The Common Lawn Care Mistake That Keeps Fleas And Ticks Coming To Your Yard

Are you negatively impacting the health of you and your pets due to one common lawn care mistake? You can protect yourself and your furry friends from nasty pests by following a simple lawn care tip. Many people don't realize that letting their lawn go too long without mowing it can cause issues. One of the potential drawbacks of letting your grass grow too long is that it can create the ideal conditions for fleas and ticks to flourish. Longer grass offers more places for fleas and ticks to hide away, and to reproduce prolifically. It's time to stop letting your yard become a haven for disease-carrying pests.

Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance due to their bites. Both are known to spread diseases, including Lyme disease. Long grass attracts fleas and ticks because they love moist, shady environments. Left undisturbed by a lawn mower, fleas and ticks can multiply in large numbers. Regular trimming will expose the hiding spots of pests, making it less likely for them to stay around. And if you start feeling itchy or have mysterious bites on your legs, it might be a sneaky sign your yard has a pest problem.

The best way to avoid having an abundance of fleas and ticks in your yard is to mow on a regular schedule. You should never let your grass get too long, nor should you wait longer than two to three weeks between trimmings. In fact, during spring, you should plan to mow at least once a week if the grass is growing at a steady rate. In the summer, you might need to mow more frequently depending on the amount of rainfall your region receives.

Fleas and ticks also spend more time in shaded, cooler areas of your yard. If your yard is more shaded than not, you might want to focus extra attention on keeping those spots mowed regularly. The shady spots are where fleas will more often breed and lay eggs. Tall grass naturally creates more shade closer to the soil, limiting the amount of sun that penetrates down.

Alternatively, cutting your grass very short can have a very adverse impact on your lawn. Mowing too often can stress the turf, which also encourages pest infestations. Ideally, cut your grass no shorter than one to two inches high. With the right height, you can help to attract spiders and other creatures that prey on fleas and ticks. Less than three inches is advised to control and prevent ticks, because it lessens humidity which they need to survive. But if you're looking to get away from mowing your lawn at all, consider some clever alternatives to grass for a no-mow garden.