posted 15 years ago
I have fleas in my yard (hobo cat sleeps in our daisy bushes, and crackhead neighbor's neglected dog hops throughour fence to poop under our redwood) so I researched solutions up the wazoo, and the most effective seems to be "beneficial" nematodes, but I'm worried about them eating other insects, and disturbing the ecology. Any thoughts?
I am of course planning to cover the yard in aromatic herbs (pennyroyal, lemon balm etc) to reduce the amount of flea friendly area, and put up mesh on the fence to deter the cat/dog, (much guilt about banishing them, sigh).
Is there such a thing as too many aromatic plants for a healthy ecology?
I assume it's not just fleas that are unable to live off plants with lots of essential oils, and I want to have plenty of insects for the birds, so it's a concern.
The complicating factors are that we aren't allowed to plant over the grass lawn (half the yard is lawn), and I'm fairly sure I am not allowed to remove the ancient daisy bushes where the cat has been sleeping.
I'm thinking I'll manicure (ugh!) the area under the bushes and remove all the duff/material and sprinkle with leaves of eucalyptus (free and easy to get in quantity). But I'm stumped about the lawn, I heard treating with sulfur and lyme isn't enough to eliminate fleas, and nematodes could spread from the lawn to the yard.
I live in ebobo california (emeryville berkeley oakland border area) so temp range is flea and nematode friendly.
Thanks.