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Everything You Need To Know About Termites In Your Mulch

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Oakford Firewood
Everything You Need To Know About Termites In Your Mulch

Before using cheap mulch Perth, you should inspect your mulch to ensure it doesn’t contain termites. Termites are destructive insects that live underground in colonies. If termites are left unchecked, they can cause damage to homes, garden structures and buildings.

 

It is common to have termites in mulch. The only way you can get rid of them is to remove the source of the food they eat. They eat woody mulch so it is safe to say that mulch is a huge attraction to termites. Above-ground and subterranean are the two types of insect or termite infestation.

 

Subterranean termites make their nests under the soil and feed on plant roots. This can cause your plants to die. On the other hand, above-ground termites build moulds, which look like hills. These types of termites can cause severe structural damage. When left unchecked, termites can build their entire colonies in your mulched garden. Landscaped areas and your garden can pose a serious threat to your housing structures when they get overrun by termites.

 

Why do termites live in mulch?

Termites will live in mulch and build their homes because the mulch is a source of their food. Most organic mulch is made from wood and this is made up of cellulose and lignin. When termites eat cellulose and lignin, it is converted into food or sugars. Mulch retains heat and can provide ideal temperatures for termites to thrive and that is why you should ask your mulch supplier to ensure they supply mulch that is not infested by termites and other harmful insects.

 

How do termites find their way into your mulch?

Since termites are subterranean creatures, they can live in the soil for their whole life and can find their way into mulch if there is no barrier preventing them from getting into your mulch. Termites will often make nests in areas where they are safe. They will also move into these safe areas where the temperatures are below 55F. Termites are cold-blooded and temperature influences their activity. They will not forage in places where the upper soil temperatures are too cold or too hot for them.

 

Is it common for termites to infest mulches?

Depending on the type of mulch you are using, termites can find a good home in mulch. They are attracted to the lignin present in the wood. Lignin can be broken down when eaten by termites. This means that wood chips including pine, bark, hardwood, and redwood, if not treated properly, can be an inviting home for termites.

 

Preventing termites

It is better and easier to prevent termites than curing your already-infested mulch. You should place some form of barrier on the soil before applying mulch. This will prevent the movement of termites from the soil to your mulch when the soil temperatures are not favourable to them. There are different termite barriers on the market you can invest in before installing your cheap mulch perth. Some people use insecticides but this is not recommended especially if you are doing eco-friendly farming.

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