With the weather warming up, more lawn pests are emerging. Some may be good for the garden, but others can pose health risks for your family and pets. Learn what could cause these creatures to creep in your yard and what you can do to prevent fleas and ticks from harming the ones you love.

Effects of Flea and Tick Bites

Fleas and ticks may be too tiny to see at first, but they can be a big problem if they end up biting or entering your home. Issues range from a mild irritation to serious health concerns and expensive pest control options for fumigating your house. Here are some of the common issues associated with these parasites:

1. Discomfort. Flea and tick bites can cause itching and redness at the site. You may see your pets scratching excessively, leading to skin irritation and even hair loss.
2. Allergy. People and pets allergic to flea saliva can experience severe itching, swelling, and hives.
3. Infection. All that scratching from flea and tick bites can break the skin, increasing the risk of an infection.
4. Disease. Both fleas and ticks carry various diseases that can transmit to humans and animals through a bite. Ticks bites are known to cause Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Flea bites can lead to tapeworms and bartonellosis (cat scratch fever).
5. Infestation. Gone untreated, fleas and ticks can infest your yard and enter your home, making it more difficult and costly to get rid of them.

There are ways to help protect yourself and your loved ones from the threat of bites and infestation. Prevention is key.

Prevent Fleas and Ticks

One of the best ways to avoid flea and tick issues is to make sure your yard is safeguarded from infestations. Here’s how:

1. Keep your yard neat. Pests hide in tall grass, overgrown brush, and lawn decor. Regularly mow, remove lawn debris, and trim bushes back to keep them out. Regularly clean out any decor that could be a safe place for pests.
2. Keep wildlife out. Deer and other rodents can carry fleas and ticks into your yard. Help keep them out with a tall fence. If your yard backs up to woods, lay gravel, cedar mulch, or wood chips as a barrier between your grass and the tree line.
3. Grow natural repellents. Consider adding tick-repelling plants like lavender, lemongrass, and marigolds to your garden.
4. Call Green Image Lawn Care. Our comprehensive Flea and Tick Control Services are designed to eliminate fleas and ticks from your yard.

Once you’ve got the outdoors under control, you can continue the preventative measures indoors:

1. Protect pets. Ask your vet what flea and tick products they recommend, but still be vigilant about checking their fur for signs, especially after rolling around in the grass or having a scratching fit.
2. Clean house. Vacuum regularly, especially in areas where your pets hang out. You also want to wash all bedding—for you and your pets.
3. Watch for signs. Keep an eye on your pets for excessive scratching or licking. Check yourself and family members for signs of ticks after spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas.

If you’re proactive about flea and tick prevention, there’s less of a chance you’ll run into issues. Don’t wait until it’s too late—call 717-900-8144 today and take the first step towards protecting your yard and family with a pest-free and healthy home.