Fleas are a common problem in many residential properties. They can be very difficult to get rid of since they thrive in warm and humid environments. Fortunately, there are ways you can prevent them from setting up their home base in your yard.
To get flea-free, you will have to treat your yard with the right products. You can do this manually or through an automatic system that sprays pesticides on demand. If you choose the latter, make sure that the sprayer is easy to use and not too complicated, so it won’t become a hassle for you to use it every month. Here are some factors you should consider before buying your next yard sprayer:
When to Spray for Fleas in Yard
Flea season is not set in stone. But it depends on where you live that determines when you need to treat your yard and fight off the fleas. Some regions of the country are better than others as they get a break from flea season.
Here is a little chart to help you figure out when you should be outside creating your defense against fleas:
The States | Months of the year |
Alaska | May to October |
Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada & Arizona | From January to December |
Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Georgia, Florida, South & North Carolina | From January to December |
Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, & Oklahoma | From March to December |
Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, & Kentucky | From March to December |
Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, & Maryland | From March to December |
Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Conn., Rhode Island, & Mass. | From April to December |
Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado & Wisconsin | From April to November |
New Hampshire, Vermont, & Maine | From April to November |
Wyoming, & North Dakota | From May to November |
Arkansas | From February to December |
Fleas will survive in temperatures as low as the high 30’s and love the temperatures between 65- and 80-degrees F. Plus, they love the humidity between 75 and 85%.
With this chart, you can plan your flea defense strategy and maybe get a few days’ heads start before they start arriving in your neighborhood. The pupae may be the toughest to get rid of each year. They can remain dormant for over one year.
They will come alive when the weather warms up. That means you have to use a good defense strategy to kill the pupae while they are dormant. This chart is also not set in stone as one year it will be exactly right and another year there may be warmer winters, etc., and the fleas will arrive sooner than expected.
You just have to plan your anti-flea activities in approximations. During those off months, if your state is lucky enough to have some, do some research to find the best flea and tick sprays or treatments that fit your lifestyle. You do not have to have pets to have fleas in your home.
They can get in through different means, including riding on your clothing. So be careful and watch out. Get the best so you can rest all year round
Where to Spray for Fleas in Yard
The correct areas have to do with where your pets spend most of their time. Fleas will gather in those areas first, then spread out from there. That means that if your dog likes to go into the flowers, your garden or near the long grass at your fence, that is where you should start spraying.
After that, look for dark, humid, and moist places. Fleas love those spots and will hide out there until your dog or cat pass by. Once they do, the fleas will jump on your pets and start laying eggs after having a good meal.
Some specific areas to do your spraying are: tall grass, in shrubs, weeds, woodpiles, debris, a dog’s house, a shed or a garage, outdoor furniture, and any other moist areas.
Once you know what a flea likes, then it is easier to find those places and kill those fleas. If you are not sure, put on some knee-high white socks and stand in different places around your yard. if you see fleas jump on your socks, that is an area you need to spray.
Don’t forget to look for openings that lead into your crawl space and basement. You will want to spray those holes before sealing them up. You never know when a flea and his buddies will enter those openings and start living in your home.
Fleas can live for roughly 100 days without a blood meal if they are not disturbed. On average though expect about 2 months of living time. Then look for cracks and holes in stairs, sidewalks, laminate floors, tile, wood, and more.
If you want to win this war this year, you have to be thorough and use the right anti-flea sprays. If you do not like using harsh chemicals, then you can spread nematodes around your yard. Nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on flea eggs and larvae.
Or you can use Diatomaceous Earth (DE) which is one of the best methods to kill fleas outside in your yard. DE is the remains of millions of fossilized simple cell organisms which are left over from dried-up water sources.
This option has very sharp edges that kill the fleas. Using roughly ¼ to ½ lb. of DE and mixing it with water in a sprayer is enough to treat up to 1,000 square feet of lawn.
The drawback is that this option is not safe for dogs and cats, so you have to be careful where you spray them.
How to prevent fleas in your yard
Once you understand how the flea lives and where they like to live, it is easier to prepare your yard to prevent fleas from entering. here are some of those ways:
1. Cut Your Grass Short and Regularly– The shorter the grass the more sunlight can get through to the dirt. Fleas do not like sunlight.
2. Try Not to Over-Water– Fleas love humid and moist areas and over-watering provides that environment for them.
3. Treat Dog Runs– If you have one spray some insecticide all over the run. This will help kill fleas and keep them away from your dog.
4. Keep Your Yard Clean– Raking away leaves, debris and other good hiding places for fleas helps keep those fleas away. With no place to hide, the insecticides you use can reach them easier.
5. Make Your Home and Yard Less Attractive to Rodents, Raccoons, And Other Small Animals– Fleas will hitch a ride on these small animals so if you do the following those hitchhiking fleas may never enter your yard:
- Store food, including pet food, in tight sealing containers.
- Remove brush, rock piles, junk, and cluttered firewood outside of your home.
- Seal up holes in your home where rodents can enter.
- Keep tight lids on compost and trash cans.
Also, try to keep strays away from your yard. They will have fleas as they do not have someone protecting them from fleas.
Tips to Treat Fleas in Your Yard
There is no shame in getting help or tips to fight off fleas in your yard. If left untreated, female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs a day, and 2000 of them in their lifetime. Getting help is a smart move to make.
Here are some tips to help you fight off those fleas
1. Use a yard flea chemical spray. There are lots of good brands out there to choose from and Wondercide is just one of them. make sure to spray when there is no rain that day and for a few days after that.
2. Create A Flea Barrier- Clear away plants, brush, leaves, and tall grass that are close to your home. Then spray water over those items and add mulch to the barrier. This should stop fleas in their tracks. Use cedar as it is known to repel fleas and ticks.
3. Mow and Dethatch Your Yard- Keeping the grass low and free from cuttings is an ideal way to keep fleas away. Make sure to kill those weeds so fleas have no place to hide and wait.
4. Treat Your Dog and Cat- Kill the fleas on your pets and put a flea collar or some other anti-flea product on them to stop the fleas from living on your dog and cat. Treating their food source is a good way to kill fleas.
5. Sprinkle Borax- This is a good flea-killing product and it can be spread around your yard safely. The drawback to this option is that it is not a good product to use if you have pets. If your dog or cat gets some Borax residue on them, you do need to bathe them right away
6. Do Some Indoor Flea Prevention- Some fleas may still get through all those defenses. So you need to treat your home’s interior to kill off any that were successful.
This means bathing your pets, washing theirs and your bedding, rugs, pillows, and so on. It also means vacuuming rugs, carpets, draperies, furniture, and your box springs and mattresses.
You may have to spray some natural anti-flea products and so on. Being thorough means getting all the fleas, their eggs, and larvae. All of this will help you keep fleas away from your home.
Best Yard Spray for Fleas and Ticks
Here are some of the best yard sprays you can use for both flea and ticks. You should be able to find at least one in your neighborhood shopping center.
1. Wondercide Ticks, Fleas, and Mosquito’s Spray
- Safe for children and pets
- Naturally derived
- Biodegradable
- Easy to apply
- Free from chemicals or harsh pesticides
- Can treat up to 5,000 square feet
- Can both kill and repel
- Ready to use
2. EcoGuard Plus – Pet Safe Yard Spray for Tick, Fleas, and Mosquitos
- Easy-to-measure and easy-to-pour bottle
- Biodegradable
- Naturally-derived
- Pet and kid-safe
- Made from human-grade materials
- Worth the money
- Easy to mix formula
- Sweet scent
3. TropiClean Natural Tick and Flea Yard Spray
- Citrusy aroma
- Soap-free formulation
- Contains EPA-approved essential oils
- Free from Pyrethrin and Permethrin
- No need to wash the area after treatment
- Kills labeled insects on contact
- 100% Natural
- Pet Safe
4. VET’S+BEST – Cheap Yard Spray for Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Fleas
- Ready-to-use hose attachment
- Easy to use
- No need to rinse after treatment
- Contains certified essential oils
- Plant-Based Formula
- Safe to use around family and pets
- Does not harm trees, shrubs, or flowers
5. Colton’s Naturals Yard Spray for Ticks and Fleas
- Free from harsh chemicals
- 100% Natural
- Easy to use
- Pet-safe and child-safe
- No use of abrasive chemical treatments
- Smells good
There are plenty of other top flea and tick sprays that would make it on this list. Pick your favorite and make sure it works. Find the one that fits your budget.
When you need your yard sprayed for fleas, do pest control companies spray for fleas? Check out our post “Do pest control companies spray for fleas?” to learn more.
Some Final Words
Fleas are nasty little creatures. They are not only painful but can also spread diseases as well. You can prevent flea infestation by keeping your yard clean and maintaining good hygiene.
You can consider treating your home and yard with the best yard spray for fleas.
Just make sure you know where to spray and when to do it. It may take some time to find the right products for your property. The best way to find them is to research online. This will give you access to the best options and ensure you are using the right ones for your area.
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Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.