Help! We're being eaten alive!!

I have two major problems right now in the yard/garden Japanese Beetles, and fleas! The beetles, I hand pick and drown them in soapy water. I have lost that battle, this year, I've given up. BUT, this past week I have been having a terrible time getting my Dog to go outside, even to potty! That's his favorite thing to do, go outside.
I went out this morning to plant some daylilies, and within just a few minutes, fleas were all over me. I was bitten all over my feet ankles, and legs! No wonder the poor pup doesn't want to be out there.
My problem is I HATE to spray, and when I do, it it usually just dish soap and baking soda.
Does anyone know a way to safely get rid of fleas in the grass without harming any pollenators or good bugs?? Any help would be appreceiated!
Oh, and also, I have a very tiny yard if that helps.

I feel for ya and your pooch. With the highheat and drought this year the fleas have been bad. I usally don't have to much of a problem, and only fidn the critters when stray dogs come into the yard.

A few weeks ago, my poor poooch and I went for a long walk, and we both got into a patch of fleas. I had fits cuz ya gott a walk back home and whiel ya doign it them nasty critters are follwing right alogn the trail and back with ya so of course for the first time this year I got soem in my yard.

it a bear and take s weeks to get rid of them. For goign into the yard to try and treat it, I get Hartz and one DOG spray. Make sure ya get the one that says can be used on dogs. They have two kinds. It used to be called two and one but now some packagign has thre e and one on it and the orginal thre e and one is not for use on dogs only floors and carpets.

Wear long legge d pants and socks and tuck your pant legs into the socks. Spray the three in one spray on your socks and lightly. That wil kill any that get on you immediately. I usually spray part of my pants leg and wear a long sleeve white shirt over my tee shirt and igtly spray it. As it is a chemical ya need to watch for allergic reations, not made for human use , but both my son and I have use dit over the years when havign to treat a major outbreak. it can be use d on th dog too.

There is a product called Green Light Lawn and Garden Spray. they have sevral products so get the one for fleas and tics. it the best product that I know of that doesn't hurt most of the beneficals. I use it and then comeback in two weeks and do it again to kill larvae pulpatign that aren't affete d by the sprays even chemicals one s of any kind.

The big thing, I do is before coming in to the house is strip off the socks especially and then take the spray and respray them good outside and let sit for a bit before washing. that way your not draggign them into your house and carpet .

Maybe somebody els e wil have some ideas but that all I know and what I do.

You might try food grade diatomaceous earth.It is organic and mot a chemical. It can be spread around all you plants and it can be rubbed into your dog's coat with NO adverse effects. Also, have you put your dog on a flea control product? I think Frontline Plus is the better of all the alternatives. (I'm a dog groomer).

WOW! That's a lot of really good information folks! Gald I posted this one here. The thing about my dog is ( and I'm sure it would have helped to know this earlier) is he has awful reactions to ANY flea and tick problem. Really bad seizure like reactions ) The vet and the dog and I am at our wits end as what to do. The last thing we have tried is Nature's Guardian (on the dog only) made of mint oils and other natural ingredients, has done absolutely nothing but stink up the house, and the fleas seem to enjoy it. It is advertised to kill on contact.
My dog has a terrible rash, fleas, and now a fear to go outside! He is being medicated for seizure activity as well. These fleas are making him so miserable, an otherwise very high spirited dog.
As for the yard, well I think both of your suggestions are great and will be trying those. Thank you so much. Also Scooter is an inside animal, and doesn't spend time outside except for walks. I feel really bad for him. I have heard wonderful things about diatomaceous earth, Will this help in controlling grubs as well?

Also I was wondering where to find the food grade product?? If you please.

What about those products that keep the flea larvae from turning into adults? They eventually die off because they don't reproduce. Can be used indoors, too. I don't know the names, but maybe someone else here does....

Here is an excellent article about flea control.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef628.asp

You can get the correct diatomaceous earth at Lowes. I can't remember the brand name and no one there knew what it was but I found it sold with the organic fertilizers and pesticides not the regular pesticides. It is perfectly safe for pets and humans and it says it kills fleas. It can be used in humans and animals to kill parasites and is used in grains to kill insects - so it is safe. They also sell diatomaceous earth for swimming pools. You do NOT want this type - it is not food safe and won't work anyway.
The only bad thing is that it will kill earthworms and you have to reapply after it rains. Don't breath it because it can cause lung problems. You sprinkle it on lightly and that's it. I have used it for carpenter ants and slugs and it works great for that. You can even use it inside the house safely. They even recommend to use it in pet beds for flea control - but we don't have very many fleas in Colorado so I've never used it for that

Mobi.... That great to know about carpenter ants and slugs. Do you happen to know how it affects toads and lizards?

It won't help you now, but there are beneficial nematodes that can help prevent future infestations. Garden's Alive carries them. I used them in Florida very successfully.

I bought mine online at Gardenharvetsupply.com
There seems to be controversy regarding its effects on earthworms. I read, somewhere, it would not harm them.
Crash....Has your dog had a full blood panel analysis? Also, is there a canine dermatologist in your area? Might be worth a try.

I can't find anything on it affecting toads and lizards, just insects but I really don't know. Here's a couple of links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
http://eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/eap4.htm

I've also used the beneficial nematodes for grubs which become Japanese beetles and although I've had the grubs I've never seen a Japanese beetle in my garden. It worked pretty well for me but catmad is right. You have to get them earlier in the year.

Planting catnip is also said to repel JB.

I most certainly will give this product a try, the thought of killing earthworms however does make me cringe. I do realize I need to get grubs early, I didn't relally see that many when the beds went in, so I figured I could control the problem on my own, NOT! It has been awful.

Scooter ( my dog) has had full blood work and nerological exams, but none for allergies that I am aware of, which I must do soon.

Thanks for the informative links everyone, you folks have been sooo much help, more in fact than my vet it seems.I always learn so much from everyone here.
Thanks so much!

When you use the diatomaceous earth. Just sprinkle it on, you won't need a lot to do the job, which should also cut down on earthworm deaths. I got a powdered sugar sprinkler from the grocery store. Also, don't use it on a windy day. The powder is a fine crystal and if you breath it it can mess up your lungs (much like talcum might). But I have used it without a problem and it worked after only three applications on the carpenter ants. What I like about it is that your dogs could eat it and it would be fine. We probably HAVE eaten it - because it is used in grains.

Yu don't know how good it is to hear I can finally find somethign to get rid of these carpenter ants. I had a box of pots come in and when I starte d pullign the pots out the whoel middle was regular huge colony of those carpenter ants. Til then nevre had them here before. I tried drowing bunche s of them in a bucket of bleach and that didn't even work so good on them and lot sof them escaped all over and they are takign over and starting to fidn them tryign to get into to my trailer and I have lizards and toads that hand out aroudn that area making beds from the air contitioner water, but these ants are spreadign all acros s the yard and nothign seems to stop them. They are even raiding the hummer feeder and scaring the hummers now.

Thanks Mobi, I will probably get to Lowes today, and I'll be sure to wear a mask when I apply.
starlight, those ants are a pain you know where!

For the ants I just sprinkled it on the paths that they use and then where I saw that they had their nests. They walk through it and take it back to their nests to infect the others. It's best if you can get some on the ants. You can also sprinkle it around the perimeter of your home and they won't cross it.

Remember, when you go to Lowes, look for it where they keep the organic stuff. Because they don't keep it with the regular pesticides. I think the brand is called Safer Garden.

You DO NOT want the stuff used for swimming pools.

I went of f to Lowe's to se e about gettign some of the d. earth. You can us e it on your yards the brand that they carry, but it cannot be gotten on humans or DOGS.

I can use the d. earth for around the trailer where the carpenter ants are , but for the area wher e my dog is with last couple of fleas I got the Garden Safe Lawn and Garden insect Killer. Got the one to hook to the water hose and it treats 5,000 sg feet and peopel and animals can go back on the area as soon as it dries and it kills on contact. This you can us e on fruit s and veggie s to up to 24 hour s before harvest.

Sorry, I thought the lowes stuff was food safe. You can get it online from different sources.

I think we need to get the stuf f on line for the safe for human and animals stuff of d. earth. I needed it for the pain ants, so it wasn't a wasted trip for me.

I let some ants live of the regular little ants cuz they have their place in the ecological system of things, but when ya start inviting yourself inside my house and I find ya crawling in my territory, well then ya just got to go. LOL

I agree with that. I didn't wish to kill the ants but when they start foraging too close the house...

I use orange oil for quick control of adult fleas ,then I use the nematodes to control the flea larvae and also I dust with diatomaceous earth around pet areas and patios. the nematodes require moisture so if it is real dry or you dont water your lawn they wont work. orange oil wont kill frogs or toads unless you drown them in it but they dont like it so i am careful to avoid spraying them my frogs sort of hang out in my flowerbeds so I dont spray these areas. while orange oil is an organic it is still a broad spectrum pesticide (kills the good with the bad)so as with all pesticides be careful also dont spray it in full sunlight as it will burn your lawn I prefer to spray it in the late evening.this is a very effective organic method for flea control. It will be far less toxic to you your family pets and your frogs than any chemical pesticide on the market.

Orange oil is manufactured and it is a chemical and it is a pesticide. It targets all that come in contact with it. Just because something is organic, does not mean it is safe, as Ted said. Some chemicals that are not "organic" target only certain pests, not harming others. This should be taken into consideration, IMHO.

My hubby purchased a product, at Krogers, simply named Organic Dip. It is a citrus and aloe vera product. I applied it to my dog per lable directions, and I swear it is the first product ( out of many) that I have tried, that seems to be helping, The fleas on him are dead and gone, and he has not scratched for the first time in about three weeks! Now if I can get him to go out side!!

I went out this morning gave my baby, well he not so much a baby anymore he 15 with the Adams shampoo. Best stuf f I found. My othe r baby of 18 years passe d away here ( stil greavign over him) just not to long ago and he was allergic to everything. ya take him outsid e and he would itch himself to death. it not so much the gras s as it is the tiny thrips ya can't see , especially if ya have flowers , that hid ein the gras s and they not only eat the flowers but bite people and dogs.

Then I used that Garden Safe Lawn and Garden stuf f I just bought at Lowe's. Was about ten bucks and it hooks to the hos e which is great. Spraye d the dogs area and under his hiding place and waited for it to dry. The stuf f works. No fleas jumping up and it safe for humans and pets as long as ya wait for it to dry.

Now that I got the initial live one s dead then wil get some d. earth. to sprinkle. I'm in the middle of a major bad drought and with it 114F hitting today not safe to us e that oil Tednuget ya mentione d but will remember that for if I have a problem again when it not so hot. No more walks down aroud the neighborhood wood s that for sure!!!!!!!!!! I got plenty of groudn here, he just gonna have to be happy with that.