Natural Ways to Control Pests in Your Yard
Spring is right around the corner so it’s time to strategize and implement your pest control plan before fleas and ticks spring from their hidden worlds. I live in the deep South where just one warm day can trigger a sudden explosion of fleas and ticks so it’s vital to be prepared before it happens.
Thankfully, we have natural pest control options to choose from and I find cedar oil products work best if you begin early. When devising a pest control plan, a combination approach works best. You’ll need to protect your dog, home and yard for maximum protection so let’s get started in the yard first.
How to Keep Pests Out of Your Yard
Hands down, controlling pests in your yard is the most labor intensive portion of pest control. Depending on your yard size, it can take a couple of weeks to implement so let’s break tasks into easily manageable sizes. Take it from me. It’s best to start before spring has sprung or you’ll be chasing fleas and ticks all year long.
Rake
The part I dread is cleaning up after winter. Boo! Our yards resemble post-apocalyptic wasteland consumed with dead grass, battered branches and decayed piles of leaves that hide under piles of snow. Excuse my eye roll as I reach for a rake. It’s time to clean up the yard.
Remove all fallen branches from your yard. Ticks love to burrow on moist dead wood and patiently wait to hitch a ride. Once all branches are gathered, it’s time to rake leaves. Fleas and ticks thrive in shaded moist areas to reproduce, and piles of decayed leaves are their perfect habitat.
Mow
Once the yard debris has been removed, mow your lawn. While grass remains dormant during winter months, weeds still tend to grow so it’s important to shorten them before using pest control protects.
Protect
By removing yard debris, you’re allowing the glorious sun to work its magic. Fleas and ticks can’t survive in direct sunlight so allow the sun to dry moist areas in your yard for a week before protecting your yard.
It’s time to use an insect repellent. Since I live in the deep South, I choose to spray a cedar oil insect repellent on grass and suburbs, along the fence and sidewalks lines, and under decks. We’ve had excellent results using Dr. Ben’s Cedar Oil PCO Lawn Protector, which is highly concentrated in cedar oil (85%). We attach it to a hose and spray the entire yard, making sure the treated area is soaked, as the first application is the most important.
