DIY Flea Repellents For Homes And Lawns

What attracts fleas to yards?

• Fleas prefer to live in outdoor places that are shaded, humid, and warm. Direct sun-exposed areas can get too hot, so fleas aren’t likely to be found there.

• Compost piles attract fleas.

• Dead leaves under bushes.

• Mulch attracts fleas.

• Humid conditions present conditions where fleas may thrive. Overwatering the yard will attract fleas.

• Wildlife animals or stray dogs and cats that are allowed to roam around or live in the yard attract fleas and increase the flea populations.

• Letting your flea-infected pets roam freely in the yard; fleas will jump on your pet and increase the population of your pet.

• Slightly mowed areas where the grass grows tall will hide and attract fleas.

Why should you treat your yard for fleas?

Fleas can infest pets and family members inside the home, posing a health risk when they are brought in from the yard. Treating the yard is crucial to minimizing fleas indoors. Effective flea management may require the use of both conventional insecticide products and flea repellents. If your pet already has fleas and your home and yard are infested, using only a flea repellent will not resolve the existing problem.

How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Yard Naturally

One of the best ways to eliminate fleas in your yard is to think about where fleas are most likely to hide. Fleas love places that are shaded, humid, and warm. Direct sun-exposed areas can get too hot for fleas, so you probably won’t find many fleas there. One of the best ways to find problem areas is to observe where your pet likes to lie down and spend time outdoors. Once you have your target zones, here’s what works well to control fleas.

• Check areas that are shaded, humid, and warm. Direct sun-exposed areas can get too hot for fleas.

• Observe where your pet likes to lie down and spend time outdoors. Add cedar chips to these areas.

• Mow and rake the lawn regularly. Fleas like to hide in tall grass. Make sure to bag yard debris produced from mowing and raking, rather than adding that plant debris to the compost pile.

• Remove debris such as leaves and twigs from flower beds and from under any bushes. Expose these shady areas to as much sunlight as possible.

• Avoid overwatering the lawn since doing so may create the humid conditions that support flea populations.

• Ensure that wildlife, stray animals, and rodents don’t live in or move freely in the yard. Contact Orkin to learn more about our wildlife management services.

• Ask your local garden center about using nematodes to help control fleas.

Nematodes for Flea Control

A single package of nematodes contains approximately 10 million organisms, covering an area of 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Remember, they’re living creatures so it’s best to use them as soon as possible. You can buy nematodes at garden centers, online, or in outdoor centers.

Insect-destroying nematodes, (Steinernema carpocapsae) are applied to the lawn as a spray and do not affect people, pets, or plants. These microscopic, worm-like organisms live in the soil and kill fleas by entering their bodies, feeding on animal tissue, and releasing harmful bacteria. Once they have consumed all available insects, the nematodes search for new prey. They can only move a short distance—about an inch or two—and will die if they do not find more insects. The nematodes sold for flea control are native to the United States and are found naturally in the soil all over the country; they will not adversely affect beneficial soil organisms, including earthworms.

How to Repel Fleas

Plants That May Help in Repelling Fleas

Plants can be grown around outdoor areas to help repel fleas and other pesky insects. You can grow them in plant gardens and in pots placed around doorways and around outdoor locations where your pet spends time. Plants that may help repelling fleas include:

• Mint

• Catnip

• Clove

• Chrysanthemums

• Eucalyptus

• Fleabane Daisy

• Lavender

• Neem

• Salvia (red Sage)

How to Repel Fleas on Humans

You can use some natural flea repellents, including some essential oils, as flea repellents placed directly on skin. A small-scale human study found that thyme oil and myrtle oil were more repellent against fleas on people than either permethrin or DEET.

Can Essential Oils Repel Fleas From Pets?

Several essential oils may not be safe for their pets, especially cats. In all cases, pet owners should consult their veterinarian prior to using any essential oil on their pet.

To prevent and control a flea infestation, an integrated flea control program is essential to repelling and removing fleas from your pet, home and yard. Flea infestations can be incredibly hard to control; call your Orkin Pro for help getting rid of fleas in your home and yard.

How to Prevent Future Flea Infestations in the Yard

Eliminate these conditions in your yard:

• Wet, shady areas

• Fallen branches and leaves

• Forgotten furniture that is not cared for and left outdoors

• Overgrown, tall grass

• Outdoor cleanup that involves mowing and raking the yard thoroughly, including removal of any organic debris from flower beds and under bushes will also increase the exposure of the fleas to control them. Be sure to clean any areas where your pet spends time, such as the garage, basement, pet carrier, and car.