shantiah Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Ever since moving into my new house a few years ago I have had problems with fleas every summer. I have kept it pretty much under control but this year they are just terrible and now with the rain and humidity this week they are unbelievable. I have treated all the dogs and the house but as soon as they go out on the grass they just get covered again. I need help. I live on 5 acres and the dogs have access to about 2 acres on a daily basis. What can I realistically do which is not going to break the bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 (edited) What sort of fleas are they? Big active dog fleas, or the tiny rabbit/stickfast fleas? they have different lifestyles and control methods .... What chemicals are you currently using? Edited December 31, 2009 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfsie Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 we are on acreage and have a huge garden......We have planted lots and I mean lots of lavender, Tansy, geraniums of all type, rosemary and all the herbs that reduce insects. We have found that our dogs lie in the Tansy and flatten it. It does not look good. And especially Tessa always seems to rub herself in the Lavender bushes. We have no visible fleas on the dogs and we do not use any chemical preventative. I am not sure how you could tackle an infestation, but we have all the preventatives working successfully. The other thing someone told me ones was to make sure you do not have a lot of sparrows around, as they carry the fleas quite successfully to different areas. Our dog beds in the outdoor kennel room and run are made from hessian bags filled with dried lavender/Tansy. The dogs love these beds. we only use them in Winter. They have their hammock beds in Summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shantiah Posted December 31, 2009 Author Share Posted December 31, 2009 (edited) Have been using frontline spray very successfully until now. Had to get spoton yesteday for the big greys as one has a very thick coat. It was scarry to see how many fleas she had. It seems to have worked but they are still getting more when they go outside. The IGs got the spray as always. There are too many of them to do spoton. The greys have the big juicy fleas but the last 24hrs have had lots of the little ones too. The IGs are mainly the big fleas. And yes we have heaps of wild rabbits also Cant really plant too much as its a rented house and looks like a grass plainland, not a tree in sight on my side of the fence. The landlord must have hated trees of any sort. I really like the idea of the dried plants in their beds. Edited December 31, 2009 by shantiah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Avanti* Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 we are on acreage and have a huge garden......We have planted lots and I mean lots of lavender, Tansy, geraniums of all type, rosemary and all the herbs that reduce insects. We have found that our dogs lie in the Tansy and flatten it. It does not look good. And especially Tessa always seems to rub herself in the Lavender bushes. We have no visible fleas on the dogs and we do not use any chemical preventative. That's interesting newfsie. My old Labrador used to rub himself on the wormwood bush (I know that repels some insects like moths) and never had flea problems. White/grey leaved plants like wormwood and lavender cope fairly well with dry conditions too once established. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Lime was my initial thought but that would mean you need to keep the dogs off the area for 24-48 hours. Maybe try Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Avanti* Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Have been using frontline spray very successfully until now. Had to get spoton yesteday for the big greys as one has a very thick coat. It was scarry to see how many fleas she had. It seems to have worked but they are still getting more when they go outside. The IGs got the spray as always. There are too many of them to do spoton. The greys have the big juicy fleas but the last 24hrs have had lots of the little ones too. The IGs are mainly the big fleas. And yes we have heaps of wild rabbits also Cant really plant too much as its a rented house and looks like a grass plainland, not a tree in sight on my side of the fence. The landlord must have hated trees of any sort. I really like the idea of the dried plants in their beds. I had a landlord like that, he removed every tree and plant I put in after I moved out . I don't know what to suggest but I sympathise with your situation. A few thoughts: - Maybe a back burn of the grass when the weather is cooler. - Spray with a safe insecticide that will break down? - Could the landlord be asked to deal with the problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kynta Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 If you can have some chooks (if your dogs are chook friendly) they can really help to reduce the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Frankly, I'd be forgetting the landlord and be planting as much lavender as possible. It is supposed to be a natural flea repellant and all the others that Newfsie mentioned. 5 acres and no trees . I would have planted every tree native to the area . I would [almost] kill for 5 acres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 We are going thru the exact same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shantiah Posted January 1, 2010 Author Share Posted January 1, 2010 Thanks guys. I have a few suggestions to try. Will report back on how we go with them. Unfortunately the landlord wont deal with it. When we moved in the fleas here were horrendous (read black legs from walking out to kennels). Realestate said they knew So I threatened to move all dogs into boarding and me into a hotel and send them the bill until it was fixed. They did send someone over to spray pretty quickly but that was a few years back. They said if it needed doing again we had to pay. The landlord is a real tighta**e and everything is a fight so its just not even worth asking them. She only just tollerates the dogs and it would give her a reason to kick us out. I cant have chooks as I have greyhounds and they wouldnt last 5 mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Thanks guys. I have a few suggestions to try. Will report back on how we go with them. Unfortunately the landlord wont deal with it. When we moved in the fleas here were horrendous (read black legs from walking out to kennels). Realestate said they knew So I threatened to move all dogs into boarding and me into a hotel and send them the bill until it was fixed. They did send someone over to spray pretty quickly but that was a few years back. They said if it needed doing again we had to pay. The landlord is a real tighta**e and everything is a fight so its just not even worth asking them. She only just tollerates the dogs and it would give her a reason to kick us out. I cant have chooks as I have greyhounds and they wouldnt last 5 mins. What a difficult situation. If chooks do get rid of the fleas, could you consider one of those rolling pens where the pen can be rolled all around the yard? I would start with a few inconspicuous gardens of lavender. Maybe the perfume will relax the landlord Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Coopex from fodder stores. Its a powder you dilute in water & spray on the ground. $10 a packet & it tells you on the packet the area it will cover. Cant remember but it wont cost hundreds or anything near to do 5 acres. Good stuff, very effective & wont make the dogs ill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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