Much like the time, money, and energy you invest in keeping your dwelling maintained, the same rules apply for ensuring that your garden shed remains viable for use for many years to come! Proper maintenance is a necessary evil that ensures your costly investment is one that will provide many years of faithful service in your yard. From repairing to preserving your shed, there’s a yearly maintenance checklist you need to get through in order to ensure the longevity of the building structure and to keep it free of pests.
Though winterizing your shed is just one of the many ways to keep it looking good, there are other year-round projects that are also as important, if not more! Handling larger maintenance tasks on a regular basis eliminates the need for costly repairs, or replacement in the long-term.
How Do You Keep A Shed Free Of Pests?
Much like the inside of your home, your shed is a structure that needs adequate protection against pests. These invaders may usually come in the form of bugs or unwanted rodents in the fall or winter months! Fortunately, there are ways that you can safeguard your outdoor building, and it all starts with the following:
- Eliminate Sources Of Food
Whether your climate is more prone to a bug or a rodent infestation, the first line of defense against pests is making sure to eliminate food sources and nutrients. For those homeowners that store potting soil or pet food outdoors, it’s crucial to ensure that the bags remain properly sealed without damage! If you no longer have the ability to seal the bag properly, place the contents inside of an airtight container for safekeeping!
- Eliminate Any Moisture
According to Abbey Lawn, bugs are especially fond of wet and humid places, which is why moisture is so detrimental to a garden shed. Always give your shed structure a thorough inspection to look for any potential leaks that may need prompt repairs. Another way to prevent water from seeping inside of the shed is by placing metal thresholds as a protective barrier against rain, but also to eliminate bugs from entering beneath the entrance.
- Seal All Potential Entry Points
Most luxurious garden sheds will have doors and windows similar to those found on your home. Unfortunately, garden structures aren’t as well sealed or insulated as homes are, which is why you need to do what you can to eliminate entry points for both bugs and rodents. Use caulk to seal off any gaps found around your windows, walls, beams, and doors. As your flooring is prone to natural aging and damage, make sure to also look for cracks there.
- Keep It Lit!
Both rodents and bugs prefer to reside in unlit dark areas, and that makes unlit sheds especially a dangerous spot! The more light you can let enter your shed, the lesser your chances of making your investment the perfect home for pests. Additionally, make sure you look for any potential hideouts that allow pests to remain undetected. This is often in the form of chopped wood, rags, cardboard boxes or large amounts of clutter that makes nooks and crannies hard to inspect.
- Keep Your Shed’s Perimeter Clean
It’s crucial to also ensure that your shed’s perimeter is free of any tree branches that may work in favor of pests. Bugs can, for example, use branches as a bridge to enter your shed with limited effort on their part. Of course, this also means you should avoid storing anything in piles next to or near your shed such as mulch or wood. Depending on your climate, this setup could furter attract termites!
- Keeping It All Clean
It goes without saying that a clean and clutter-free shed is less likely to become a breeding ground for pests. Sweep and clear out your shed every season to ensure that none of the areas of the structure are offering the perfect hideouts for rodents or insects. A clean shed is the only way to truly protect your investment against unwanted pests! You could even hire a professional cleaning company to make sure it is deep cleaned.
Are Insecticides A Good Idea?
One of the best ways to protect garden sheds against insects is to remain proactive from the start. Instead of waiting for an infestation to occur that requires a professional exterminator, opt to spray the outside of your shed with insecticide.
There are many insecticides out there that are safe for pets and young children while also exterminating insects. The type of insecticide you should use will ultimately depend on the type of material your shed is manufactured from. Always read the warning label when dealing with insecticides, and provide a good barrier of protection against pests by defending your investment!
Garden sheds are the ideal structures for outdoor offices, crafting rooms or storage units. Of course, a solid shed is an investment that doesn’t come cheap, and as such, requires maintenance and upkeep on a regular basis. Use the advice within this article to help eliminate pests in your shed and to keep it all clean!
