Fleas not just soften the dogs, cats and other pets that they infest, but also take a number of nasty “presents” because of their hosts, like tapeworms, cat flea rickettsiosis and even plague. Worse, they could transmit these worms and awful “bugs” to humans. Fleas not just infest creatures, but breed and multiply in the home in addition to the yard. The big, open spaces afforded by lawns create treating fleas more difficult, especially in the event that you don’t wish to mask the lawn with toxic or harsh chemicals. Diatomaceous earth is a much gentler product that may help control fleas in the yard.

Diatomaceous Earth Features

Usually called just “DE,” diatomaceous earth is created by squeezing the fossilized remains of phytoplankton, known as diatoms, into a fine, powdery dust. Each tiny speck of this dust contains sharp edges that scrape and scrape the hard exoskeleton of fleas and other insects, causing the pest to dehydrate and die. DE works better on flea larvaethat can be soft-bodied and much more easily penetrated by the dust compared to adult flea bodies. Only food-grade DE is used to treat fleas. Other types of DE, such as DE for swimming pools, often include additional chemicals.

Finding Infested Areas

According to the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management site, a very simple way to search for infested regions of the yard is to wear white, knee-high socks and stick for a couple of minutes at one area. If that place is infested with fleas, then they will jump onto the socks quickly. Infestations seldom encompass the entire yard, notes that the site, and just the areas with high flea populations need treatment, in contrast to the entire yard. Parts of the yard that have plenty of direct sunlight or heavy foot traffic often don’t become infested. Areas where creatures rest, such as doghouses, and kennels or pens that dwelling animals are more inclined to be the source of an infestation.

Applying DE to the Yard

Once the infested areas have been pinpointed, you can apply DE. Wait for an elongated period of dry weather since DE must maintain dust form to work correctly. DE can be implemented by tossing handfuls of the dust and allowing it to drift down to cover the infested area, or with any kind of dust spreader, normally available at garden centres. The dust may be combined with water and sprayed on infested regions of the yard, but only as long as the weather will be dry enough for at least a week so that the DE can return to its dry dust kind and start working on fleas.

Hints and Considerations

Any dust can be hazardous if inhaled in sufficient amounts, and DE is no exception. The sharp edges of the dust can irritate soft tissues of the throat and lungs, so dust-filtering masks and safety goggles are a must. DE is not a quick-kill solution for fleas. Based on Texas A&M;’s Agrilife Extension, tests at the university indicate that DE is impractical in yards due to the need for continually dry conditions. The product can be successful on larvae infesting outdoor animal housing areas and bedding. Should you use DE in a yard, the DE will need to be reapplied to the yard after rainfall, since rain may wash the item to the dirt.

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