The first step in prevention with insects is always the same – CLEANLINESS! When cockroaches (and other pests) enter your home it’s because something is attractive to them.
It may be shelter, food or something else. Clutter that sits around the house is a great place for pests to hide, and leaving food around the house, even if it’s just crumbs in the carpet or on the counters is very enticing to cockroaches. If you take away the attraction, they are less likely to enter a home or building.
The next step you can take is to seal off any holes or cracks on the exterior of the house. Replace any screens with holes, and use caulk to seal off cracks around windows and baseboards, etc. Also, trim trees or plants that are right up against a building because they function as bridges for pests to enter your home. Refrain from planting anything closer than a foot away from buildings, especially trees. Pine straw and mulch that are right up against a building need to be moved away from the building because it serves as a great habitat for cockroaches.
Cockroaches may also be brought into the house with materials coming from an existing infestation (plants, etc.). This is probably the most common means of entry in northern states where most pest species of cockroaches are usually not regularly found outdoors.
