Yard Guard
Professional control for ticks, fleas and mosquitoes
Yard Guard:
Outdoor Lawn Protection
From fleas, ticks & mosquitoes
We target fleas, ticks & mosquitoes at every stage of their life cycle for maximum control and long-term relief. Upon arrival, our technicians will:
- Identify and treat mosquito breeding areas with larvicides
- Recommend changes to reduce standing water and moisture retention
We Get Rid Of Ticks, Fleas, And Mosquitoes
In Your Yard
Our Yard Guard Program is designed to prevent mosquito, flea, and tick infestations before they start—and eliminate existing ones quickly.
Step 1: Source Reduction
The first step is focused on prevention by inspecting your property for common pest breeding grounds, including standing water in buckets, flowerpots, clogged gutters, birdbaths, damp mulch, leaf litter, and overgrown vegetation. These are prime spots where mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks thrive. To disrupt the pest life cycle, we apply EPA-approved larvicides, effectively targeting pests before they hatch and reducing future populations.
Step 2: Population Reduction
Next, we eliminate active infestations using professional-grade power mist blowers. These powerful treatments penetrate dense shrubbery, tall grass, tree lines, shaded and humid areas, and high-traffic spots like decks and patios—anywhere adult pests like to hide. This application kills adult mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks on contact, while leaving behind a protective barrier to deter reinfestation.
Our Yard Guard Program includes seven monthly treatments from April through October, with each service offering about 30 days of protection for your DMV property.
Tick Control
In the DMV area
Ticks are tiny parasites that can transmit serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis, often without you even realizing you've been bitten. Due to their small size and stealthy behavior, ticks are often easily overlooked until health symptoms appear.
PestNow's Yard Guard Program directly targets ticks by applying EPA-approved larvicides to areas where ticks are likely to breed. Our local experts also use professional-grade mist blowers, and we apply targeted treatments deep into tick-prone zones, including dense vegetation and shaded areas.
This method knocks down adult ticks on contact while creating a long-lasting barrier to prevent reinfestation.
Flea Control
Get rid of fleas
Fleas are fast-breeding parasites that can quickly turn your yard—and even your home—into an uncomfortable, infested environment. Known for causing relentless itching, skin irritation, and allergic reactions in both pets and people, fleas are more than just a nuisance. They can also transmit diseases such as tapeworms and flea-borne typhus. What many people don't realize is that you don't have to own pets to experience a flea problem. Wildlife like raccoons, opossums, and rodents often carry fleas and can introduce them into your outdoor spaces.
Fleas thrive in shaded, humid environments and are commonly found in tall grass, overgrown vegetation, leaf litter, and mulch beds. They also hide under decks, porches, and in cool corners of the yard where they're protected from direct sunlight.
PestNow's Yard Guard Program targets the areas where fleas are most likely to thrive, disrupting their life cycle with monthly treatments for effective, long-term control.
Mosquito Control
Mosquito reduction specialists
Mosquitoes are the most dangerous pests in the world! Their bites cause red, itchy welts that can make time outdoors miserable for families and pets. But the real concern is their ability to transmit serious diseases. In the U.S., mosquitoes are known carriers of West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Zika virus, and dengue fever. Infected mosquitoes transmit these illnesses through a single bite, posing serious health risks, especially to children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.
Beyond the health dangers, mosquito infestations can make it nearly impossible to enjoy your yard. These pests are most active during dawn and dusk, but they can remain in shaded, humid areas throughout the day, especially near standing water or overgrown vegetation. Female mosquitoes need blood to lay eggs, so they're constantly seeking hosts. Without effective mosquito control, populations can quickly get out of hand, especially during the warmer months.
Tick, Flea and Mosquito Questions
Take back your outdoors with these commonly asked questions.
What diseases can fleas transmit to humans and pets?
Fleas can transmit diseases such as typhus, bartonellosis (cat scratch fever), and, in some regions, the plague. They can also cause allergic reactions and skin irritations in pets and humans.
How can I prevent flea infestations in my home and on my pets?
Regularly vacuuming carpets and furniture, washing pet bedding, and using flea-prevention products on pets can help prevent flea infestations. Additionally, treating outdoor areas with professional flea control can reduce populations in your yard.
What are the health risks associated with tick bites?
Tick bites can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, including fever, rash, joint pain, and fatigue.
Where are ticks commonly found, and how can I protect myself from tick bites?
Ticks are often found in wooded and grassy areas and in shrubs and leaf litter. To protect yourself from tick bites, wear long sleeves and pants, use insect repellents containing DEET or permethrin, and perform tick checks after outdoor activities.
What diseases can mosquitoes transmit, and how can I protect myself from mosquito bites?
Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as West Nile, Zika, dengue, and malaria. To protect yourself from mosquito bites, use insect repellents, wear long sleeves and pants, and eliminate standing water around your home where mosquitoes breed. PestNow's Yard Guard service also protects against mosquitoes.
How can I reduce mosquito breeding sites around my home?
Eliminate standing water in containers, bird baths, gutters, and other areas where mosquitoes can breed and keep grass and vegetation trimmed.
What are the most effective methods for controlling fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes in my yard?
Effective yard control measures include our Yard Guard services, keeping grass and vegetation trimmed, and removing leaf litter and debris.
How often should I check my pets and family members for fleas, ticks, and mosquito bites, especially during peak seasons?
We suggest checking pets and family members for fleas, ticks, and mosquito bites regularly, especially after spending time outdoors or in areas where these pests are prevalent. More frequent checks may be necessary during peak seasons, such as spring and summer.
Homeowner Tips
Here are a few tips on what you can do to keep ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes away.
Keep Grass Mowed
Taller grass provides fleas with shade and moisture, which is ideal for breeding, while shorter grass reduces their habitat. Additionally, shorter grass allows more sunlight to reach the ground, helping to dry out the soil and kill flea eggs and larvae.
Keep grass properly mowed and the landscape clean of debris.
Place Wood Away From Home
Ticks require blood meals from hosts to complete their life cycle. Wood piles near your home can provide convenient access to hosts such as rodents, deer, or other wildlife carrying ticks.
We recommend moving wood piles at least 20 feet away from your home. This reduces the attractiveness of your property to these hosts, consequently lowering the risk of tick presence.
Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes only need about half an inch of water to breed, so we recommend eliminating areas of standing water, including flower pots and planters, baby pools, birdbaths, and pet water bowls. This minimizes their breeding grounds.
Check Your Pets
Checking your pets for ticks and fleas is a simple yet crucial preventive measure to safeguard their health and prevent infestations. Doing so also protects your pet and your family from pesky flea bites and tick-borne diseases. Incorporate regular flea and tick checks into your pet care routine, especially after outdoor activities.
Wear Light Colored Clothing
If you're out in the yard, wear light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes are less attracted to light clothing. Although the light colors don't detour ticks, they're more easily spotted if they are on you. You can also wear long sleeves, pants, and tall socks when walking in wooded or grassy areas, as this provides one more barrier between your body and leads, ticks, or mosquitoes.
Remove and Launder Clothes
Upon returning indoors, promptly remove and launder your outdoor clothes. Washing clothes in hot water and drying them on high heat can effectively kill any ticks that may be present.
Most Common and Dangerous Ticks
Deer Ticks
Ixodes Scapularis
Deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks, are tiny blood-sucking parasites found in wooded and grassy areas across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. They are known carriers of Lyme disease and other illnesses, making prompt detection and removal crucial to protect your health.
American Dog Ticks
Dermacentor Variabilis
The American dog tick is a common vector for diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. They typically feed on medium to large mammals like dogs or humans and can remain attached for several days while engorging on blood. Their bites can cause itching, fever, and sometimes tick paralysis.
Lone Star Ticks
Amblyomma Americanum (Linnaeus)