Ants and fleas in your yard can be killed by simply spreading a layer of agricultural lime on the soil.
Agricultural lime, available at some home centers and most feed stores, is not only an excellent way to lower the pH of soil, it is also a good way to rid your lawn and garden of certain pesky insects, such as fleas and ants. Applying lime is a simple process, and within a matter of days most small insects should have vanished.
Preparation
Mow your lawn and then rake all leaves and twigs from the yard so that fleas, ants and other small insects will have nowhere to hide. Lime is not a poison, so it is not possible for small insects to become immune to lime. Instead, lime, when it comes in contact with an insect's body, draws the moisture out of the insect's exoskeleton and desiccates the insect, killing it
Spread Lime
Spread a thin layer of agricultural lime on the mowed and raked lawn and on the garden if insects are a problem in that area as well. Agricultural lime is available at most feed lots and at many large home improvement centers. Use a seed or fertilizer spreader to spread the lime, approximately 1 lb.of powdered lime per 500 square feet of lawn. Spread when the lawn is dry and do not spread if rain is expected within the next 24 hours.
Rake the Lime
Use a steel rake to rake the lime evenly into the soil. The idea is for the lime to be a part of as much of the top layer of soil as possible so that any insect that comes in contact with the soil will also come in contact with the lime.
Inspect Your Yard
Inspect your yard for fleas and ants and other small insects five days after the first application of agricultural lime. If insects are still present, spread one more thin layer of lime onto the yard and rake it in. Wait until the yard is dry and be sure that no rain is anticipated for the next 24 hours. Do not water the lawn for 24 hours.
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