Buffalo Grove homeowners enjoy having lovely landscaping, and recently, wood mulch has become a favored material for garden beds across the village. What many homeowners do not realize is that their beautiful mulched yards could be putting out the welcome mat for those uninvited guests.
This is not just a pretty problem. Termites that colonize your mulch beds can be directed down to the foundation and timber in your home. In Buffalo Grove, where many homes were constructed decades ago, historically, fences and other landscaping features are appealing targets. If you have reason to believe there are termites in your mulch beds, contact pointepestcontrol.net quickly to avoid expensive structural damage.
Why Termites Love Wood Mulch & What Attracts Them?
1) Moisture Retention Creates Perfect Conditions
Like a sponge in Buffalo Grove, wood mulch will soak up those early spring rains and seasonal humidity from summer months. Mulch beds create a moisture-preserving environment that termites love, which means they retain the moisture needed to survive.
2) Cellulose-Rich Food Source
Since most wood mulches are composed of cellulose, termites are likely to seek them out as food items. While cedar and cypress will give you some natural resistance, hardwood and pine mulch are a veritable termite buffet.
3) Temperature Regulation Benefits
During Buffalo Grove’s seasons’ temperature fluctuations, mulch beds keep temperatures steady. In cooler months, this insulating effect helps keep soil warm, while in summer, it does not overheat, making it a comfortable home for termite colonies throughout the year.
4) Protection from Natural Predators
A dense layer of mulch protects termites from birds, ants, and other natural enemies. Recent pest control data indicates that properties with a mulch depth exceeding 3 inches show 40% higher rates of termite activity than properties with thinner applications.
5) Easy Access to Home Foundations
Mulch beds that abut home foundations become highways for termites, allowing them to travel from their food source to your homeʼs wood structures. Because about 65 % of Buffalo Grove’s homes were built before 1990, there is a particular vulnerability in older neighborhoods with wooden foundation elements.
Warning Signs of Termites in Mulch Beds
- Evidence of mud tubes, which are small tunnels made of mud, that run along the surface of mulch or between a close structure
- Termites with wings (also known as swarmers) exiting from mulch peaks on warm spring evenings
- Mulch clumps that are hollow-sounding when tapped with a stick or tool
- Pinholes or tunnels seen on larger wood mulch pieces
- Tiny wood pellet-looking crumbly splotches of frass or termite droppings in and among the mulch
- Sinking or spongy areas of mulch where wood has been heavily affected.
- Small white or cream insects crawl into the mulch when disturbed
When to Call a Professional
Termite colonies can run 3 to 5 feet deep and often contain thousands of termites, but most DIY treatments do not address the whole extent of the colony.
When termites enter within 10 feet of your foundation or if you find several signs at once, professional pest control is necessary. Pointe Pest Control and other companies understand the specific climate challenges of Buffalo Grove and know what types of termites to look for. They utilize specialized tools to identify hidden colonies and apply treatments that keep your landscape and home structure safe.
Final Thoughts
Buffalo Grove thread-up resources in your landscape do Celtic mulch, which is an invitation for termites to visit. By carefully checking mulch beds and calling in the pros when a problem arises, you can protect not only your landscaping investment but also the integrity of your home.
Always remember that prevention is a lot cheaper than remediation. Buffalo Grove homeowners can have beautiful mulched gardens without leaving their property vulnerable to a pest invasion if they stay on their toes and contact experienced pest control professionals when they suspect they can no longer keep up with the effort themselves.