How to Bug & Pest Proof Your Shed
As chilly winter weather rounds the corner, your shed starts to look like a haven for all types of pest invaders. Not only can bugs in your shed damage your structure and the items you’re storing, but they can also attack you if provoked.
At Glick Woodworks, we know high-quality sheds. And we’ve replaced enough competitors’ sheds infested with bugs and other pests to know what to do. Learn the most common shed pests, how to handle them, and how to keep bugs out of your shed in the first place.
7 Pest Proof Shed Strategies
You want to keep bugs, rodents, and other animals from calling your storage shed home — here are the 7 places to start:
- Seal Any Cracks in Your Walls — How do bugs, rodents, snakes and other pests invade your garden shed? Through the holes in the flooring and the siding. To take back their open invitation, seal any noticeable cracks in your shed with construction caulk.
- Keep Your Garbage Away from the Shed — Some homeowners like to store their garbage in or against their shed. Bad idea, because this gives pests another reason to attack — a free meal. They’ll show up for the delicious garbage and stay for the accommodations.
- Don’t Hold on to Open Seed Bags — Leaving open seed bags in your shed is an appealing invitation for pests — particularly rodents — who like to snack on seeds. If you need to save some seeds for next year, transfer them to a sealed plastic storage bin.
- Keep the Shed Water Tight — As if mold and water damage weren’t convincing enough, rain leaking into your shed makes it a more complete habitat for those pests you want to repel. Patch any leaks you see in the roof and caulk the walls if you’re seeing leaks. Insects, in particular, are drawn to the moisture, so keep your shed dry and uninhabited.
- Wrap Wire Mesh Around the Shed — If your shed sits a few feet off the ground, you might want to consider wrapping chicken wire around it as another line of defense. Smaller rodents like mice or rats will crawl under your shed and climb up inside. However, groundhogs and skunk like to set up residence under your shed itself.
- Keep the Roof Intact — If you have a cheap big-box store shed, this is easier said than done. Not only do holes in your roof create leaks, but it allows birds to nest comfortably and can even create an ideal place home for wasps and yellow jackets!
- Upgrade to a Well-Built Shed — We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, a well-made shed is your best bet to deter pests of all types, insects, rodents, or anything else. Glick sheds are built sturdy to keep the elements and invaders on the outside. Learn more about picking your new shed.
Most Common Shed Pests and How to Get Rid of Them
Any infestation is bad, but these are the ones you’ll most likely run across — and the best way to send them packing.
Rodents — Rodents like mice and rats are among the most common and most destructive pests to try squatting in your storage shed. They are primarily breaking and entering in search of food and warmth, so the best way to get rid of them is to remove anything they might be eating. If the rodents persist, you’ll likely have to set some traps.
Groundhog and Skunk — These big boys like to take shelter under your storage shed. While neither animal is particularly aggressive both can be intimating to see — especially since an encounter with a skunk will leave you smelling pretty foul. The best way to get rid of these pests is to call animal control, who will trap them and release them in a more appropriate habitat than your backyard.
Insects — As is the case with rodents, plug the holes and stop the leaks and the insect should start to disappear as suddenly as they came. In the meantime, you can kill them with a grocery store spray, just make sure to let your shed ventilate afterward.
Wasp or Hornet Nest — A sight no homeowner likes to see. Suddenly coming face-to-face with a hornet nest is the closest most people will ever come to starring in their own horror movie. Unfortunately, if these flying insects set up shop in your shed, you need to be proactive. While fixing the roof holes is important, you first need to destroy the nest. You can find high-strength spray at your grocery store for this exact purpose.
Design Your Custom Built Shed Today
Has your shed seen better days? Is it closer to a rodent motel than a weather-tight backyard structure? You might need to upgrade. As we’ve said, one of the most effective preventative measures against all of these pests is a well-built shed. At Glick Woodworks, that’s our specialty.
See our wide variety of popular models and start pricing the shed that’s right for your backyard. If you’re ready to order your custom Amish-built shed, contact us today!
