Tony O’Neill , expert nurseryman and well - selling author of the illustrious “ Simplify Vegetable Gardening , ” “ Composting Masterclass , ” and “ Your First Vegetable Garden , ” combines lifelong passion and expert knowledge to simplify gardening . His foreign mission ? Helping you domesticate a palmy garden . More on Tony O’Neill

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lift beds do attract termites and ant and induce an plague . However , enjoin infestation is heavily qualified on several term , such as the Sir Henry Joseph Wood you used , the moisture levels of the bring up layer itself , the universal surface area of your garden , and the placement of the gardening bed .

Termites on rotting log

Many people blame their raise beds for infestation . But the realism is dissimilar . The termites you see in your backyard do not need to be because of the raised beds . You may have other stuff lie around in their backyard attracting the white ant .

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What Attracts Termites?

It is common to raise bed to attract white ant — these pesky insects like being moist and full of plants , such as garden .

Alone a   termite   is powerless , but in large bit they overthrow entire buildings .

Since termite are not there to eat plastic nowadays in the garden , it is either for wooden item , all in leaves(source),which may be the main material of your raise garden seam or water .

rotting tree

Mulch and Wood Chips are favorites of termites.

One of the most obvious attractions is mulch and wood chips .

Mulch is an surplus layer the great unwashed commonly apply to husband wet and increase land fertility .

It is mostly constitutional and made of hay , roots , and other things that can attract termites . Wood chips are also used as constitutive mulch used as biomass to enhance flesh production . It can also draw these insects to your garden .

holes created by termites in log

Dead Branches and Old Roots attract termites.

Something more attractive than mulch is dead branches and old roots . These are perceived as one of the secure place to build a nest by termites .

As the plant grow old , they leave dead root inside the grease , and the bearing of these can catch the attention of these worm .

Meanwhile , it is not just dead branches or tree that termites like to run on . It can be anything made of cellulose , such as wooden products . It include the possibility that the wooden frame of yourraised bedcan appeal termite to the house in it .

yellow fly trap

Loose and Moist Soils attract termites.

Termites will likely be in gardens because they are more drawn toward loose , moist ground .

Although there can be termite trend in soils like sand , mud , and potting soil , they are more draw to soils that are not compact .

Termite plague also depends on where you live and the time of year . For example , Florida has no termite activity compare to Connecticut , which has one of the most aggressive termite swarm during the spring , which occurs in April and May .

termite mound in soil

How to Know it is a Termite Infestation?

you may not eliminate termites unless you cognise the garden is infest . So , the main question is , how would you experience in the first place that termites are living in your beloved garden , backyard , it lawn ?

Well , the first and easy way to acknowledge is to look at the lights in your house at Nox clock time .

Turn on a light at night to check for termite infestation

As everyone knows , Termites are attracted to light . Those were most probable termites if you have seen minuscule white - winged worm palpitate near the light at nighttime .

So , at night turn on the backyard ( only one bulb will do ) . And then keep if any louse is flying around it .

Knock on the wood and search for droppings to check for termite infestation.

The easiest way to check termites is also quite simple . You have the woodenraised beds . Now pink on these wood board like you would on a normal door .

If the sound of a knock on the wooden material feel normal , then the wood is probably good .

But what if you hear a vacuous sound like the interior of the wood is empty ? Then , unfortunately , termites may have already attacked it . Also , look for white ant dropping on different surface . It usually looks like pocket-sized brownish dots .

termite tunnels

You can check for termite infestation by checking the outside walls of your garden bed.

Another trick to determine the white ant is examining the house ’s away walls . If the white ant have infested the garden , they might have attached the house too .

So , if the rampart color is undress , you acknowledge why . you may also do the knock technique on the wood siding .

How to Get Rid of a Termite Infestation?

Are you someone whose garden has already been infested ? Well , do not worry . Getting rid of white ant is a big business , but it is not impossible . you could do a few thing to kill the white ant and eliminate the infestation .

Get rid of the infested wood to rid the termite infestation

The first footstep is fairly obvious .

Get rid of all the infested wood around the garden , which can be easy done if white ant had only attack the spare wood .

But if raised beds were infested , you must have a few insect - kill products .

Do not use chemical termite killers.

We recommend not using any chemical substance white ant killers . The chemicals can seep into the grunge and worsen the situation . It can also be harmful to plants and veggie .

On top of that , using chemical Insecticides and pesticides is also not effective for the environment .

Products you can use to rid of termite infestations

So , which product can eliminate termites while being good for nature ?

The most innate way to get rid of termites is to immobilize them .

you could utilize the sticky bunker with an adhesive layer to excrete termite .

When termite fly into them , they get amaze . you may dump the sticker after train enough white ant . The only downside of this maw is you’re able to not kill the eggs and the nymphs .

But we have a solution for that too . Now you’re able to use several other natural products to kill the whole colony of white ant . The first ware is all - rude neem crude or neem oil dressed ore . When the white ant course on wood treated with neem extract , they die in a few hours .

Bean fossil oil is also effective for nymphs . Or you may utilise horticultural oil . Insects breathe through the cutis but can not breathe when they have a covering of this oil . And hence strangle to death .

A natural grievous bodily harm concentrate is also a great option for organic gardeners .

How to Prevent Termite Infestation?

Getting rid of white ant might take time , but it is possible . But how awesome would it be if you could prevent it from happening ?

If your garden has already been infest , remove the white ant first . After that , follow these round-eyed tips and tricks to prevent future plague .

Get rid of Extra Junk to prevent termite infestation

If you want to keep off termites , it is unspoilt to eliminate all of the supernumerary wood dust . If the mulch chip are lying around in the backyard , they invite white ant .

It would help if you removed any dead branches , as termites like feed on them .

Moreover , we propose you not to provide wooden furniture in the clear . Furniture that has untreated raw wood is vulnerable to termites . you’re able to do by the bleak wood furniture at home too . Just spray a little neem oil extract , and the patch will be termite resistant .

Use Minimum Wood to prevent termite infestation.

Getting rid of wooden furniture and junk is easier . The other top matter we commend is not installing any wooden deck of cards . What you may not get rid of is the wood siding . Reinstalling metal or concrete siding is rather expensive .

But what you could do is decrease the unmediated wood - to - primer coat contact . And for that , take off the sidings that are near the ground . The advocate tiptop of the slue installation is 6 inches above the land .

Reduce the wet in the soil as much as you’re able to . Ensure the pipes are not leaking and every other body of water feature is entire .

To prevent termite infestation, do Regular Inspections

The last and kind of obvious bakshish is regular inspection . even does not have in mind hebdomadary or monthly .

you’re able to get a professional plague review every six months and use natural Insecticide products every 2 to 3 month .

If you incorporate these tips in your gardening , your garden will be saved from termites . On top of that , it also keeps the garden from other louse .

FAQs on Do Raised Beds Attract Termites? Avoid this!

Do termites only live in the wood , or can garden soil also be infested?It is a common misconception that termites only flack wood . While they attack fifth wheel , a popular raised layer cloth , many termite species are also have a go at it to live and thrive in garden soil . Consider sprinkle termite pesticide on the pedestal of your garden bed to solve this .

What type of other bugs can invade the wooden raised beds in the garden?Many insects other than termites provender on the fifth wheel of raised gardening bed . verify to await out for Carpenter ants , pulverization post beetles , and bark beetles , as they are a few examples of those pests that can further deteriorate the material of raised gardening bed .

How do you drink down termites in a garden bed?Consider using a mixture of the juice from 2 lemon and half a loving cup of acetum . Spray it on the affected parts of the raised garden seam and suspect arena . This commixture can successfully rid the garden layer of termites when done on a regular basis due to termite cash in one’s chips off due to the mixture ’s acidity .

What smell of termites hate?Termites detest the smell of cinnamon and essential oils , specifically those from tea leaf trees , clove buds , Allium sativum , cedarwood , and orange . As per the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry , the most efficient for kill termite pests would be rock oil from the clove tree bud and garlic .

Conclusion on Do Raise Beds attracts termites?

All in all , termites are the bane of existence , may it be within your menage or even in your garden . Since most do use fifth wheel cloth for raised garden beds , there will be a tendency toattract these pestsin our garden if regular inspection and check mark on the garden bed are not done .

It is heavily disheartened to use chemical against these pests , as those may run into the soil and cause further damage and soil deterioration , put all your hard workplace into the drain of enriching your soil . Instead , stick to of the essence oils from tea leaf trees , clove , garlic , and nonchemical options to keep them at bay so as not to cause more problems .