No one likes spending time in your Northern Virginia backyard more than you.
Wait a minute. One more member of your family may enjoy your yard better than you: your dog.
Yep, your dog loves getting out there to smell all the smells, run around without a care in the world, and play fetch with you.
While you’re out enjoying the good time and the great weather, you certainly don’t want your outdoor experience to be spoiled by pests, particularly fleas.
These tiny pests can pack a powerful punch once they jump on your dog. They can even bring diseases like typhus and plague.
And fleas aren’t something your pets can only get at the park or in some other outdoor space. They can actually be in your backyard. Gross.
So you want to get rid of them, but how can you do that? You might be wondering if cedar oil can do the trick. Does cedar oil repel fleas? Let’s find out more on how to use cedar oil in your lawn.
Let’s Talk About Fleas
As wingless insects with flat bodies, fleas can be a true menace in your yard.
They feed on blood, so your pets make tasty meals, as do wild animals near your yard. People can also transport fleas into your home where they can invest your furniture and carpeting.
Here we’ll review a bit about fleas before talking about how cedar oil yard spray can help.
A Closer Look at Fleas
Birds and mammals are the hosts for fleas, which feed on their blood.
Fleas are pretty small - 1 to 2.5 millimeters long. That makes them able to hide anywhere – pet beds, furniture, grasses, or carpets. And they can jump really well – 8 inches horizontally and 5 inches vertically.
Despite how tiny fleas are, they can eat quite a bit – roughly 15 times their own body weight in blood each.
Fleas are mostly found on cats and dogs, but you can also find them on pet rabbits or other wild animals that run through your yard, such as foxes, raccoons, squirrels, and mice.
And since fleas can live for more than 3 months, they can produce quite a bit more fleas – about 500 for each female. That means they can bring a lot of fleas to a space in a short amount of time.
This is why cedar oil yard spray can be super important for keeping fleas out of your yard because anything can bring them in, and they can continue to linger looking for a blood meal, which could be your pet.
Do I Have Fleas in My Yard?
Since fleas are such small pests, you might have a hard time figuring out if they are in your yard.
Before you ask yourself, “Does cedar oil repel fleas?” you might want some tips on checking for fleas in your Northern Virginia landscape.
First of all, fleas can travel through wild animals and your pets. And since your pets are regularly outside, they can be exposed to other animals that carry fleas, as well as any environments where fleas are hanging out.
Fleas like shade and cool, moist air. Areas like this in your yard are leaf or wood piles or thick grasses and shrubs.
As your pet passes an area with fleas, they can simply jump onto pet tails, topcoats or undercoats. Fleas can also come in on your clothing or blankets or stuffed animal toys.
Since it’s hard to see fleas outside, you can look to your pet for possible flea presence. If you see your dog or cat incessantly itching or scratching, that could be a sign of fleas. What’s more is if your pets begin acting funny. They might not eat, they might sleep more, or they might show hair loss in some places. They may also develop red or bumpy skin.
How to Banish Fleas From Your Northern Virginia Yard
Before we talk about how to use cedar oil in your lawn, there are some other things you can do to prevent fleas.
These outdoor maintenance moves can ensure you reduce flea populations in your yard. And then cedar oil yard spray can keep them away for good.
Keep Your Yard Tidy
Fleas prefer those tall grasses and thick shrubbery or brush in your home landscape.
Trim those grasses regularly to keep overgrowth down, particularly at the edges of your yard where fleas are more likely. This is especially important if your home backs up to preserve, prairie, or wooded lots.
If you have playground areas or fire pits in your backyard, limiting this overgrowth there is also important since you, your kids, and your pets will likely hang out here more frequently.
Regularly Mow Your Lawn
In addition to cedar oil yard spray, mow your lawn on a regular basis to discourage flea activity.
During the growing season, this means mowing your lawn weekly, keeping it to a 3- to 4-inch height.
Keep Critters Out of Your Yard
Since fleas can get near to you and your pets by traveling on critters like squirrels, mice, foxes, and raccoons, keeping them out of your yard can help keep fleas away.
This means trimming overgrowth, mowing your lawn, and keeping your trash cans tightly sealed so you’re not drawing these animals in.
Use Cedar Oil Yard Spray to Control Fleas
Following preventive tips is crucial to keeping fleas at bay, but that doesn’t mean fleas can’t still find ways into your Northern Virginia home landscape.
That’s where cedar oil yard spray can make a big difference in cutting fleas out of your space.
Turf’s Up uses a natural, professional-grade product that includes cedar oil to control fleas in Northern Virginia yards. This oil blocks the scent receptors of the pests, disrupting their bodies’ systems and functions and drying them up.
We apply this product in three-week intervals from April through October, which adds up to approximately 12 treatments.
We target these applications toward grassy areas and under shrubbery in your landscape, and this helps eliminate the flea populations in your space.
Is Cedar Oil Safe to Use in My Yard?
Does cedar oil repel fleas? It does, and it also is a natural product, meaning it can be applied anywhere in your yard, including near patios or children’s play areas, and it is completely safe for your pets and children.
Turf’s Up professionals target the home foundation and other areas where people hang out to ensure you’re protected from fleas.
Let a Northern Virginia Turf Professional Help you Fight Fleas in Your Landscape
Fleas are certainly a problematic and unwanted addition to your home landscape.
You don’t want them in your yard. Your pets don’t want to deal with them. And you definitely don’t want them setting up shop in your home.
That’s where cedar oil yard spray can help take fleas down and keep you, your family, and your pets safe.
Flea season begins in April in Northern Virginia, so you want to make sure to get ahead of fleas before their season starts.
Battling fleas can seem overwhelming for sure, and you might not have time to figure this out.
If you think you have fleas in your Northern Virginia space or you’re worried that fleas might get into your home or space, Turf’s Up can help. We can assist you in taking down fleas with cedar oil yard spray, ensuring you know how we fight fleas and how to keep them at bay.
Then your worries diminish and you can enjoy your yard without stress.
Ready to learn why Turf’s Up could be your totally awesome choice for flea control in Northern Virginia? We’re stoked to learn more about you and help you eliminate your fleas once and for all. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your yard.
Image Source: Flea