How to Stop Cicadas: Simple Steps to Protect Your Garage

This article will guide you through a series of simple, yet effective steps to keep these insects at bay. From how to seal your garage door from bugs, ensuring no unwanted guests make their way in, to employing both natural and chemical deterrents suited to your needs. We'll delve into decluttering for prevention, which helps in keeping bugs out of the garage by eliminating potential hiding spots. Regular check-ups and when to seek professional help will also be covered, providing you with a comprehensive roadmap to cicada prevention. By implementing these strategies, you'll learn how to effectively keep insects and cicadas out of your garage.

The Threat of Cicadas to Garages

Cicadas, while generally harmless to humans, can pose significant threats to your garage and the items stored within. These insects are particularly attracted to the warm, dark environments that garages offer. Once inside, cicadas may burrow into wood or other materials, potentially causing structural damage and compromising the security of the garage.

Moreover, the presence of cicadas can be more than just a physical nuisance. The loud mating calls of these insects can disrupt the peace of your home environment, especially when they emerge in large numbers. The sheer volume of cicadas congregating in a garage can be overwhelming and may lead to further complications.

To safeguard your garage from the potential damages caused by cicadas, it's crucial to take proactive measures. Sealing any cracks or openings, using effective pest control methods, and conducting regular inspections for signs of cicada activity are essential steps. These actions will help maintain the integrity of your garage and ensure it remains a safe, cicada-free zone.

Effective Sealing Techniques

To effectively protect your garage from cicadas, focusing on sealing techniques is crucial. Here are two primary methods to enhance your garage's defenses:

Weather-stripping and Threshold Replacement

Replacing worn or damaged thresholds and weather-stripping around doors and windows is a proven way to seal air leaks, which can also prevent cicadas from entering. Ensure that the weather-stripping provides a tight seal all around the door frames and windows. For best results, choose high-quality materials that withstand environmental wear and tear, ensuring a longer-lasting seal.

Crack and Crevice Sealants

Caulking and sealing cracks and crevices in your garage’s structure are essential steps to block entry points for cicadas. Focus on areas where walls meet the floor or ceiling and around window frames and door jambs. Use a high-grade exterior caulk to fill these gaps, applying it smoothly to prevent future air leaks and pest intrusion. For larger gaps, consider using expanding foam, which provides a durable and airtight seal.

Implementing these sealing techniques will significantly enhance your garage's defenses against cicadas, ensuring it remains a secure space.

Decluttering for Prevention

To effectively deter cicadas and other pests from your garage, it's essential to start with a thorough decluttering. Begin by removing items you no longer need, sorting them into categories for keeping, donating, or discarding. This not only clears the space but also reduces hiding spots for pests.

Importance of Organization

Once the garage is decluttered, focus on optimizing organization. Utilize vertical space for storage by installing shelving along the walls. This keeps the floor clear and items like chemicals and paints out of reach from children and pests. Additionally, consider a pegboard for organizing tools and cleaning equipment, which enhances accessibility and minimizes clutter.

Storage Solutions

For items that must remain in the garage, using rolling racks can be particularly useful, especially if the space doubles as a hobby area. Ensure that all items are stored off the ground to further prevent access by cicadas and other pests. Regularly inspect and maintain these storage solutions to keep the area organized and pest-free.

To effectively manage cicada infestations, combining natural strategies with chemical deterrents can be highly effective. Here are some recommended approaches:

Recommended Products

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide that has proven effective against cicadas. It's advisable to apply this treatment to your yard's ornamentals and trees as a barrier treatment, which not only kills but also repels cicadas.

Application Tips

When using chemical products like Supreme IT, it is crucial to follow the label instructions meticulously to avoid harm to beneficial insects and ensure the safety of pets. Additionally, integrating physical barriers such as fine mesh netting around vulnerable plants can prevent cicadas from laying eggs. Encouraging natural predators, such as birds and bats, by setting up feeders and houses can also help control cicada populations naturally. Minimize outdoor lighting to reduce cicada attraction to your property, considering motion-activated or amber-colored lights as less enticing alternatives for insects.

Regular Check-ups and Professional Help

Regular maintenance and professional assistance are crucial in managing cicada infestations effectively. It's recommended to schedule regular inspections of your property, especially during and after cicada seasons. Professionals can provide thorough assessments and identify potential risks or existing issues that might not be visible to the untrained eye.

Professional Pest Control Services

Engaging with local pest control professionals can be invaluable. These experts are on alert during cicada outbreaks and are equipped with the tools and knowledge to manage these pests efficiently. Services typically include inspections, treatments, and follow-up visits to ensure your property remains cicada-free.

DIY Monitoring

In addition to professional services, consider implementing do-it-yourself monitoring strategies. Placing glue board traps in strategic areas around your garage and property helps track cicada activity. Regularly check these traps and note any increase in cicada numbers, which could indicate a need for further professional intervention.

By combining regular check-ups, professional help, and proactive monitoring, you can maintain a cicada-free environment and protect your property from potential damage.

Stop Cicadas Now

Through the course of this article, we have explored a variety of strategies to combat the challenge cicadas pose to our garages, from effective sealing methods and decluttering approaches to employing both natural and chemical deterrents. These steps are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of our garages and ensuring a peaceful, insect-free environment. Regular maintenance and vigilance form the backbone of an effective cicada management plan.

Ultimately, the quest to keep our garages cicada-free is not just about implementing short-term fixes but embracing a proactive approach that extends throughout the year. Emphasizing prevention through sealing, decluttering, and using deterrents can significantly minimize the impact these insects have on our lives and properties. For those interested in a new garage, remember that help is just a click away; do not hesitate to get a free quote.