FredTalks
by Environmental Enhancements
The secret life of ticks.
THE PROBLEM: Hey Fred, I feel like I’m an unwelcome guest in my own back yard. My wife, my kids, myself—none of us spends any time out there because of ticks and mosquitos. And the gnats drive us crazy! We don’t even go out on our deck, which is too bad because we recently had a new one put in. My neighbor just sprayed his yard, but I feel weird about applying poisons on mine. (We also have a dog.) Before I spend money to hire a company to do the organic thing, I really want to know it’s going to work. I keep hearing the organic stuff doesn’t work as well. What do you think?
FRED SAYS: I hesitate to use scare tactics, but if you’re finding ticks in your back yard, you need to address the problem quickly. Ticks carry the somewhat common Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever diseases, along with some more obscure ones you may have never heard of.
And I understand your concern about toxins. With many of the commercial sprays, you need to wait 24 hours before letting dogs and kids back into the yard. (24 hours? What’s that all about?) Imagine what that does to the butterflies, bees, and birds, not to mention the microorganisms in your soil that keep your lawn healthy.
At EE, We’ve been promoting sustainable landscaping solutions for years, which includes all-natural tick, mosquito & gnat control. I can say with confidence that the natural solutions DO work, and you only need to give it a couple hours to dry before going back outside. Organic products have come a long way since they hit the market some years ago.
Make sure you schedule enough treatments to maintain your yard throughout the summer. All pesticides are less effective over time and after a soaking rain.
I strongly encourage you to go organic for the sake of your family, your pets, the natural habitat, and you. And that’s a pretty long list!
Please reach out if you’d like to hear about our sustainable landscaping options for homeowners. 703.421.7400 or [email protected].
Fred Peratt is president of Environmental Enhancements Inc., an award-winning landscaping company serving the DC metro area since 2001. Fred is well-known in the landscaping industry for his dedication to innovation, teamwork, and the highest standards of workmanship.
www.eelandscaping.com
540.764.4433
Environmental Enhancements is a premier landscaping company that offers industry-leading service to commercial, HOA, and residential clients in the northern Virginia and DC area.
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