecticide products.

2. Find insecticides that are labeled for outdoor flea and tick control--primarily from your veterinarian. Choose either granular, which can be spread and watered into the ground, or a liquid concentrate to spray on your soil. Also, keep in mind that insecticides for fleas are different than those for ticks.

3. 

   Concentrate on those areas of your yard where your pet spends the most time to eradicate fleas and ticks.

   Spray or spread insecticides close to food and water bowls and any other place where your pet spends time outdoors--especially in moist, shady areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Walter Reeves, the best-known gardening expert in Georgia with a weekly radio show on 750 WSB-AM, says on his Web site at WalterReeves.com, "It is a waste of time and insecticide to treat an entire lawn for fleas. Flea eggs and adults are concentrated in the places where your animal rests during the day."

• The Tulsa, Okla., Master Gardeners Web site advises against using indoor insecticides outside due to the chemical breakdown caused by sunlight and moisture.

References

• Walter Reeves: Gardening in Georgia
• Tulsa, Oklahoma Master Gardeners