If the words “flea” and “tick” send a shiver down your spine, you’re not alone! These nasty pests don’t belong on your beloved pets, much less on your lawn. In this blog post, we’ll share what we know about fleas and ticks, including how to control fleas in yard areas, what to do to prevent ticks, and how you can reach Arbor-Nomics if you’d like our help with reliable lawn treatment for fleas and ticks.
Lawn Treatment for Fleas and Ticks: Why It Matters
Understanding the risks associated with ticks and fleas is crucial. These pests are known for transmitting diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (ticks) and causing significant discomfort and potential allergic reactions (fleas). In regions like Georgia, where the climate is conducive to their proliferation, it becomes even more important to have a robust strategy for flea and tick control.
Life Cycle and Preferred Living Conditions of Fleas and Ticks
The life cycle of a flea consists of four stages. After feeding on human or animal blood, a female flea lays eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae feed on organic matter and then enter the pupal stage. Upon emerging from pupae, fleas immediately begin to seek hosts and restart their life cycle.
In Georgia, fleas thrive in high humidity and prefer to hide in tall grasses and shady, damp areas. This is why your lawn is susceptible to becoming a breeding ground for fleas—and even more so if you have organic debris in and around your lawn (think fallen leaves or animal droppings).
Before we move on to flea and tick control for yards, let’s begin by briefly reviewing the life cycle of a tick: ticks undergo a four-stage life cycleconsisting of egg, larva, nymph, and adult.After hatching from eggs, ticks enter the larval stage. During this stage, they feed on hosts such as small mammals or birds. They molt into nymphs and then into adults, with each stage requiring a blood meal. Ticks will happily feed on deer, rabbits, mice, dogs, and humans alike.
Ticks hitchhike just as well as fleas do, and they thrive in damp environments and wooded areas. The more leaf litter, weeds, and moist undergrowth they can find, the more successful they’ll be at hiding, breeding, and restarting their life cycle. For more information about ticks, including how you can avoid them and what to do if you’re bitten, consider reading our blog post The Threat of Ticks in Atlanta.
Flea and Tick Control for Yards
Wondering how to control fleas in yard and garden areas around your home? How about ticks? Here are some tips that can help reduce the flea and tick population on your lawn in Atlanta.
Yard Maintenance:
- Mow your lawn regularly to keep the grass short, making it less appealing to fleas and ticks.
- Remove leaf litter, brush, and tall weeds which can serve as habitats for these pests.
- Ensure that grass is cut to the proper height—generally, that’s about 2.5 inches, but that measurement can vary based on grass type.
Create Non-Inviting Boundaries:
- Line the perimeter of your lawn with gravel, mulch, or other landscaping materials that can create a solid barrier against ticks.
- Keep holes and other spaces sealed so you can prevent rodents and other wild animals from spending time in and around your lawn. Rodents often serve as hosts for fleas and ticks in various life stages, so eliminating their potential nesting sites will be beneficial.
- Consider planting flea-repellent plants like lavender or marigold.
Limit Wildlife Access:
- Secure garbage cans and remove bird feeders to deter wildlife, which can carry fleas and ticks.
- Install fences to keep out deer and other large animals.
Water Management:
- Consider installing stone or brick pavers or sidewalks in areas where gravel and rocks would look tasteful; replacing groundcover with materials that limit moisture retention can help discourage fleas and ticks from invading your space.
- Try to stay in areas of your lawn that are bright, sunny, and airy. Remember, fleas and ticks prefer shady and damp environments.
- Don’t overwater your lawn. Excess moisture on your lawn could attract these pests.
Professional Intervention:
- Call lawn care professionals who are well-versed in lawn treatment for fleas and ticks. Investing in expert help can go a long way.
Atlanta Flea and Tick Lawn Treatment and Control
Tick control for yards is imperative, and the same can be said about fleas. If you’re wondering how to control fleas in yard areas, or how to ensure that ticks stay as far away from you and yours as possible, and you’re still seeing evidence of fleas and/or ticks, don’t delay to give Arbor-Nomics a call so we can set you up with a lawn service plan that works best for you. Atlanta flea and tick law treatment and control is available to all Arbor-Nomics Platinum Plan subscribers as a convenient add-on service. Should you request lawn treatment for fleas and ticks, we’d be glad to spray your lawn and/or wooded areas once a month during flea and tick season.
Get in Touch With Arbor-Nomics
For more information, call Arbor-Nomics at 770-447-6037 or request a free estimate online. Or, if you prefer, we invite you to use our convenient chat feature on our website to speak to a friendly member of our team who can answer your questions and further discuss our Platinum Plan, which gives you access to our superior lawn, ornamental tree, and shrub care services. Thank you for reading our blog about lawn treatment for fleas and ticks and for trusting Arbor-Nomics with all your lawn care needs!