Creating Termite Resistant Mulch

Mulch is a natural weed-control agent, used in many household gardens. Mulching is an effective way to ensure that the soil bed retains moisture. Special, retailed mulches are often used for soil-temperature maintenance. Here, the mulch layer acts as a buffering agent, protecting the plants against extreme temperature variations. However, an unwanted problem is often faced in gardens that are regularly mulched — the mulch seems to attract termite infestation. Perhaps, the easiest way to avoid this problem is purchasing termite resistant mulch. However, this form of mulch isn't cheap and for gardens needing heavy mulching, it could prove costly. Therefore, it is vital to equip yourself with some basic ideas about making conventional, household mulch, termite resistant.

Choosing Mulch Ingredients

Organic mulch is the preferred form of mulch but it may indirectly stimulate termite infestation. The reason lies in the high concentration of organic materials found in organic mulch. However, by selecting the right ingredients, you can make termite-free organic mulch. Pine bark mulch is one of the most termite-resistant mulches. You should use heavy concentration of pine bark or peat moss in your mulch preparation.

The cellulose content of pine bark and peat moss is much lower that traditional household mulch ingredients like shredded leaves and pruned branches/stems. The lower cellulose content ensures lesser feeding material for the termites. Ideally, you should include lots of pine bark along with some peat moss and fine bark bits as your mulch ingredients. This mulch settles quickly, drains effectively and is naturally resistant to termites. Mulch containing bark bits of trees like cypress and redwood are less vulnerable to termite attacks.

Note

Some mulch types have heavy concentrations of woody chips but are still termite resistant. Often called woodchip mulch, this popular, landscaping mulch decomposes slowly and does not attract termites.

Manipulating Mulch Mixture

You can create affordable and termite-resistant mulch by mixing your homemade mulch with some commonly-retailed products:

Rubber Mulch

After spreading the homemade garden mulch, surround it with a light dose of retailed rubber mulch. This synthetic mulch will not allow the termites to bore through the mulch, eventually causing them to die due to starvation.

Boric Acid

Boric acid is highly toxic to various kinds of garden pests, including termites. The garden variety of boric acid is harmless even if trace quantities are consumed by humans or pets. Boric acid shouldn't be directly sprayed on the mulch or kneaded with it. You should mix the boric acid with water and then periodically spray this mixture over the mulch. Boric acid is a very effective termite killer.

Using Plastic Barriers

A simple way of making your mulch termite-resistant is using bits of black sheet embedded between the mulched soil-bed. You can use any used but washed black, plastic sheet for this purpose. Simply cut the sheet into small five-inch long bits and mix it with the mulch. Termites find it difficult to build a colony with plastic barriers. The plastic material cannot be decomposed by termites since it is inorganic. This method may not eliminate termites comprehensively but it will help to restrict termite growth.

Mulch Care Regimen

You should periodically rejuvenate the mulched soil bed. Replace the old mulch layer with freshly-prepared mulch, every 2 months if termites are a perennial problem. Before replacing the mulch, dig-up the soil bed area that is regularly mulched with a spade. Water it thoroughly and let it dry before mulching it again. This helps to destroy any deeply embedded termite colonies in the soil. If you are using organic mulch made from garden refuse, then storing it properly is crucial. Organic mulch should be stored in sealed bags. Termites cannot survive in conditions that have no access to ventilation. The mulch layer should be at least one-foot away from nearby walls, as these are a potential source of termites.