How to remove fleas and ticks from the garden

If you have already had any unfortunate encounters with these insects, you may be wondering where do fleas and ticks come from. Some people believe that it is due to the existence of their pets. However, this thinking is more than wrong. Although it is true that having a pet these parasites become more visible and even multiply (because they have a host to feed on and, therefore, reproduce), the truth is that, unfortunately, we can have pests of these parasites even without a pet.

Keep in mind that 90% of the eggs from fleas and ticks they are in the environment: sofas, corners, rugs … but above all, on the ground and damp places. In fact, it is not until spring, with the increase in temperature, when they hatch and the dreaded plague begins.

If your problem is exclusively fleas and you want to know how to eliminate a flea infestation in the garden, at OneHOWTO we bring you the answer:

• Boric acidBoric acid is very effective against fleas, as it dehydrates and suffocates them. In addition, it also kills flea eggs. This acid is usually sold in powder form and to use it you will only have to spread it over the most affected areas, be it cement or earth. You should let it act for about 72 hours and, after that time, you just have to sweep up the acid with the dead fleas. However, it must be emphasized that it is also a very toxic method, so special care must be taken if there are children or pets in the home.
• Diatomaceous earthThis is another very effective method against garden fleas. Unlike boric acid, this product is not harmful to people or pets, although it is harmful to these parasites. Of course, remember to take the one that is food grade. What diatomaceous earth does is dehydrate and dissect fleas, thus causing their extermination in our garden or home.

If you think that these flea spraying products are not enough, you can hire a professional to do a deep fumigation on your land.

If what invades your garden are ticks and you want to know how to fumigate ticks in the field, here are a series of products to eliminate ticks in the garden:

• Tick ​​insecticide: There are special pesticides and insecticides for garden ticks on the market. Ask your trusted store which one would be the most suitable for you, depending on whether you have pets and / or children, since some products could be toxic to them.
• Diatomaceous earth: This method is just as effective in fighting fleas as it is ticks. In addition, as we mentioned in the previous section, if the food grade is taken, it will be totally harmless for our pets and for ourselves.

If these products for ticks in the garden are insufficient for you because the plague is uncontrollable, remember that the best option is go to a professional, since depending on your case it will know what is the best way to act against the plague of ticks.

If we have a strong presence of these two parasites, the most recommended is the following:

• Eliminate the shadow: As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, fleas and ticks usually live in humid places. To get rid of these parasites quickly and effectively, it is advisable to prune trees and other shrubs that can generate shade in the garden. The more the sun shines, the drier the environment will be and, therefore, fleas and ticks will not be able to live.
• Let the birds come: Among the favorite foods of these birds are fleas and ticks, so you can invite them to roam your garden by laying nests or leaving food in the areas where the parasites are.
• Cut the grass: fleas and ticks tend to settle on plants that have a certain elevation, waiting for their next host. That is why if we have grass, it is advisable to cut it, in this way we will win two things; On the one hand, these parasites will go away; on the other, those that remain will be eaten by ants and spiders, two of their biggest predators, which usually appear on the lawn if it is low.
• Go to a professional: if the pest is unsustainable, we always have the option of going to a professional to properly fumigate our garden to eliminate all presence of these annoying parasites.

If you want to prevent the appearance of fleas and ticks in your garden and you have pets, our advice is that you first protect your pet, and then follow the advice we give you to prepare your garden for the arrival of the dreaded pests:

Prevent fleas and ticks on your pet

Most of the time, fleas and ticks appear in our garden as a consequence due to our companion animals. Therefore, it is advisable to follow the following tips, especially when spring approaches:

• Monitor your pet’s movements: Although it is practically impossible to prevent our animal from catching fleas and / or ticks, it is true that if it gets into or wallows in areas where there is a lot of dirt, it will catch them much more easily than if it walks through more asphalted areas.
• Get frequent checkups: it is important that you do periodic checks to verify that you do not have ticks or fleas. If you have them, we recommend the following.
• Put an antiparasitic collar on him: go to your vet and ask about the antiparasitic collars available. Depending on which one you choose, you can find some that are, at the same time, anti-flea and anti-tick.
• Put an antiparasitic pipette: the pipettes consist of a small container with liquid that we must put in the body of our pet. The smell that the pipette gives off will drive away fleas and ticks.
• Antiparasitic pill: But if your pets usually have a serious flea and tick problem, the best thing you can do is give them an antiparasitic pill. What it does is spread a chemical compound in your pet’s blood (but nothing harmful to it). Both ticks and fleas hate this compound, so they won’t get close to your animal.

Prevent fleas and ticks in your garden

There are certain plants whose smell repels ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, among others. Therefore, the best option to prevent the appearance of fleas and ticks in your land or garden, is have any of these plants. Among the most effective are:

• Lavender
• Chamomile
• Rosemary
• Mint
• Lemongrass
• Catnip

Now that you know how to remove fleas and ticks from the garden, you may also be interested in this other oneHOWTO article on Home remedies against fleas or this one on How to exterminate ticks.