There is nothing worse than discovering that you have a flea problem in your home or garden – especially if you have a dog. It makes you feel unclean and uncomfortable, especially if you start to get bitten. Your dog will also be unhappy, as they will be itchy and in great discomfort.
Once you have noticed a flea infestation, it can be quite challenging to get rid of it. Ideally, it is best to prevent a flea issue rather than treat it. Many people will use flea treatments on their pets, and might even treat their homes once a year.
But the garden often gets overlooked, despite the fact that this is likely where your pet picked up the fleas in the first place!
Flea killers for your yard will tackle the issue at the source, killing the fleas in their natural habitat before they get the chance to come into your home. The added benefit of these products is that they also kill other unwanted pests, like ants, ticks, and mosquitoes.
The problem is that there are so many flea killer products for your yard that it can be difficult to know which one you should buy. The formulas, application, and effectiveness of the flea killer will vary greatly between products, so how do you decide which one is best for you and your home?
To make this decision easier for you, we have put together a list of the best flea killers for your yard. We have also provided some information on how to choose the right product for you and answered some common questions about flea infestations.
Best Flea Killers For Your Yard Reviews
This flea and tick killer is a preventative treatment for your yard which is ready to use straight out of the bottle. It uses essential oils to repel the fleas, so there are no harmful or nasty chemicals.
This means it is safe to use around children and pets and there is no wait time before you can go back to using your yard. It can also be used for dog kennels. For optimum performance, it is recommended that you treat your outdoor space twice within the first 10 days, then re-apply the spray every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain a bug-free yard.
The bottle comes with a hose attachment, so using the product is simple and easy- just attach the hose and spray. The cedar oil will instantly begin repelling the unwanted fleas and ticks.
This spray is suitable for use on lawns, patios, flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, brickwork, and paintwork. It won’t harm other creatures like bees or butterflies and it is fully biodegradable. The product is also cruelty-free.
Wondercide was founded by a dog owner whose beloved pet was poisoned by a yard flea treatment. They became committed to providing a safe alternative to harsh chemicals, in order to keep pets and their families safe.
The product is 98-100% effective and also works on mosquitos as well as fleas and ticks. To help the environment, you can keep your bottle when it’s empty and purchase a refill product to avoid wasting plastic. You can also purchase a concentrated version of the product if you prefer to dilute it yourself.
This flea and tick killer from Black Flag attaches straight to your hose for easy and convenient use, but make sure you shake the container well before you spray.
Once you have sprayed your outdoor space, the product will keep working and killing fleas for up to 12 weeks. It also kills ticks and mosquitos. The active ingredient is mylar, which breaks the life cycle of the flea.
This product is suitable to be used on lawns, patios, decking, trees and shrubs. Be warned that it might also kill other insects, like butterflies, and some of the ingredients are toxic to aquatic animals.
The Vet’s Best Yard and Kennel Spray kills fleas, ticks, and mosquitos without the use of any harsh chemicals. The peppermint essential oil and clove extract are natural insect repellents.
This product is safe to use around dogs and cats that are aged 12 weeks and older and is suitable to be sprayed on turf, lawns, kennels, patios, and other outdoor areas.
You don’t need to rinse after use but be sure to wait about half an hour before you let your pets back into the garden. This product won’t harm trees, shrubs, or flowers, so you can protect your garden against unwanted insects without worrying about your plant life. It also won’t kill bees.
The bottle attaches directly to the hose so it is very quick and easy to spray your outdoor space.
It is advised to reapply this product periodically to maintain an insect-free garden, especially after heavy rainfall.
Vet’s Best has been making plant-based products to improve the lives of pets for over 30 years. Their flea and tick range also includes a spray for your home and for on-the-go, spot-on flea treatment for your pet, flea shampoo, and flea wipes for your pet’s fur. The products don’t just kill the fleas and ticks, but also any eggs and larvae.
The Demon Max insecticide is designed for use on, in, and around building structures, lawns, and landscapes. It needs to be diluted before use and you should avoid getting the product directly on your skin.
This product effectively gets rid of over 30 types of insects, including termites and dry wood termites when sprayed onto wood. The main active ingredient is Cypermethrin.
Not only is this product useful for controlling pests on your lawn, it can also be used for cracks and crevices, and as a pre or post-construction treatment for residential or commercial properties.
As the product is undiluted, it is quite versatile. You can use it as a soil application, a wood surface application, foam application, or an injection treatment. The active ingredient in this product is cypermethrin, and the product boasts a 90-100% success rate.
This BugClear insect killer from Ortho is effective on over 230 types of insects, including fleas, ticks, spiders, ants, mosquitos and armyworms.
It requires no dilution and is ready to use- just attach the bottle to your garden hose and start spraying. It begins to work within minutes and is a long lasting solution to insect problems.
This product is suitable for use on lawns, patios, decking, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens. It is odor free and does not stain. Be aware that it will kill insects such as bees and butterflies as well.
You must wait for the lawn to be completely dry before you allow children or pets back onto it. Depending on the weather conditions, this could be up to 48 hours.
This BugClear insect killer from Ortho is effective on over 230 types of insects, including fleas, ticks, spiders, ants, mosquitos, and armyworms.
It requires no dilution and is ready to use- just attach the bottle to your garden hose and start spraying. It begins to work within minutes and is a long-lasting solution to insect problems.
This product is suitable for use on lawns, patios, decking, trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetable gardens. It is odor-free and does not stain. Be aware that it will kill insects such as bees and butterflies as well.
You must wait for the lawn to be completely dry before you allow children or pets back onto it. Depending on the weather conditions, this could be up to 48 hours.
The Spectrum Brands Bug Free Spray kills fleas, ants, mosquitos and other insects and lasts for up to 12 weeks. It is easy to use, just attach it to your garden hose and spray, there is no need to dilute the product.
Before using this product, check the weather forecast to make sure it is not going to rain for at least 24 hours, otherwise, the product will be washed away before it has had time to take full effect.
Do not let your children or pets onto the lawn or treated outdoor area immediately- you should wait until any mist or vapors have dispersed. For optimum results, apply this product to your outdoor areas early on in the season before insect populations have become too high.
In the height of summer is when the insect problems are at their worst, so if you apply the spray in the spring it should prevent the issue rather than just treat it.
This insect killer comes in a powder form and works on fleas, bedbugs, silverfish, earwigs, crickets, millipedes, centipedes and many more. The insects ingest the powder and die from dehydration within 48 hours.
It can be used repeatedly, as insects do not build up a tolerance or immunity to it like some other insect killers. This product can be used indoors and outdoors, and is safe to use around children and pets as long as you follow the instructions carefully.
This product is made from 100% Diatomaceous Earth- crushed, fossilized freshwater algae. It feels soft to the touch, but in fact, the particles have microscopic razor-sharp edges.
When ingested by insects, it penetrates and cuts open their exoskeleton to cause dehydration, whilst also absorbing any moisture within their body to dry them out from the inside. This product only works if it is dry – if it comes into contact with water it will be ineffective.
Terra ant killer plus is a granular insect killer that works on ants, fire ants, cockroaches, fleas, and other insects. It comes in a convenient, re-sealable shaker bag so there is no need to use a spreader.
You can apply the product directly to lawns, house foundations, and anthills. It is not suitable for indoor use. If you are using this product around the perimeter or foundations of your property, then do so in a band that is at least 3 feet wide.
This product will kill the pests on your lawn within 24 hours of use. You should lightly water the area immediately after using the product.
This flea and tick spray manufactured by Zodiac kills over 60 types of insects including fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and ants. The results last for up to 4 weeks and it is safe to use on lawns, trees, shrubs and flower gardens.
This product is ready to sue without dilution and can be attached straight to your garden hose for convenience. This product is harmful to aquatic animals, so avoid contaminating any ponds or streams. You can let your pets back on the lawn as soon as the product has dried.
Best Flea Killers For Your Yard Buying Guide
Ingredients
The first thing to think about is what ingredients you want your flea killer to be made from. Some flea killers are extremely effective but contain harsh chemicals.
You can get flea killers which use natural ingredients like essential oils. These will do the least harm to your garden and the environment, and are guaranteed to not cause any damage to plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Some of the flea killers which do contain harsh chemicals, or target a wide variety of insects, will end up killing insects that aren’t considered pests- like butterflies or even bees.
There is a global issue with the declining bee population, so if you are going to use one of these flea killers then try to use it before or after bee season. It is also possible to cause damage to aquatic life with some flea killers, as some of the ingredients may be toxic. Avoid this particular product if you have a pond in your garden, or if the soil will drain into a nearby stream or river.
Dog or Pet Safe
You also need to consider whether the flea killer is safe to use around pets and children. The flea killers made with natural ingredients are usually the safest, and you can often let your pets back onto the yard straight away.
Other products may require some time for it to dry or soak in before your pets can use the lawn again, or you could risk poisoning them or causing skin irritation. The strength of the product will have an impact on how often you will need to re-apply it in order to maintain the results.
It might seem inconvenient to leave your dog off the yard for 24 hours while a strong product gets to work, but if you don’t have to re-apply the product for another 12 weeks, then it might be more worth the initial hassle. However, a natural product that you can spray safely at any time also has its benefits.
Application
Another thing to consider when choosing your product is how you want to apply the flea killer. Some products come ready to use, so they are already diluted, and you can attach them directly to your garden hose to easily distribute the flea killer around your garden.
You can also get a concentrated flea killer which you can dilute yourself, which allows you to apply it in various ways. This can be less convenient and you must be careful to avoid getting undiluted flea killer on your skin or clothes.
You can also get flea killers that come in a powder or granular form rather than a liquid. Some of them need to be distributed with spreaders or watered into the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Else Should You Do To Prevent Fleas?
Treating your lawn and outdoor space is one important step to prevent a flea problem, but to effectively remove or prevent fleas you need to adopt a three step approach.
As well as treating your garden, you also need to treat your home and your pet.
Why Is It Important To Get Rid Of Fleas?
Fleas cause a lot of discomfort to you and your pet, as their bites are incredibly itchy. They can also spread harmful diseases and parasites like typhus and tapeworm.
Fleas breed very quickly, so it is important to take action as soon as you spot a flea or become suspicious that you might have them in your home or garden.