Fleas and ticks can be incredibly harmful to dogs, cats and humans, too. But it’s only part of the reason you should consider a flea and tick yard treatment. From the diseases they transmit to the allergic reactions they can cause for you and your pets alike, fleas and ticks need to be kept out of yards, as this is often where infestations start.
With warming temps approaching, summer is prime time for flea and tick infestations. They thrive in warm, humid climates and can find their way to your pets in the most common environments — on a walk, a trip to the park, and in your own backyard.
Let’s take a look at some flea and tick yard treatments that can help protect you and your pets all summer long.
Where Flea And Tick Control Starts
If you see an occasional mouse running through your yard, you should be on alert. Rodents are big carriers, and it’s not just mice. Rats and those cute little chipmunks are carriers, too. Their passengers will attach themselves to you and your pet, and then they’re inside your home.
You’ll want to pay attention to your dog and outdoor cats. If you see them scratching constantly, there’s a good chance you’ll start finding fleas and you’ll need to treat your yard. Remember that very few flea and tick infestations will come directly from your pet. The vast majority of them usually start outside your home. This is why it’s critical to not only treat your pet for fleas but also your yard.
Do it Yourself or Hire a Professional?
Like anything in your yard, you can choose a DIY solution or go with a professional. If you chose to do it yourself, one of the first things you might want to try to curb your tick and flea infestation is an over-the-counter yard spray. This ready-to-spray, hose-end treatment kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other listed insects. Manufacturers claim they can kill adult fleas outdoors for up to 12 weeks.
Another option is cinnamon oil, which is a highly concentrated essential oil that kills ticks on contact by smothering them. For best results, you should apply it in early spring. You spray the diluted solution and spray it on your lawn, but beware. While cinnamon oil is a safe, non-toxic choice for tick control in your yard, always use caution when working with or mixing this product. In some cases, humans and pets who come in contact with cinnamon oil experience contact dermatitis.
You also have to make sure that your lawn is properly hydrated and not underwater before applying cinnamon oil. If you don’t, you could damage your turf.
While both of these solutions do work, the treatments can be challenging to apply correctly to achieve good results, and they do not last as long as treatments professionally applied.
This is why the safest, most effective route to take is a professional flea and tick yard treatment, like a dormant oil spray. It can be applied to trees around your yard, they don’t leave behind a toxic residue and dissipate quickly.
Professional Flea And Tick Yard Treatments Are Best
Flea and tick control in Southeast Michigan can be challenging. That’s why investing in a professional flea and tick yard treatment works best. This integrated pest management approach involves inspection, then targeting eggs, tick and flea larvae, and adults with the appropriate insecticides.
If you’re a pet owner, you need to be extra vigilant about flea and tick control for both yourself and your pets. A professional treatment will help keep your family and pets safe from these harmful insects and help you to feel more comfortable in your outdoor space.
Safari Tree flea and tick treatments attack your infestation at the source. And without the onslaught of bugs, you’ll be able to use your yard regularly, instead of running for cover.