tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073336228735412825.post1724352090546131460..comments2024-03-18T09:07:24.680-07:00Comments on The Farmer Fred® Rant: My Blog Has FleasFred Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00501190876515519882noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073336228735412825.post-24461860572848211612009-08-20T15:33:21.913-07:002009-08-20T15:33:21.913-07:00Rant Back At Ya Fred,
We use to get fleas every y...Rant Back At Ya Fred,<br /><br />We use to get fleas every year in our lawn/landscape, in the house and even on our cats. That stopped years ago (probably 10) and now we never have flea problems. Yes we still have a cat, lawn and landscape. Plus our neighbors have cats, dogs, goats rabbits and Mother Nature provides possum, squirrels and other critters. And guess what, we don't use any pesticides and have had no problems with fleas for years!<br /><br />Years ago we used diatomaceous earth, flea combs, frequent vacuuming and occasional spraying of lawn with organic pesticides.<br /><br />Our first discovery towards less toxic flea control was the use of beneficial nematodes. If I recall correctly I likely made two or three applications to the lawn/landscape over a 2-4 year period (1 time per year). I have not had to apply any more since then and it is at least been ten years and more likely about 20 years. If I recall correctly, each time I used Heterohabditis bacteriophora. I suspect the population of these beneficial nematodes is now sustaining itself in my lawn and landscape controlling fleas and about 250 other soil borne pests!<br /><br />Then we learned about the IGR's and IDI's for pet flea control. I did research and discovered that those that you apply between the shoulders of your pets have some draw backs. They get all over the skin and hair of the animal, which then distributes it to where ever they sit (i.e., human furniture). This along with petting the animal provides direct human exposure to these products. They say it is safe but I still want to minimize human exposure.<br /><br />There is one product (less popular - but it shouldn't be) "Program" that is an IDI (Insect Development Inhibitor). It is a pill, so there will be much less human exposure! Plus it prevents eggs from hatching rather then preventing larvae from becoming adults. You don't even have the larvae!<br /><br />When we started giving our cats Program we vacuumed the house top to bottom a few times (years ago). Over the last 10 years or more, since we started on Program and applied the nematodes (a long time ago), we have done nothing for flea control other then to pill our cats once a month. And to pill the cat is easy. Put it in their food bowl with a little food. They will eat the pill before their regular food - yum! We no long need to apply nematodes and we only clean the house when company is visiting. Our current feline has her own bed (a pillow) which resides on our bed during the day. We do wash the pillow cover every week or two with the regular laundry, but other then that we do nothing. And we have not had fleas for years and years and years and years and....<br /><br />I highly recommend nematodes, Program and a little cleaning.<br /><br /><br />Naturally Yours,<br />Living Resources Company<br />Steven M. Zien<br />President<br />http://www.organiclandscape.com/services<br />916/726-5377Iwanna B Kayakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06056990086960181791noreply@blogger.com