Adulticides, pyriproxyfen etc……which ingredient is critical to be in your best flea spray for the yard? Well, if your guess is “adulticides”…you’re wrong. 😉
Technically, Insect growth regulator (IGR) such as pyriproxyfen create the best flea sprays for yard to kill even stubborn pre-adult fleas: eggs, larvae, and pupae (making 50%, 35%, & 10% of entire fleas).2 Yards (outdoors) harbor most flea re-infestations when eggs dropped by wild animals develop and jump onto warm-blooded animals.1
To kill stubborn yard fleas, the two sprays I recommend are Pivot 10 IGR Concentrate and NyGuard Insect Growth Regulator since they have both high effectiveness and efficacy rates (about 7 months).
Rundown: Best Flea Spray for Yards 2018
Flea Spray Price IGR Rating
Pivot 10 IGR Concentrate Check on Amazon Yes 5
NyGuard Insect Growth Regulator Check on Amazon Yes 5
Archer Insect Growth Regulator Check on Amazon Yes 4.8
MARTIN'S I.G. Regulator Check on Amazon Yes 4.7
What insecticide kills fleas in yard?
In addition to using the best fogger for fleas the house and having solar lighting, you should de-flea your garden, especially if you have some four-legged friends.
You don’t want to get Adulticides (its ineffective for yard flea control),3 or a spray that could poison your pets. On the contrary, get sprays with Insect growth regulators (IGR) like pyriproxyfen as they’ll kill pre-adult fleas and are effective outdoor for about roughly three weeks.4
The Best Flea Spray for Yards
1. Top Pick: Pivot 10 IGR Concentrate
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The IGR Concentrate in Pivot 10 last for 7 months due to it being long lasting. It can be used for food handling regions, indoors and outdoors.
And with coverage of 41,250 square meters, it’s perfect for large yards but is one of the more expensive flea sprays for yards available.
You can use the spray for ULV or fogging application. Finally, this spray has broad action capacity on pests: killing fleas, Flies, Flying Insects, Litter Beetles, Cockroaches, Mosquitoes, Roaches, and Crickets.
- Disrupts entire flea life cycle
- Long-lasting
- Great for large yards
- Can also be used indoors
2. NyGuard Insect Growth Regulator
This is probably the best solution for very large yards, covering over 52,000 square feet.
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- Disrupts entire flea life cycle
- Long-lasting
- Great for large yards
- Can also be used indoors
3. Archer Insect Growth Regulator
Another great flea spray that kills flea eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. However, with coverage of 24,000 square feet, Archer is not as effective for larger yards as its competitors.
It is also a very expensive product for such a low coverage.
- Disrupts entire flea life cycle
- Long-lasting
- Can also be used indoors
4. Martin’s I.G. Regulator – For small yards
This is one of the best flea sprays for small yards, covering up 6,000 square feet.
Martin’s is also great in killing fleas across their entire life cycle and can be used indoors too.
5. Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray
If you’re looking for a product with natural ingredients, then Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Yard & Kennel Spray is the one for you.
It’s safe to use around your pets, which means you don’t have to keep them away during or immediately after spraying.
Even though it uses natural ingredients, this spray is effective in quickly killing both fleas and their eggs.
- Made of natural ingredients
- Safe around pets
- Kills fleas and eggs
6. SENTRY HOME Yard and Premise Spray
Not only does this product kill adult fleas, but larvae and eggs too. This means you stop the problem at its source.
One drawback is that it only covers a small area (up to 2,667 square feet) so you’ll need to buy more than one bottle if you have a bigger yard.
- Long-lasting
- Disrupts the entire flea life cycle
7. Wondercide Ready-to-Spray Natural Flea
A non-toxic product is always a win and that’s why we love the Wondercide brand. This yard flea spray is safe to use around your pets and young children too.
Not only does it kill adults, it also kills the eggs, larvae and pupae. It may not last as long as the other products but that’s quite common for organic products.
- Organic and non-toxic
- Safe around pets
- Disrupts the entire flea life cycle
8. Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray
Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate is probably best known for killing mosquitoes. But it’s also quick and effective in killing adult fleas.
While the brand claims that the spray will last up to 12 weeks, it’s more likely to last around 4 weeks or less. And you’re likely to have to reapply each time it rains.
However, it is the cheapest product on our list that still does a decent job. All you need to do is attach the sprayer to your hose and you’re ready to spray on your lawn, trees, flowers, bushes and concrete areas.
- Cheap
- Fast acting
9. Advantage Yard and Premise Spray
A great product for killing fleas and ticks in your yard before your pet brings them indoors. You’ll need to spray every 3-4 weeks, which is about the average for all the products listed in our guide.
Advantage Yard and Premise Spray also comes with an easy-to-use hose attachment. You can use it on lawns, patios, sidewalks and driveways.
- Good for larger yards
10. Adams Plus Flea & Tick Yard Spray
Despite its name, Adams Plus Flea & Tick Yard Spray can also be used indoors – an added bonus if you have adult flea problems inside your house too.
This makes it fantastic value for money. The product is easy to use. Just attach it to your hose to spray your lawn, bushes and flowers and enjoy up to 4 weeks relief.
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
11. BioSpot Active Care Yard & Garden Spray
This is one of the best yard sprays for adult flea control. BioSpot Active Care Yard & Garden Spray is effective in killing fleas and keeping them away from your pets.
Lasting 4-6 weeks, it is also one of the longer lasting sprays available. This means you don’t have to spray as often and still enjoy the benefits of remaining flea-free.
It does contain some pretty toxic ingredients so be very careful in letting pets near the sprayed area until completely dry. However, this is the price you pay for an effective, potent solution.
- Long-lasting
- Fast-acting
Buyer’s Guide
If you haven’t experienced problems with fleas yet, you may be wondering whether to bother with a flea spray for your home, let alone your yard. But remember – prevention is better than cure!
Considerations for yard flea sprays
Buying flea sprays for your yard is different to buying flea control products for inside your home. Here’s what we’ve taken into consideration in putting this guide together:
#1: Ease-of-use:
The flea sprays for yards we’ve reviewed can be used with a garden sprayer. Some even come with a very handy hose applicator.
#2: Duration:
Most of the products we’ve reviewed last 3-4 weeks.
#3: Coverage:
Is it suitable for small or large yards?
#4: Whether it only kills adult fleas:
Some yard sprays are very effective in killing adult fleas quickly on contact. However, these probably won’t kill the eggs and larvae. This means you’ll need to spray again, after the fleas have hatched and grown.
#5: Whether it’s also effective before the adult stage:
For the best results, you want to use sprays that get to the source of the problem: flea eggs, larvae and pupae.
These sprays are more expensive but far more effective. On the flip side, these sprays are less toxic to adult fleas – so you’ll either have to wait longer (8-10 days) before they die, or combine with other sprays for faster results.
#6: Whether it uses natural or chemical ingredients:
Generally, flea sprays for yards that contain chemicals are more effective. But there are a few good, non-toxic solutions available too.
Remember: always follow all instructions carefully. Not only is this important for safety reasons, but will also ensure you get the best results.
When buying flea sprays for your yard, you’ll want to consider:
#1: Is the yard spray effective for the entire flea life cycle?This is probably the most important thing for you to consider when choosing a flea spray for your yard. If you’re looking for a cheap, quick solution, then get a yard spray that only kills adult fleas.
However, as we’ve shown in our guide, the most effective sprays are those that kill flea eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. While these are more expensive, they are your best solution for long-lasting results.
#2: How long does the spray last?
The longer the duration, the less frequently you’ll need to spray your yard. Most flea yard sprays last 3-4 weeks, despite what the product labels may claim. Cheaper sprays will wash away in the rain.
#3: How much area does the spray cover?
If you have a small yard, then a lower capacity will do. But for larger yards, you either want to buy a higher capacity spray or end up getting multiple bottles. So it’s important to check the coverage.
#4: Is it easy to use?
Some sprays come with a hose attachment making it easy to apply around your garden. Others will need to be used with a garden sprayer.
#5: Where can it be used?
Check whether the spray can be used on lawns, flowers, shrubs and sidewalks. While it’s hard to find sprays that can be safely used on vegetable patches, you want to make sure that most of your yard is covered. Some sprays can even be used indoors, giving you great value for money.
#6: Is it safe to use around your pets?
Always read the ingredients, instructions and warning labels carefully. Some sprays are made with natural ingredients and may be safe to use around your pets.
With other sprays, you’ll need to remove your pet first before spraying and also wait until it dries completely before bringing pets back into the yard.
Conclusion
We’ve shown you some of the best flea sprays for yards that we could find. Two products stood out for us:
– We liked Pivot because it’s great for large yards. More importantly, it kills fleas across their entire life cycle.
– Similarly, Martin’s also disrupts the entire flea life cycle and is fantastic if you have a small yard.
Both these products can be used indoors too, providing great value-for-money. Have you tried any of these or other flea sprays for yards? Let us know in the comments.
Resources
- Vasileiou, N. G. C., Fthenakis, G. C., & Papadopoulos, E. (2015). Dissemination of parasites by animal movements in small ruminant farms. Veterinary parasitology, 213(1-2), 56-60.
- Tyagi, B. K., & Veer, V. (2016). Entomology In The Doon Valley (Garhwal Himalaya) A Stronghold For Insect Research. Scientific Publishers.
- Rust, M. K. (2005). Advances in the control of Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) on cats and dogs. Trends in parasitology, 21(5), 232-236.
- Rust, M. K., Lance, W., & Hemsarth, H. (2016). Synergism of the IGRs methoprene and pyriproxyfen against larval cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). Journal of medical entomology, 53(3), 629-633.