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Lawn & Garden Protection

How to Control Termites in Your Lawn and Garden

Many subterranean termite control products are made from the same active ingredients used to control insects near agricultural crops. These materials do not negatively impact grass or landscape plants.

Termite Control in the Garden
In most states, residential pest control professionals are not licensed to provide termite treatment near gardens, lawns, landscaping, plants, ornamentals or forests. Direct application of pesticides to plants is provided by a different type of pest management professional with different materials. Labels for termiticides require these materials only be used to control termites that infest structures. In many cases, structures in the lawn can be treated, such as workshops, pet houses, playhouses and fences.

If you want to control a subterranean termite infestation with the fastest-acting products available, termiticide is the quickest, most effective method of control. Your pest control expert can recommend the most targeted application techniques, and products that have the least impact on plants. Trees infested with native and Formosan subterranean termites can be treated either by drilling and using a foam-based termiticide, or installing bait stations.

When the objective is to prevent a termite infestation or reduce a termite population in the yard with the least amount of materials possible, slow-acting methods such as bait systems or biological controls may be effective. Bait systems use small amounts of materials that are ingested directly by foraging termites from a series of bait cartridges placed around the yard. This method allows the transfer of materials to nestmates and does not require treating large areas of soil.

Biological control methods involve the introduction of insects (ants) or microscopic worms (nematodes) that prey on termites. While both ants and nematodes are natural predators for termites, they do not offer as effective prevention or control as bait or termiticide treatment systems.

There are a few plants with insecticidal properties, such as sweet basil, that may help protect your garden from termites. In addition, vegetation and mulch should be at least six inches away from your home's foundation to reduce food, shelter and moisture sources for termites. You also may consider replacing wood mulch with mulch that termites do not eat, such as compost.

Are Termite Treatments Poisonous to Plants & Gardens?

When treating for termites, it is rare to have any control product come in contact with plants or gardens. Of the products used, most will not harm plants; however, borate materials are phytotoxic and will injure plants if overspray from the structure gets on the plants.

Are Termite Treatments Poisonous to Plants & Gardens?

When treating for termites, it is rare to have any control product come in contact with plants or gardens. Of the products used, most will not harm plants; however, borate materials are phytotoxic and will injure plants if overspray from the structure gets on the plants.

Subterranean Termite Soil Treatment

Treatment for subterranean termites using soil treatment involves trenching along the foundation and injecting the control agent into the trench. Liquid soil treatment is the most common type of subterranean termite treatment and has the longest track record.

Termite Resistant Plants & Crops

Certain plants may be repellent to termites in the wild such as when termites attack decorative wood in a garden, but there is no plant that will keep termites from a structure. There are too many termites in a colony to have the entire structure protected by a plant.

Termite Resistant Plants & Crops

Certain plants may be repellent to termites in the wild such as when termites attack decorative wood in a garden, but there is no plant that will keep termites from a structure. There are too many termites in a colony to have the entire structure protected by a plant.

Termite Soil Treatment: Repellents vs Non Repellents

Liquid soil treatment is the most common type of treatment for subterranean termites, regardless of whether they are native or Formosan. A trench is made along the foundation and a pressurized wand or rod injects control product into the soil.