As the colder months roll in, everyone seems to be looking for a warm, cosy place to hunker down—including pests. While humans turn up the thermostat and pull out the blankets, rodents, insects, and other critters have their eyes set on a different kind of refuge: your shed (but inside your home, too, of course). It’s easy to forget about the shed once summer’s over, but these little invaders certainly won’t.
Actually, if you’re looking to make your garden winter-ready, then you’re also going to want to think about this as well. So, before you know it, that seemingly quiet storage space can turn into a pest playground, and by the time it’s noticed, the damage is already done.
Since sheds are prime real estate for pests in the winter, you do need to do what you can to prevent them. So, with that all said, here’s how to keep them out before they make themselves at home.
Seal Up Any Cracks and Gaps
It’s surprising how small a gap a mouse or insect needs to get inside. However, sheds, especially older ones, can develop tiny cracks or gaps over time, such as around the doors, windows, or even where the walls meet the shed floor. While these openings might not seem like a big deal, they’re essentially wide-open doors for pests looking for a winter hideout. So, that’s why you need to seal up cracks and gaps within your house, and the same can be said within your shed as well.
Keep It Clean and Tidy
You really have to keep in mind that pests aren’t just looking for warmth in the winter; they’re also on the hunt for food and nesting materials. Sheds that are cluttered, full of old cardboard boxes or bags of seeds, are an open invitation. Actually, rodents, in particular, love soft, dry materials to build their nests, and those old, forgotten boxes or gardening gloves provide just that.
So, as simple as it is, all you really need to do is just make sure you’re cleaning up and don’t leave anything out that could mould or be used for eating or even as a breeding ground.
Protect the Shed from the Ground Up
Believe it or not, but one of the sneakiest ways pests enter sheds is from underneath. You have to keep in mind that gaps between the ground and the base of the shed are perfect access points, especially for rodents. If the base of the shed is sitting directly on the ground, it’s almost impossible to stop pests from burrowing underneath and getting inside.
This is why a good shed base is super important for keeping pests out. It really does help to have an elevated foundation, since this alone can massively help in preventing pests from sneaking in from underneath.
Limit the Shelter
As much as pests love warmth, they also love dark, and those undisturbed spaces where they can hide out will usually go unnoticed. So, sheds naturally provide that kind of environment, so the goal is to minimise as many hiding spots as possible.
Overgrown bushes or piles of debris near the shed create perfect shelters for pests to nest before making their way inside. So it’s going to help to regularly rake and to trim back bushes. Also, never leave piles of dead plants in your garden, always put them in a compost bin that’s preferably away from your shed.
As winter approaches, proactive pest inspections are crucial for keeping your shed safe from unwanted critters. While DIY efforts can help, hiring a professional pest control service ensures a thorough assessment and effective treatment of any vulnerabilities. This investment protects your tools and equipment, giving you peace of mind during the colder months.
Featured Image Courtesy of Unspalsh
