Yard treatment for fleas/ticks - Page 1

Hey guys. I remember hearing once in the past about something you can spray in your yard (I think you do it at fall time) that it helps prevent. It was something though, that was like some kind of "worms", that I think go in the ground and eat that type of stuff. I am drawing blanks on what it was called, but I remember a member on here had great success with it. I'm at my new home in another city now, and wanted to get that done soon. Or, on the other hand if you guys have any other suggestions for things to use/when to use them, feel free to mention.

Side note, I do not have fleas/ticks in the yard at this time of year, but I would like to take preventative measures.

"DE"

You are better off spraying or treating in the spring or when you have a problem than Nuking your yard in the fall .. integrated pest management. If you kill everything in your yard in the fall something worse will be there by spring. The enemy of your enemy is seldom your friend .. usually just another enemy. For ticks and many insect pests removal of leaf litter and ground cover in which ticks over winter will do more than pesticides to reduce next years starting population. I worked a lifetime in agri-chemicals and pest control in livestock .. the companies want you to treat now, tomorrow, and every time possible because they make more money.

I have never used them but thought they might be what you are thinking of.

 

http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/beneficial-nematodes

Yes! Thank you, that's what I was looking for.

Beneficial predators and diseases work fine so long as they have a host to prey on. There must be a balance between the beneficial population and the pest population. The problem is that the pest population must balloon up first to give the beneficial population a food source and then the beneficial population will grow to control the pest. Most people lose patience and as soon as thy see the pest they treat with pesticides and kill both the pest and the beneficial population. Nematodes are tough customers but even they need a food source to maintain their population so in order to have beneficial nematodes and flea predators by definition you need some fleas. Isn't science wonderful??

From what I read they don't just eat fleas.... So I wouldn't think they "have" to have fleas to survive. I recall in the past a member on this site said they used them(I just could not remember what they were called to search for it), and their dogs would never have fleas, even though they did not use anything topical on their dog.

If they are a type of nematode they infest the fleas as a parasite.

My vet's receptionist suggested using fire ant poison (granules) for fleas anytime of the year (right before a rain helps for some reason). She stated that using fire ant poison had eradicated her yard of fleas. It, for sure, helped her not only with fleas but with fire ants! I am not sure if it would kill ticks too. Of course, we all know fire ant poison is just that - poison. Sometimes drastic measures are required if there is an infestation. My husband has field trial English Setters, and I have German Shepherds. The Shepherds stay in the house the majority of the time so I certainly don't want fleas on me. I think they like me better than the dogs as they always come after me (allergic to them). Never do they bite my husband - so he must be too bitter! LOL (just joking) Using the fire ant poison about every 6 months really did work for us. I would think it all depends on just how bad the infestation is.