Spring around the corner & fleas?
 

Since spring is around the corner that means it is also flea & tick season. How do you protect your pet and yard from fleas? I have Gizmo on frontline plus and I am going to go look for a flea & tick powder for the yard, anyone else?

Frontline Plus did NOT work for us last summer so we've switched to Revolution. So far, so good. The past month has been the only month EVER that the dogs haven't had fleas. AND it's cheaper than buying Frontline + Interceptor.

hmmm gotta check that out

Revolution works good on the girls, so I'll stick with that. As for the yard I take lemons, since we have so many trees down here, and score them & place in the yard. Along with lavander oil. Works great for fleas.

hmm lemons..

Don't even remind me of the spring........me and Bailey will be in the house LOL

lol.. I know... I truly hate to take Gizmo out to potty in that season , and worse the summer:eek: ... it is sooooooo hot in texas and the fleas and ticks LOVE IT:eek: :eek: :eek:

anyone else?

I am the organic flea control lady!!! I'm sure some of you are thinking, "oh no! not that crazy organic flea lady again!!! :D

Beneficial nematodes are the answer to flea control in your yard. Read more about them here http://www.marchbiological.com/L/ben...nematodes.html They are microscopic organisms that feed on a variety of soil insects and they will keep fleas, etc. out of your yard.

Of course, that does not mean that your baby won't get a flea when they go on a walk or that a flea might crawl over into your yard from the neighbors yard. But that can be controled by bathing your babies in Dawn dishwashing soap or some other non-toxic method.

The nematodes will also keep the fire ants out of your yard and that is a great benefit to those of us who live in the south. I have used the nematodes for 6-7 years and have not had a flea problem in all that time. I have outdoor dogs living on both sides of my yard too. The nematodes work great!

You can usually get them at any organic gardening store. They can also be ordered, but they must be kept cool or they will die, so if you order them, be sure the supplier plans to cool ship them. Also, follow the directions EXACTLY for putting them on the yard. You do have to water your yard in the summer when it is very dry, enough so that the nematodes do not dry up and die - maybe once a week or so, if it is not raining.

Also, I put diatamaceous earth around the perimeter of my yard to keep the fleas from crawling into my yard. It works great, but it must be reapplied after a heavy rain. It is also a non-toxic pest control substance. http://www.hydromall.com/happy_grower16.html I sprinkle it on my roses to control little pesky bugs who want to chew the leaves!!!

I'm an organic gardner all the way - I don't want those nasty chemicals on my babies or on my grandkids!

I like your thinking. Where is the best place to get the nematodes?

RowdysMom...I know what your saying about the chemicals. Those flea products are pesticides :eek: that is being put on our pets.... I was reading on this last year..... It made me sick thinking about putting it on my dog... I use a flea shampoo that's made w/ neem oil. I hope that's better.... I tried to apply the D.E. (fossil shell flour) on his coat but his hair felt awful... Maybe I was getting it more on his hair than parting his hair & getting it just on his skin. I've read on the nematodes but I'm on 1 1/4 acre & that seemed to much to treat :confused: . ..
The D.E. is fairly cheap to use to kill all kinds of bugs & it's safer. ...I've treated half the lawn w/ milky spores for grubs & that was a bit costly, I still have to do the rest.:rolleyes:

so 1 million should be suffficient? Or 1 mil for front and 1 mil for back?

arent those little frogs... yuck!

NO I am pretty sure they are like earth worms.

Quote: (the quote feature didn't work correctly) "RowdysMom...I know what your saying about the chemicals. Those flea products are pesticides :eek: that is being put on our pets.... I was reading on this last year..... It made me sick thinking about putting it on my dog... I use a flea shampoo that's made w/ neem oil. I hope that's better.... I tried to apply the D.E. (fossil shell flour) on his coat but his hair felt awful... The D.E. is fairly cheap to use to kill all kinds of bugs & it's safer. ...I've treated half the lawn w/ milky spores for grubs & that was a bit costly, I still have to do the rest"

From RowdysMom:
Yes, flea shampoo with neem oil is good!!! So is dawn dishwahsing liquid - but it may be too harsh for your baby, not sure.

Do you have a fenced yard or do your babies run the whole acreage? If you have a fenced area, use nematodes there and then use DE around the perimeter - it should help.

I would have to look at the container - they usually say how many square feet that the amount of nematodes you are buying covers. The amount I buy is about $25.00 and it covers my yard and my daughter's yard - we both have just average city size lots - not very big.

LOL! The nematodes are not frogs - they are MICROSCOPIC organisms and yes, I think they look worm like - if you were looking under the microscope.

my plan
 

I am also the "natural" lady. I dont' use cleaning chemicals in my house either. Pesticides on lawns are causing a lot of nasal cancerns in dogs in the state of florida.
Anyways, I had some trouble with ticks last year on our hikes, I am thinking of adding garlic to my pups food and putting Neem powder all over my dog (my vet gave me) before we hike. I keep his coat on the long side, so I will have to brush him out after every hike. There is also a flea collar on one of the sites...don't have it off hand but I have it saved in my favorites...I plan on using that too and maybe a t-shirt.
Had no trouble with fleas last year...just the ticks on hikes.
suz

adding garlic?? i hvent heard of that?? h ow much do u add?? thnks

I found this reciepe on a vet forum and thought I would share it:

Flea Repellant

Eucalyptus - (do not use on cats)
Peppermint
Lavendar
Citrus (lemon or lime)

Place 10 drops of each essential oil in 1 litre of distilled water and spritz on animal working gently
into the coat.

I haven't tried it yet -- it's still snowing here in Canada

If you read the link below onions/garlic can be toxic to our doggies...

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43555

You should not use garlic...:(

Also, in my old home about 6 years ago we had an infestation of fleas in the backyard. The infestation was horrible, so many fleas we could not go out there at all!!! I was told flea eggs can be dormant (<<spelling) for the entire year an hatch in the summer. I tried sprays, flea powders and a few other things but I finally found something that works!!!

:) Powered Lime Stone - You can get it at Home Depot or your local building supply store. I was told it is non-toxic to humans and our pets. It dehydrates fleas and their eggs and all stages in between. What we did was thinly spread the Lime all over let it sit for a week hosed it off let it be for 1 day and then did it again. We ended up leaving sprinkles of it all around the yard. It cleared up our problem in that first week. I believe it is safe to do on the lawn but there is some specific testing you can do to make sure it will not dehydrate it. I don't do gardening, so I am not knowledgable about that, I am sorry :(

I wish you all luck with fleas this year... :p

BTW- I still use and like advantage for fleas...is there anything bad I should know about it?

lime stone huh? Might try that..... it is extremly hot here in South Texas .... 100's when we hit summer ...so the fleas love that time.... lol

How often does it say to spray it on the animals coat??? Thanks!!

I use Adam's flea and tick shampoo and it is great.;)