Mulch: Will wood chips attract termites?

[NebClimber]

Will wood chips attract termites? The literature says maybe yes and maybe no. Often the client wants to keep the wood chips to put around landscape, then they have second thoughts b/c fear of termites.

Also, is there a simple treatment I could apply to the wood chips once installed to repel termites?

Steven

 

[Stumper]

I think we can analyze this to death to come up with results we like. Wood is what termites eat-it will attract them. Termites hate light so no risk from surface chips. Termites build earthen tunnels to shield themselves from light and exposure-so they may move in. If termites build tunnels in the wood chips it will be observable so you can be warned treat your home for termites. If the chips weren't there they would just eat your house framing sight unseen and cost you a fortune............At some point I'd suggest we just shut up and mulch. :angel:

 

[Ekka]

Oh and don't forget that termites prefer moisture. and underneath that mulch is now more moist ... so a sort of invitation.

But they're an insect doing their job, forget the garden and get a barrier or treatment done around the house.

I remember once we mulched this guys yard and a few weeks later he rang abusing us that we infested his gardens with termites.

Where ever we pulled the mulch away and dug to put plants in there were heaps of termites.

Called in a specialist and he said that they would've been there in the beginning but the mulch eliminated light and gave moisture so they've come up closer to the surface for a feast, that's where all the "food" was.

Also he said that at night termites fly.

so protect the house forget the garden.

 

[Elmore]

Yes...

best distributed away from desireable wooden structures.

 

[che]

I will get termites in my PILES of chips, but not often in the couple inches I lay out. I don't heap 'em on, so maybe that helps. With that said, I would never use wood chips as a mulch against the house or any wooden structure.

They seem to LOVE old railroad ties....creosote and all.