Any tips for using wood chips as mulch?

[ol'homey]

Anyone have any advice re. using wood chips (mostly pine, maple and oak) as mulch in the flower beds in the yard and around the house? How long do I need to let the freshly cut wood chips age before using? Any problem with attracting termites when used in the beds around the house?

I was told the chips would kill the plants if used too soon?
Any idea why? Thanks, Lee

 

[Elmore]

I strongly recommend avoiding the use of wood chips as mulch near your home or any other buildings that could be affected by termites. Use of such material will only serve as an invitation to these costly pests. Termites feed on materials that contain cellulose, primarily dead wood and wood by-products. Avoid use of wood mulch next to the foundation. A better material would be pine straw or pine bark. If using bark be careful as many commercially available bark supplies tend to have a lot of wood in them. I would limit use of wood chips to areas far from any wooden buildings or structures.