If you’ve spotted one termite, chances are that droves of them can be found within close proximity. These social insects form colonies with hundreds to even millions of individuals. Cryptic and soft-bodied, they maintain a largely hidden lifestyle as they scuttle about their mazes of tunnels. They collectively operate to form a self-governing and functional mass of insects, so their colonies may be referred to as “superorganisms”.
Members of the order Isoptera, termites are found in practically every landmass with soil, wood, and decaying plant matter. They especially favor conditions in tropical areas, where they serve as ecosystem engineers all throughout the year. These white ants form caste systems, made of “workers” and “soldiers”, to forage for food, maintain their hive, and protect their queen. As they go about their daily tasks, these detritivores may cause significant damage to homes and gardens.
When left to their own devices, large colonies may topple over entire trees and hollow out wooden structures. As they are rarely spotted out in the open, their presence often surprises unsuspecting homeowners. This is why it’s necessary to actively protect your property from termite damage, even before detecting their presence, in areas where they are most likely to be found.
Conditions That Attract Termites
Active gardeners are often worried about creating spaces that inadvertently attract termites and other pests. Constantly tilling the soil and watering one’s plants creates conditions that may attract these troublesome insects. Though they are vital to the ecological workings of their native habitats, particularly woodlands, they are definitely not welcome in landscapes surrounding human dwellings.
Subterranean termites thrive best in moist and humid substrates. In fact, some species struggle to survive in the absence of ample moisture, especially as they require dampened or water-damaged wood as a chief source of nutrients. There are termites in drywood habitats as well, but their colonies will still require a little bit of moisture to proliferate. Thus, moisture in either wood or soil is often the key culprit behind termite tunnels extending into your garden or home.
Moisture surrounding a building’s foundations may seep into wooden structures, creating a suitable home for termites. This may come from leaks in the roof and gutter, from overwatered border plants, or from pooled rainwater. Preventing the accumulation of moisture in wood would help minimize the occurrence of termite-caused damage.
The Termite Diet
Termites crave for practically any type of material containing cellulose – the molecule responsible for enhancing the sturdiness of plant cell walls. Though this is found in all plants, those producing increasingly woody stems and trunks have the highest concentrations. Thus, entire colonies of termites can stealthily persist on the heartwood of large trees without being detected – that is, up until the tree falls or breaks in half.
Plant byproducts, paper products, and cotton-based fibers also contain considerable amounts of cellulose. Termites have special enzymes and gut microbes for breaking these down and digesting essential nutrients. They’ll continue feeding through a substrate until they have wiped out all of its cellulose-rich fibers. As a result, an initial feeding frenzy may eventually turn into the destruction of entire gardens, homes, and unprotected buildings.
Depending on their moisture preferences, termites may be classified as dampwood or drywood species. Regardless of type, their desire for wood and its byproducts is a prevailing aspect of their spread and survival. This means that even plywood, paper-coated drywall, softwood or hardwood planks, carpets, cardboard, and even the feces of wood-eating animals may be targeted.
How Do Termites Find Their Food?
To fully comprehend how certain landscaping tricks may prevent termite infestations, it’s helpful to look into how these blind insects determine where they settle and search for wood. Strategically, termite colonies situate their nests close to sources of moisture; following damp trails often leads them to organic matter. The presence of nutrients, which are often derived from decaying plants and microbes, hints at the presence of cellulose-rich stands of shrubs, trees, or wooden structures.
Found both above the soil and in subterranean locations, cellulose is generally abundant in forested areas, well-planted gardens, and urbanized zones with traditional buildings. Termites will continue to tunnel until they find a substantial source of cellulose. Once a few worker insects come into contact with wood, they leave chemical trails to recruit other members of their colonies.
The scent of fungi, which tends to accumulate in moist areas, may also serve as a signal to termites. They may tunnel towards colonies of these microorganisms, which likewise attack wood and break down their cellulose-rich components.
Landscaping Considerations to Prevent Termite Infestations
Nowadays, homeowners in termite-rich locations protect their homes using termite-repellent chemicals (usually with the aid of professional pest control companies). They may also build structures with treated wood or with types of wood that are unpalatable to many insects (e.g. teak, bamboo, cedar heartwood, etc.). Nonetheless, it would be prudent to utilize landscaping design methods that would help deter termites from coming too close. Below are some useful tips for preventing infestations.
1) Flower beds and border plants should not cover the sides and base of your home’s foundations
Termite tubes can often go unnoticed in areas where border plants grow tall enough to make foundation inspections difficult. Mud tubes, which are a telltale sign of termite infestations, can easily blend into planted exteriors. By keeping flower beds away from your home’s foundations, you should be able to easily inspect the area and prevent any plants from having to be uprooted in case additional treatment is needed.
2) Prune border shrubs to prevent vent blockage
Foundation vents should be left clear of dense shrubs and moist soils. If shrubs grow tall enough to cover the openings of these vents, they can block airflow and compromise ventilation control. Proper ventilation is crucial for minimizing the accumulation of moisture, which is likely to cause mold growth, attract termites, and hasten the decay of your home’s wooden components.
3) Avoid storing firewood or any other cellulose-rich materials against the walls of buildings
Lumber, newspapers, cardboard, empty boxes, and stacked firewood can block your home’s walls and foundations and hide areas where moisture may collect. Moreover, they are all attractive to hungry termites. When stacked or clumped against walls, they may create gaps where colonies may stealthily encroach upon your home’s foundations and escape zones of substrate that have previously been treated with termiticide. As much as possible, these materials should be kept several feet away from your home.
4) Do not cultivate vegetable gardens next to your home’s perimeter
Vegetable patches are notorious for requiring lots of water. Depending on the type of substrate used, these may accumulate moisture and contain high concentrations of organic matter – both of which attract termite colonies. Vegetables should ideally be planted in dedicated parts of the garden, where they can be freely irrigated without the risks that come with moisture accumulation.
5) Avoid planting trees that termites love
Termites favor certain types of wood above others. They are especially drawn to palm trees, paperbark trees, conifers, and fruit trees. Species that are prone to rot in damp areas also tend to attract them as these may quickly decay after extended rains. Dead branches are usually nutritious enough to lure colonies, even if they are separated from their mother trees. These should be removed from areas close to the foundations of your home.
6) Use termite-resistant mulch
Mulch is often used to aid in the retention of moisture and suppression of weed growth, especially during considerably dry or cool periods of the year. The improper usage of mulch can easily lead to termite infestations. It isn’t the nutritional quality of the mulch itself that these insects find appealing (note that mulch may be nutrient-poor). Instead, they are after its moisture-retentive qualities.
Whenever possible, aim to use mulch sparingly and make sure it is distanced from the perimeter of your home. You may also use pebbles, gravel, or a pre-mixed and store-bought termite-resistant mulch around your more delicate ornamentals.
7) Ensure that there are no leaks in your irrigation system
Irrigation systems around buildings commonly attract termite colonies over time, especially as they are prone to eventually having leaks. Moreover, if these are improperly designed, they may lead to the formation of puddles. Right after installing a system, visually inspect the substrates around the foundation to ensure that they do not become waterlogged. Moreover, regularly check the pipes, outlets, and valves for leaks or damage.
8) Do not overwater your garden
Overwatering one’s garden may definitely lead to termite infestations, not to mention plant rot. Decaying roots in moisture-rich soils can act like subterranean beacons to termite colonies, aiding in their search for gardens and homes with ample food sources. To prevent overwatering, look into the needs of your plants and regularly inspect your topsoil for moisture saturation. Paying attention to weather predictions can go a long way too!
9) Prevent moisture from accumulating around the home
At the end of the day, preventing water from seeping into adjacent substrates is a key measure for infestation control around buildings. The use of functional gutters, markedly extended eaves, downspouts, and splash blocks should keep water from running down your walls and pooling into the foundations. Deliberately elevating the foundations of a structure, especially if it is found on the base of a hill, should also help. Here are some final tips for thwarting those pesky colonies:
- The soil should slope away from the base of structures.
- Do not build in depressions where water often accumulates.
- Consider adding downspout extenders to divert water away from the building’s foundations.
- Manage leaks from air-conditioning units, pipes, and outdoor taps.
- Ensure that there is enough ventilation below elevated floors.
- Do not allow fallen leaves and detritus to form piles around wooden structures.
