Cutting and clearing the edge
Quoted after inspectionMow low, pull the weeds along the fence, and thin the underbrush where the lawn meets trees. Larvae depend on humid shade at ground level, so opening that band to sun and airflow removes what they need. On many Charlotte lots this single step ends the bites without any product at all.
A day of work, repeated through the seasonBest: Lots where the problem strip is yours to cut
Targeted band application
Quoted after inspectionA labeled pyrethroid put down only along the strip holding larvae, typically the first several feet of the tree line or fence base. Ask what product is being used, what its label allows around pets and vegetable beds, and how wide the treated band will be. A number in feet is a better answer than a description.
One visit, measured in weeks of effectBest: Wooded borders that cannot be cleared
Permethrin-treated clothing
Quoted after inspectionSocks, shoes, and pant legs treated in advance and dried, plus DEET or picaridin on skin at ankles and waist. This protects you on greenways and job sites and in the neighbor's overgrown lot, none of which you can treat. Apply outdoors, follow the label, and re-treat after the number of washes the product specifies.
Several launderings per treatmentBest: Gardeners, hikers, and anyone working in tall growth
Drying out the shaded low ground
Quoted after inspectionRegrading a wet spot, extending a downspout, or limbing up a low canopy so afternoon light reaches soil. With 44 inches of rain a year falling on Charlotte clay, water sits, and shaded saturated ground is the refuge that carries larvae through the hottest weeks. Fixing it changes the yard permanently.
Permanent once correctedBest: Yards with a corner that never dries out