What to Do if You’ve Found Termites in Your Yard or Garden?

Great question Glynis. We’re quite often called out to jobs by concerned home owners where live Termites have been found in the yard – often in garden beds and mulch. Here’s our advice.

Okay so, you’ve found termites in the garden, what should you do? Well there’s a few common DIY termite treatment methods that we’ve seen which should be avoided at all costs.

Don’t use insect spray

For whatever reason, many homeowners believe that simply using insect spray is an effective way of killing off termites. This really isn’t practical at all, as termites live deep beneath the ground in vast numbers. Spraying a handful of them on the surface is pointless. So avoid the temptation to use insect spray, you’ll just make the problem worse and cause them to relocate elsewhere.

Don’t try relocating the termites in your garden

Another thing we see quite often are homeowners, especially when working in the yard, they’ll simply try removing the termites by shovelling them up into a wheelbarrow and relocating them further away from the property. This of course doesn’t work for the same reasons mentioned above, because its most likely that the termite colony is concealed and active termites are already widespread throughout the yard.

Both spraying termites with insect spray or trying to relocate them locally does nothing more than disturb the termites which simply leads to them relocating in other areas of the garden, yard or even worse, inside your home.

Avoid using railway sleepers or pine sleepers

What we often see is the use of treated pine sleepers, as raised garden beds where they are filled with soil to plant natural herbs and gardens. These pine sleepers are treated with Arsenic or Deltamethrin so when the beds are watered daily these chemicals leak into the soil and eventually those chemicals make their way into your food. In addition to this, timber in direct contact with the ground – combined with high moisture content – serves as an ideal termite nesting and feeding source.

Why termites are attracted to your garden and yard

Termites are naturally attracted to moisture

Over watering your gardens, trees or lawn can also act as an attractant for termites. We always encourage home owners to evaluate their properties to determine where moisture sources around the house originate from.

Fountains, sprinkler systems, timed irrigation systems, and even hot water and air conditioning units that drip water up against the side of the property can lead to unwanted infestations. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t water your gardens, it just means being aware of the risks, and ensuring that you’re not doing anything that could potentially lead to termite damage.

Infestations that originate from the garden, yard or even termites outside are usually associated with wet soil or damp grounds. When we’re called out, we thoroughly evaluate and inspect the location of the infestation, the water source, and the severity of the problem to suggest the best possible course of action.

Don’t panic if you do find live Termites

Termites are also commonly referred to as white ants in the garden, but despite the nickname, they are a completely different pest species.

If you do find live termites, don’t panic, and don’t attempt any DIY or home remedies such as pouring diesel or petrol on them, setting the nest on fire, using fly spray, chlorine or any pool chemicals. Trust us, we’ve seen it all, and whilst we do understand it can be distressing to find termites, it’s always best to call for professional assistance.

Proximity does matter!

We often have customers who, while digging in their gardens, discover termites 10 or 15m away from their homes. They often assume that there’s no cause for concern because of the distance away from the property.

The fact is that termites can travel up to 50 metres from the main nest, and whilst you might think your home is safe, chances are, termites have already built an extensive network of concealed mud galleries or mud tunnels throughout your property.

Even if you’ve found termites near the house or in a garden bed some distance away, it’s still best to have your property termite inspected.

Are termites in the garden a problem?

Many gardeners wonder if termites in flower beds are always problematic. The answer is yes – while termites in garden soil play a natural role in breaking down organic matter, according to Forest & Wood Products Australia, they don’t distinguish between dead wood in your garden and the timber in your home. Therefore, how to get rid of termites becomes an important consideration for any homeowner.

How to get rid of termites in garden areas

If you’ve found termites in your garden beds, yard or backyard but not in house, it’s still important to address the issue promptly. According to the Australian Department of Agriculture, termites in soil can quickly spread to wooden structures if left untreated.

Research from the CSIRO indicates that termites in the garden may not immediately threaten your home, but they represent a significant risk factor. Professional termite treatment is the most effective approach for how to kill termites in yard areas safely.

I am an active gardener, does that mean I may inadvertently be creating a haven for termites?

Someone who does a lot of digging and watering in the garden may unknowingly be creating attractive areas for termites to nest. For example, A front porch pot plant that is watered daily often leads to water seeping into the ground through the drainage holes.

This creates a damp concealed area from which termites can derive their water source, leading to potential problems. It can be worse if you have numerous pot plants all stored collectively on a timber deck or porch.

Precautionary measures to take in and around your garden and yard areas

To avoid creating attractive areas around your home while gardening here are some great preventative tips-

• It would be wise not to build any veggie gardens or raised garden beds up against the house. If there are existing garden beds against the house, it would be advisable to move them away from the walls edge, or be mindful of how often you water them
• No soil or mulch should extend past or be built up over the weep holes as termites will travel straight through the weep holes and into the house.
• If you have an irrigation system, ensure that there are no leaks that provide termites with a water source beneath soil or mulch.
• If you are using treated mulch, it needs to be a termite resistant mulch, otherwise, its quite literally an invitation for termite colonies to nest within your property
• Avoid planting gum trees, paperbark trees and palm trees. Termites love to nest in the root crowns of these trees. There are two main termite species, Coptotermes and Schedorhinotermes that are naturally attracted to these types of trees.

Of course, common sense should prevail. These recommendations don’t mean having to maintain a barren landscape and that you can’t enjoy your garden. It’s more regular watering, or continual dampness in the wrong areas which can attract termites and cause problems.

Effective treatments for how to get rid of termites in the garden

When you’ve found termites in your yard or garden soil, there are several professional approaches to consider:

1. Chemical barriers: These create a protective zone around your home that either repels or kills termites attempting to cross.
2. Bait systems: Strategically placed around your garden and yard, these attract and eliminate termites before they reach your home.
3. Direct treatment: For visible termites in flower beds or garden beds, targeted applications can address specific colonies.

What are some of the ways in which I can protect my home from termites?

Prevention and awareness is the best way to protect your home.

Rule number one is to ensure regular termite inspections are conducted on your home. Early detection of any issues will ensure you’re able to perform corrective measures before any substantial damage is done.

For the best protection, we strongly recommend having a termite barrier in place. Depending on the type of construction and location of your home, our technicians will either recommend a chemical barrier, termite bait system or physical barrier. Termite baits serve as an excellent early warning system and can be placed in strategic positions within the yard, near garden or veggie beds set away from your home. Bait stations serve as a barrier to intercept termites before they reach your home and eliminate colonies around the garden beds. 

We can help protect your home from termites in your garden

Termites in your garden or yard are more than just a nuisance – they’re often the first warning sign of a much bigger problem. The longer they’re left untreated, the greater the risk of costly structural damage to your home.

At Pest-Ex, our licensed technicians have carried out more than 14,000 termite inspections across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan and Tweed Heads. We know exactly where termites hide, how they spread, and the best way to stop them for good.

Don’t wait until it’s too late – take action today and safeguard your home with a professional inspection.

Find out the exact cost of a professional termite inspection for your property here

FAQs About Finding Termites in Your Yard or Garden