There are more than 2,000 species of Fleas, with 300 of them present in the United States. As the weather warms, fleas and ticks can infest your yard, your pets, and your home, turning the summer months into a nightmare. Because fleas and ticks can live on your pet for weeks, you may think you beat them only to see them reappear.

There are effective methods of flea and tick control, however. If you don’t want to go through another itchy summer, read on for steps you can take.

1. Flea and Tick Control: Troubleshoot Your Yard

Flea and tick pest control begins in your yard. Keep grass mowed and shrubs trimmed to remove hiding spots for fleas and ticks. Hire professional landscaping companies to provide great care for your lawn and manage pests.

Discourage wildlife like opossums and raccoons, as well as feral cats, from coming into your yard by not leaving bowls of food out. Trim back any trees or tall shrubs that would give animals access to your attic, and seal openings to crawl spaces, sheds, and garages.

Because air movement and sunlight kill flea larvae, avoid planting shrubs next to each other.

2. Clean Your Home

Although having fleas or ticks in your home does not mean the property is dirty, taking care to sanitize certain areas discourages pests.

Immature fleas, including eggs, larvae, and pupae, can live on carpets and rugs. Once a week, vacuum and use flea treatment powders if you see signs of them.

Fleas and ticks avoid high-traffic areas, so vacuum under furniture, near baseboards, and anywhere your pets spend time. Place a flea collar in the vacuum bag or change it often to kill emerging fleas and ticks. You can then shampoo or steam clean carpets to kill remaining larvae.

If you decide to use an insecticide on carpets or rugs, cleaning it first allows the chemicals to sink deeper.

If you have pets, wash their bedding and toys in hot water weekly.

3. Focus on Prevention

Use flea and tick prevention treatments on your pet. Run a flea comb through their fur before letting them back into the house.

If your pet has long hair, consider shaving them down for the summer months to give pests fewer hiding places.

There are insect growth regulator, or IGR, products that make adult fleas sterile and kill larvae. A veterinarian can prescribe them in pill form, sprays, dips, or spot treatments, and they can be effective for up to six months.

Keep Your Home Pest-Free

Flea and tick control relies on prevention. Before the hot months begin, start with troubleshooting your lawn.

If you see signs of fleas or ticks outside or inside the property, act quickly by deep-cleaning carpets and using insecticides on your pet. By having a strategy in place, you can avoid infestations this year.

Get more tips by checking out our Home Improvement page! 

The post 3 Ways to Squash Flea and Tick Home Invasions This Summer first appeared on Weirdomatic.