Stay Safe from Fleas and Ticks This Summer

Fleas and ticks are nuisances to both humans and pets, especially in the summer months when the weather is ideal for these pests. Taking preventative measures is key in controlling flea and tick populations in your yard so that they don’t find their way into your home.

How can I prevent or control ticks in my yard?

• Remove yard debris – Ticks thrive in dark, moist places. Remove brush piles around your yard and clean up garden beds.
• Rake the leaves – Leaves also provide moist areas for ticks to live. Get rid of the leaves lingering from the fall season that have piled up along fence lines, at the base of trees and bushes or around the perimeter of your home.
• Mow regularly – Avoid letting your grass grow too high. Tall grass is the perfect home for ticks to live and breed.
• Don’t encourage visits from deer or other wildlife – Wildlife carry ticks and diseases. And because of this, they tend to easily transport ticks and other pests into homeowners’ yards. Avoid planting plants like phlox and marigolds and putting out leftover food that might attract deer and other wildlife.
• Keep a tidy home – A clean home is not a place ticks want to live. Regularly vacuum and wash all bedding, rugs and soft goods at high temperatures; high dryer heat will kill parasites.
• Protect your pet – Because ticks love to feed on our furry friends, most pet owners opt to use flea and tick-preventative products. Consult your veterinarian to learn what’s best for your pet.
• Hire a professional – DIY efforts go a long way, but often, they don’t eradicate the problem. Hiring a professional like Spring Green to handle flea and tick control can give you the peace of mind that your yard and home are safer from these pests.*

Answers To Your Frequently Asked Flea and Tick Control Questions

What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It’s transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. Symptoms of Lyme disease include fatigue, headache, fever, joint pain, skin rash and more.

How is Lyme disease contracted and spread?
Lyme disease is contracted when a deer tick is infected by Lyme disease and bites a human. Lyme disease can also impact household pets.

Where do ticks come from?
Ticks are often found in heavily wooded areas or areas with overgrown vegetation. They attach themselves to their host to feed, then can transfer to another host if available.

Where do fleas come from?
Fleas derive from infected animals. Once a flea falls off a pet or wildlife, it can live in its environment for weeks to months, no matter its current life cycle (egg, larvae, pupa, adult). When found outside, fleas reside in shady areas in brush piles, tall grass and bushes. They latch onto hosts when they pass by.

By practicing a few do-it-yourself measures and enlisting the help of a trained and licensed professional, you can prevent fleas and ticks all summer long. Our Flea and Tick Control* can help rid your property of infestations, as well as create a barrier that keeps these pests from thriving.

*Flea and Tick Control may not be available in all locations.