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Chuck from Portland, Or writes

What are the most effective products for outdoor flea control?

My yard is about an acre in size, pretty much all landscaped so lots of bark dust. I need and effect flea control product that is safe for both pets and plants but will also hold up reasonably in our cool damp Pacific Northwest climate.

Answer:

We would recommend our Outdoor Flea and Tick Kit. The kit contains professional products to help treat and prevent fleas outdoors.  STEP 1 - NON-CHEMICAL CONTROL - Harborage Elimination, Removing Debris Before you apply any insecticides, it is important to Inspect the treatment area to identify which pests are present and where you need to target your treatments. These areas may vary depending on whether you are treating for fleas or for ticks. Wearing white socks with shoes while walking around moist, shady areas will help to find fleas. To locate ticks, drag a white towel attached to a dowel or rod across the suspected areas to pick up insects. *For both fleas and ticks, start with areas where pets and where wild animals may frequent, particularly shady areas where they like to find rest. *Remove yard debris such as leaves and grass clippings so that your application will reach the ground instead of just the things on top of it. *Be sure to check under porches or decks, around outbuildings like sheds, and along fence lines. *Mowing and trimming overgrown shrubs or trees will help to eliminate areas where fleas and ticks like to breed. *Avoid over-watering lawns: fleas will thrive in moist areas. STEP 2 - SPRAY - Temprid SC and Archer IGR Both the Temprid SC and the Archer IGR are water-based concentrates that you should dilute with water only. Wear gloves when mixing and handling pesticides, such as Nitrile Chemical Resistant Gloves. *To mix the Temprid SC, shake the container well before diluting. You will use 8-16 mL of Temprid SC per gallon of water, or per 1,000 sq. ft. if a higher volume of water is needed for adequate coverage. *Use the lower rate for prevention or for low-level infestations. Use the higher rate for heavy infestations. *Fill sprayer tank 1/3 - 1/2 with clean, temperate water. *Add desired amount of Temprid SC, then close lid and agitate the sprayer to begin mixing. *Add the desired amount of Archer IGR to the tank. Use 1 oz. of Archer IGR concentrate per gallon of water or per 1,500 square feet of area. *To measure the Archer IGR, first shake the bottle well. Then squeeze the bottle to fill the small reservoir with the desire amount of concentrate. Unscrew only the cap on the small reservoir side to pour out the pre-measured concentrate. *Shake, agitate, or stir tank mixture again, then add the remaining volume of water. Agitate tank mixture again before application, or if spraying is interrupted. *For tick treatments, treat the entire outdoor lawn and ornamentals where ticks have been found. For ornamental plants, try to treat the entire plants, including the undersides of the leaves. You may want to use a higher volume of water to get more thorough coverage. *Also treat around rock or brick retaining walls, along pathways, on and around piles of yard debris or other dense foliage, and anywhere pets or wild animals may spend time. *For flea treatments, concentrate your spraying on areas where animals spend the most time and where dense vegetation is found, such as under decks, in shady areas such as under trees, and where yard debris may build up. *Fleas cannot develop on hard surfaces such as driveways or in open, sunny areas, so you do not need to treat these areas for fleas. *You may also apply the Temprid/Archer solution as a perimeter treatment around the foundation of the structure, creating a band 2-3 feet up onto the structure and 2-3 feet out onto the surrounding yard. *Keep pets and children out of the treatment area until the application has dried, usually about an hour. *Try to mix only enough solution to use at the time of application. Diluted concentrates will break down and may damage spray equipment. Always rinse spray equipment and allow to dry thoroughly after use. *Store concentrates in temperate areas out of direct sunlight and out of reach of children and pets. STEP 3 - REPEAT! *Most of your tick control will come from the initial application, but it may take several treatments to fully eradicate a tick or flea population. *For heavy infestations of ticks and for all flea applications, repeat STEP 2 after 14 days to catch new adults that have emerged or insects that animals have carried into the treatment area. *For most tick treatments and for prevention, reapply Temprid SC and Archer IGR at 30 day intervals. *Consider mowing 24 hours after applying sprays to stimulate flea pupae so they will be exposed to the pesticides. *Both Temprid SC and Archer IGR will aid in the prevention and control of many common pests, such as ants and cockroaches. See the Temprid SC label and Archer IGR label for complete additional instructions.   STEP 1 - NON-CHEMICAL CONTROL - Harborage Elimination, Removing Debris Before you apply any insecticides, it is important to Inspect the treatment area to identify which pests are present and where you need to target your treatments. These areas may vary depending on whether you are treating for fleas or for ticks. Wearing white socks with shoes while walking around moist, shady areas will help to find fleas. To locate ticks, drag a white towel attached to a dowel or rod across the suspected areas to pick up insects. *For both fleas and ticks, start with areas where pets and where wild animals may frequent, particularly shady areas where they like to find rest. *Remove yard debris such as leaves and grass clippings so that your application will reach the ground instead of just the things on top of it. *Be sure to check under porches or decks, around outbuildings like sheds, and along fence lines. *Mowing and trimming overgrown shrubs or trees will help to eliminate areas where fleas and ticks like to breed. *Avoid over-watering lawns: fleas will thrive in moist areas. STEP 2 - SPRAY - Temprid SC and Archer IGR Both the Temprid SC and the Archer IGR are water-based concentrates that you should dilute with water only. Wear gloves when mixing and handling pesticides, such as Nitrile Chemical Resistant Gloves. *To mix the Temprid SC, shake the container well before diluting. You will use 8-16 mL of Temprid SC per gallon of water, or per 1,000 sq. ft. if a higher volume of water is needed for adequate coverage. *Use the lower rate for prevention or for low-level infestations. Use the higher rate for heavy infestations. *Fill sprayer tank 1/3 - 1/2 with clean, temperate water. *Add desired amount of Temprid SC, then close lid and agitate the sprayer to begin mixing. *Add the desired amount of Archer IGR to the tank. Use 1 oz. of Archer IGR concentrate per gallon of water or per 1,500 square feet of area. *To measure the Archer IGR, first shake the bottle well. Then squeeze the bottle to fill the small reservoir with the desire amount of concentrate. Unscrew only the cap on the small reservoir side to pour out the pre-measured concentrate. *Shake, agitate, or stir tank mixture again, then add the remaining volume of water. Agitate tank mixture again before application, or if spraying is interrupted. *For tick treatments, treat the entire outdoor lawn and ornamentals where ticks have been found. For ornamental plants, try to treat the entire plants, including the undersides of the leaves. You may want to use a higher volume of water to get more thorough coverage. *Also treat around rock or brick retaining walls, along pathways, on and around piles of yard debris or other dense foliage, and anywhere pets or wild animals may spend time. *For flea treatments, concentrate your spraying on areas where animals spend the most time and where dense vegetation is found, such as under decks, in shady areas such as under trees, and where yard debris may build up. *Fleas cannot develop on hard surfaces such as driveways or in open, sunny areas, so you do not need to treat these areas for fleas. *You may also apply the Temprid/Archer solution as a perimeter treatment around the foundation of the structure, creating a band 2-3 feet up onto the structure and 2-3 feet out onto the surrounding yard. *Keep pets and children out of the treatment area until the application has dried, usually about an hour. *Try to mix only enough solution to use at the time of application. Diluted concentrates will break down and may damage spray equipment. Always rinse spray equipment and allow to dry thoroughly after use. *Store concentrates in temperate areas out of direct sunlight and out of reach of children and pets. STEP 3 - REPEAT! *Most of your tick control will come from the initial application, but it may take several treatments to fully eradicate a tick or flea population. *For heavy infestations of ticks and for all flea applications, repeat STEP 2 after 14 days to catch new adults that have emerged or insects that animals have carried into the treatment area. *For most tick treatments and for prevention, reapply Temprid SC and Archer IGR at 30 day intervals. *Consider mowing 24 hours after applying sprays to stimulate flea pupae so they will be exposed to the pesticides. *Both Temprid SC and Archer IGR will aid in the prevention and control of many common pests, such as ants and cockroaches. See the Temprid SC label and Archer IGR label for complete additional instructions.

Answer last updated on: 09/27/2016

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Outdoor Flea and Tick Kit

Outdoor Flea and Tick Kit

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