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Fleas in My Vegetable Garden |
| By Ellen Brown |
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Question: I have a great little vegetable garden that's 5 square meters. It is full of vegetables, but also seems to be full of fleas. I discovered this when my little puppy became full of fleas despite using Frontline (flea protection). The moment he's been digging in the veggie patch (not with his mothers permission I might add) he comes inside full of fleas.. I wouldn't have known that they were in the soil, had it not been for him.
The pet shop told me that it often happens with sandy soil. I don't like the idea of using a spray (the pet shop suggested one) because of the vegetables, but no matter what I do, it seems the fleas win out every time.
Does anyone have any suggestions please?
Many thanks,
Wendy M. from Hervey Bay, Australia
Answer: Hi Wendy,
I'm with you on avoiding chemicals on your edibles and around your puppy. A good biological control for most types of fleas is to use beneficial nematodes. These can be sprayed on flower or vegetable gardens with a hand-held sprayer and are safe to use around children and pets. The nematodes work to control fleas by killing them in the larval and pupa stages of their life cycles. Other than that, you could try spraying citrus extracts or orange peels in areas of the garden where fleas seem to be most prevalent or shampooing your puppy regularly with a citrus-based dog shampoo to help repel the fleas he comes into contact with. Make sure to remove any sign of fleas that make it indoors by vacuuming or steam cleaning, and when grooming your puppy, drown any fleas you find in soapy water. Mint, Pennyroyal, Fennel and Tansy are also said to act as insect-repellant plants for fleas.
Ellen
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About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com |
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RE: Fleas in My Vegetable Garden
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Post By j (Guest Post)
(10/02/2006)
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I have heard, but never tried this, to put cedar chips in the bed or whereever you've having a flea problem. Apparently, they don't like it and will stay away,.
RE: Fleas in My Vegetable Garden
Dear Wendy
I live near the beach in Melbourne and also have very sandy soil. Adding mulch to the soil has helped cut down the amount of fleas my cat used to bring into the house. Anything at all you can add to the soil would help, leaves, compost, shredded paper etc. I hope this helps.
RE: Fleas in My Vegetable Garden
Hi,
I have had to deal with sand fleas in the past. I put an aluminum pie pan full of water and set a light over it. The fleas were attracted to the light (during the night) and would land in the water to drown. I would change the water as needed, making sure all were dead before emptying.
I recently heard that a small amount of Joy dish soap, or Dawn dishsoap, added to the water will kill them quicker.
Let me know if it works.
Tina
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