Landscaping adds beauty and value to your Beaverton home. Also, it can be a factor when trying to control termites. How you design and maintain your yard can either invite termites closer or help keep them away. Beaverton’s mild, damp climate gives these pests many opportunities to thrive, so your landscaping decisions are important. Every choice you make has an impact on termite activity around your property. That is why you should consult a Saela Pest Control technician about your landscaping choices to keep termites out.
The Connection Between Landscaping and Termites
Termites love moisture, wood, and shelter. Landscaping often provides these. Termites get the protection and food they need from mulch beds, wood fences, thick vegetation, and damp soil. The soil around your yard acts like a highway for subterranean termites. These termites use this soil to move safely between their underground colonies and above-ground food sources. Landscaping that creates shade, traps moisture, or provides wooden contact with soil makes the perfect setup for termite activity.
Is Mulch a Friend or Foe?
Mulch keeps soil moist, improves garden health, and gives your yard a polished look. But it also attracts termites. Wood-based mulch retains moisture and provides cellulose, which is the main food source for termites. Termites don’t feed heavily on mulch itself, but they use it as a cover to move unseen toward your foundation. You can reduce the risk by using non-wood options such as rubber, gravel, or pine needles. Also, keep mulch at least six inches away from the foundation. Maintain a thin layer to avoid trapping moisture. Lastly, inspect mulch beds regularly for mud tubes or soft spots in the soil.
Wood Features and Fences
Wood adds warmth and charm to any yard, but it also invites termites when not handled properly. Termites can take advantage of fences, decks, planters, and edging made from untreated wood for their food and nesting activity. When these structures touch soil, termites can move directly into them and eventually reach your home. To make wood features safer:
- Use pressure-treated or naturally resistant wood such as cedar, redwood, or cypress.
- Avoid direct wood-to-soil contact by installing a barrier or foundation between them.
- Check fences, sheds, and decks for soft or hollow spots that may indicate termite activity.
- Replace damaged boards quickly before the infestation spreads.
The Role of Moisture in Your Yard
Beaverton’s climate already provides plenty of dampness, so any excess moisture around your home adds to the risk. Termites rely on water to survive, and gravitate toward areas where the soil stays wet. Drainage is an important factor. If rainwater pools near the foundation or under garden beds, it keeps the soil damp enough for termites to thrive. To reduce this risk, ensure gutters and downspouts direct water away from the house. Also, avoid overwatering lawns or gardens and grade the soil so water flows away from the foundation. Fix leaky spigots and irrigation systems.
Plants That Attract or Repel Termites
Termites favor dense, moisture-retaining vegetation because it shields them from predators and sunlight. They can get the shade they need to build tunnels from bushes and shrubs growing close to your home.
Plants to avoid placing too close to the house include thick hedges, ivy, and ground cover plants that grow in mats. Keep at least a foot of space between your plants and the foundation to allow airflow and sunlight. Also, certain plants can help repel termites. These include mint, lemongrass, and rosemary. Marigolds and vetiver grass are also known for their insect-repelling properties.
Proper Spacing and Airflow
Dense landscaping traps moisture and shades the soil, creating a damp environment that termites love. Good spacing between plants helps sunlight reach the ground and keeps it drier.
Trim overgrown bushes and prune lower tree branches. Also, remove vines that touch your siding. Air circulation keeps your soil less humid. It also helps other pests, like ants and spiders, stay under control.
