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If I put Borax (to kill fleas) in my yard will it harm beneficial insects?
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I wouldn't think Borax would be a first choice for outdoor usage, since it's a strong absorbent, but would probably work well if you aren't expecting rain or plan to water for a few days. Boron is a trace element beneficial to many plants & used by gardeners. You may want to call a local nursery & ask a specialist how this will work outdoors. The reason Borax kills fleas is because it literally pulls fluid from the flea & dehydrates it to death. This simple inexpensive, household chemical is deadly to all insects. It has been shown to attack their nervous systems, as well as being a drying agent to their bodies. I've used this very successfully indoors. Just sprinkle on carpet & furniture. If you have pets you need to be aware that Borax is mildly toxic & can affect some pets more severely than others. Cats are especially prone to adverse reactions, since they can pick up the Borax in their fur & ingest it when cleaning their fur. It's recommended to leave the Borax down for 3-4 hours & keep pets away until you can vacuum.
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I would foresee the problem as having such a large amount of the chemical in your yard. I would assume that with any animals in the area would be affected. I would suggest that you call the questions and comments number on the back of the box. I don't have any off hand so you'll have to look on your own.
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I understand what you're saying. Like I said, it wouldn't be my choice for outdoor treatment, but it is an element utilized by gardeners. That is why I feel it might be a better idea to get advise from specialist at a local nursery & make a decision based on issues specifically related to an individual yard & region. I can tell you that calling Dial Corporation (the maker of Borax) is a dead-end. I called them to ask about ratios to make carpet freshener. I was told that even though they're aware of people using Borax to kill fleas, they were not willing to give out information or make any claims for that usage. I think that's what you'd call being 'lawyered up!' I've sold candles for 7 years & include a carpet freshener in my line. It's made with Borax, baking soda & fragrance. I use this in my own home. I have 2 cats & 1 dog & have never had any toxic issues. I only mention the possibility of pet toxicity as a possible precaution to be aware of when choosing this application.