Cockroach Control in Hastings, FL

Updated September 2026

Cockroach Control in Hastings

Hastings is a small farming community in western St. Johns County, about 18 miles southwest of St. Augustine near the St. Johns River. Founded in the 1890s by Thomas Hastings, a cousin of Henry Flagler, it became known as the "Potato Capital of Florida," and potatoes, cabbage and sod still cover the flat fields around town. Hastings dissolved its town government in 2018, but it keeps its small downtown, older homes and farm-country character.

The land around Hastings is flat, low and crossed by drainage ditches, with the St. Johns River and Deep Creek to the west. Humid summers and occasional winter freezes shape roach activity. Palmetto bugs, smokybrowns and woods roaches are the most common calls, with German cockroaches in older rentals and where they have been carried in.

The Cockroaches Hastings Residents Report Most

Notes by Type of Property

The Potato Capital

For more than a century, Hastings has grown potatoes and cabbage for markets up the East Coast. Packing sheds, equipment barns and stored produce create food and shelter for palmetto bugs. During harvest, when fields are dug and sheds are busy, roaches can move toward nearby homes. Keeping a mowed, clear strip around the house and sealing doors help.

Drainage Ditches and Flat Fields

The fields around Hastings are drained by a network of ditches and canals that carry water toward the St. Johns. After heavy rain, rising water in ditches pushes roaches up onto slabs, porches and into crawlspaces. Good drainage around the house and sealed foundations make a big difference.

• Standing water near the foundation
• Damp crawlspaces
• Gaps where pipes enter
• Wood touching soil

A Flagler-Era Town

Hastings grew alongside Flagler's railroad in the 1890s, and some homes and buildings downtown date from the early 1900s. Older wood-frame homes with crawlspaces give roaches routes in; screening vents and sealing floor gaps help.

Near the St. Johns River

The St. Johns River and its creeks lie west of town. Low ground near the river holds water after storms, raising humidity and outdoor roach activity. Keeping crawlspaces dry and sealing doors help.

After Hurricanes

Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017 flooded low areas around Hastings and the St. Johns. Wet ground and debris push roaches toward homes; clearing debris and drying crawlspaces help.

A Year of Cockroach Activity in Hastings

Everyday Factors in Hastings

A Potato-Farming Heritage

Properties bordering the area's farm fields see more outdoor-species activity near irrigated ground and field edges.

A Small, Spread-Out Town

Hastings is a small farming community, so confirming your road helps route the right technician.

A Historic Downtown Core

Older downtown buildings carry more aging-structure entry-point considerations than the newer farmhouses found nearby.

Farmworker Housing

Seasonal farmworkers live in rentals and shared housing during harvest. Shared kitchens and frequent turnover make German cockroaches more likely; regular checks and coordinated treatment help.

Sod and Irrigation

Sod farms and irrigated fields keep the ground damp. Irrigation equipment and pump stations shelter palmetto bugs; homes near them benefit from sealed foundations.

Winter Freezes

Hastings gets freezes most winters, and farmers watch closely for frost on young crops. Outdoor roaches move into crawlspaces and walls on cold nights; sealing gaps in fall helps.

Manufactured Homes

Manufactured homes are common in the area. Skirting gaps and damp ground underneath shelter roaches; repairing skirting and sealing openings help.

Wells and Septic

Many homes use wells and septic systems. Pump houses stay damp; checking them for leaks helps.

Close to St. Augustine

Residents shop and work in St. Augustine and Palatka. Boxes and groceries can carry German cockroaches; unpacking in the garage helps.

Barns and Equipment Sheds

Tractors, tools and stored supplies fill farm buildings. Storing items off the floor and keeping sheds clean help.

Oaks and Smokybrowns

Big oaks shade many homes in town. Smokybrowns live in the canopy; trimming limbs and screening vents help.

Firewood and Woodpiles

Woodpiles near the house shelter woods roaches; store firewood off the ground and away from walls.

The Potato Festival

The Hastings area has long celebrated its harvest with community events. Outdoor food events benefit from prompt cleanup and sealed trash.

Prevention Steps That Fit Hastings

• Keep a mowed, clear strip around the house.
• Improve drainage near the foundation.
• Screen crawlspace vents.
• Store produce and feed sealed.
• Repair manufactured home skirting.
• Check pump houses for leaks.
• Seal gaps before winter.

Which Roach Is It?

Reasonable First Steps

Check under sinks and behind appliances after dark, look in garages, sheds and utility areas, note what you see and where, and take a photo with a coin for scale. That tells a specialist whether you're dealing with an indoor German cockroach problem or outdoor species wandering in.

What to Expect When You Call

Tell us your neighborhood or road, what type of home you have and where you've been seeing roaches. We'll connect you with an independent specialist who covers St. Johns County, and pricing is discussed directly before any work begins.

Deep Creek and the Western Marshes

West of town, Deep Creek and marshes along the St. Johns River create a wide band of wet ground. These wetlands shelter large numbers of palmetto bugs, which move toward farm buildings and homes at night, especially when water levels rise. Homes on this side of town benefit most from sealed doors, screened vents and yellow outdoor lights.

Pets, Feed and Livestock

Farm dogs, chickens and livestock feed are common around Hastings. Feed left in open bags and pet bowls left outside overnight attract palmetto bugs. Storing feed in sealed bins and picking up bowls help.

Churches and Community Halls

Hastings' churches and community halls host meals, harvest events and gatherings. Kitchens used only occasionally benefit from periodic checks, sealed food storage and prompt cleanup, which keeps German cockroaches from settling in between events.

Start here

Which One Did You See?

Small and indoors: German cockroach

• About half an inch, tan to light brown
• Found in kitchens and bathrooms

Large and mostly outdoors: palmetto bug

• 1 to 1.5 inches, reddish-brown
• Also called the American cockroach

Full identification guide →

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