Signs of Termites in Mulch: Whether in Bags, Piles, Around Plants

Have you doubted that there are termites in my garden mulch? Or have you seen termites destroy your friend’s or relative’s garden, which happened to me🤭 And, like me, you are confused about whether a termite infestation has occurred somewhere in your garden.

However, there can be several reasons for presenting termites in the garden, including wooden materials, untreated mulch, decaying plant matter, and poor drainage.

When using mulch, many gardeners might worry about termite attacks, whether buying as mulch bags and piles or using it in raised beds or around (woody) plants.

Here, I will mention proven signs of termites in the mulch so that you can save your garden, plants, or bulk mulch. Stay with me and explore;

Are Mulches Really Necessary for Plants

Like other environmental factors, mulch is also crucial for plant growth. Depending on the mulch type, it retains moisture in plants, keeping them warm during winter and cold during summer.

In addition, mulch also maintains temperature control and provides vital nutrients to the soil. The main benefit of mulch is that it stops weed growth in your garden and soil erosion during rain.

As you are already familiar, mulch comes in various types, including wood, cypress, cedar, coca bean, rock, and rubber mulch. That’s why it is crucial to be aware of which mulch is termite-resistant.

Termite attacks have mostly been observed in wooden-based mulches, but due to high moisture levels, other mulch types can also suffer from termite damage.

What are The Termites?

Termites (Isopetera) are tiny insects, also called white ants! They are not real ants but relatives of cockroaches.

The research shows that termites are helpful in natural recycling and raising soil fertility but highly damage wood and buildings. They eat organic materials (wood, bark mulch branches, etc.)

Subterranean and damp wood termites mainly live in soil and find food and humid environments to stay alive.

They make mud tunnels in the soil and can reach mulch while researching food. The humidity and their basic food source (Cellulose) extremely attract them.

Does Mulch Attract Termites? What’s the Reason Behind this?

Before moving to signs of termites in mulch, recognize the exact answer of whether mulch attracts termites or not. So, mulch comes in two main types: organic and inorganic!

Organic mulch (wood, bark) provides food (Cellulose) and if the environment is also moist, termites can stay for a long time or make their homes.

Organic mulch: Food+Moisture= Termites’ nesting

On the other hand, inorganic mulch (rocks, gravel, rubber) is not a food source for them. However, they can take shelter there, if the mulch is damp and moist.

For example, rubber mulch does not provide any food to termites, and if it becomes too wet, termites can enter and stay for a short time. However, if the plants are woody, termites can reach them.

So, it is always recommended to keep a distance of 3 to 4 inches between mulch and plants and to avoid poor drainage.

Sings of Termites in the Mulch

Infestations of termites are very hidden and appear when the issue has increased, especially in buildings, furniture, and other wooden materials.

If you are worried that something in your mulch (that you have purchased in mulch bags, bought in bulk for landscaping, or you have recently applied around your plants in raised beds) may get termites risk, it is a great idea to check manually to save plants and home foundation.

How Identify Termites Presentation in Mulch (Any Situation)?

When using mulch for landscaping and gardening, every gardener may have one, two, or all situations. It might be that you have purchased mulch bags that have already been packaged.

It also can be that bulk mulch is placed in the corner of your garden or you have layered mulch newly around your plants normally or in raised beds.

So, let’s find out the signs of termites in mulch for all situations so that you can effectively check the presence of termites.

Remember! Mulch is mostly found in organic mulch (wood chips, bark, leaf, pine straw).

General Identification of Subterranean and damp wood termites

• Color: Light creamy to white brown
• Size: 1/8 inches to 1/2 inches
• Wings: Random, tiny wings in unusual spots, like a mulch bag.
• Hidden mud Tubs: Thin, muddy tunnels on mulch or soil on the surface
• Wood damage: Hollowed sound when a big piece of wood mulch tapped
• Soft Spot Check: Mulch or wood that feels spongy when pressed.
• Invisible Squeaks: Unexpected squeaky sounds when stepping on garden paths.
• Mini Wood Craters: Small holes in wood chips, like tiny craters.
• Mysterious Wood Dust: Fine, sand-like dust around plants or raised beds.
• Mulch condition: Chewed or crumbling mulch
• Moisture: Dampness under mulch or soil

1-Signs of Termites in Mulch Bags

Indeed, it seems unlikely to be present termites in mulch bags, especially if the bag is packed properly. However, if mulch bags are left in a humid environment for a long time, they may have termite risk.

Still, it’s a good practice to check to make sure. When you open mulch bags, here is how to observe the above signs;

Small and White Insects (They can be light brown)

1. Unseal the mulch bag in light.
2. Lightly shake the mulch bag if you see small tunnels or humid knots in the soil, it may be their nesting.
3. If you find a clump of soil or powder-like material, it can be a sign of termites in a mulch bag.

While checking signs of termites in the mulch bag, try to wear a mask and check mulch by placing a small amount on a white surface.

How to Remove Termites in Mulch Bag?

• Check the mulch bag effectively before using it.
• Always place the mulch bags in an airy and dry spot.
• If termites appear, spread it out in the sun to dry so that the termites die.
• Always store mulch in a dry and solid place so that termites can’t reach through the soil.

2-Signs of Termites in Mulch Piles

When you buy the mulch pile newly, or it is already placed, practice the following steps to check termite activity;

1. Look for the above general identification signs by digging up the soil with a small shover or your hands. Termites usually try to avoid sunlight, so check deeper.
2. Termites can create paths like small tunnels by mixing wood pieces and soil. Check soil clumps and tunnels at the bottom of the mulch pile.
3. They eat wood and create sawdust, which can be in the form of small piles of dirt. So, turn the mulch pile over to check for chewed wood particles.

How to Prevent Termites in Mulch Pile?

• Try to keep the mulch pile above the soil, preferably on a metal grill or plastic sheet, such as a pet cage.
• Keep the mulch pile ventilated, turning it over every few days to prevent termites from finding a hiding place.
• Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth or Neem Oil, these act as natural termite repellents.
• Always protect the mulch pile from humidity and dampness to avoid termites.

3-Signs of Termites in Mulch Around Plants (Raised Beds)

If mulch is layered around your garden plants, check the above general identification by following steps;

1. Notice tiny tunnels of soil near the stem of the plant.
2. Termites sometimes can damage the plant’s roots, so also check the soil.
3. If the soil is unusually moist and small roda is visible in it, it could be due to termites.
4. If you feel slight movement in the soil in the plant, look carefully and observe why it happening.
5. If the edges of raised beds appear as thin soil tunnels, small holes in the wood, or soft, empty spaces.

How to Avoid Termites From Around Plants or Raised Beds?

• Do not allow mulch around plants to directly touch trees or plant stems maintain a distance of at least 6 inches.
• If raised beds are made of wood, check their edges regularly and take immediate action if you find signs of termites.
• Keep mulch around plants dry and light, and reduce it during rainy seasons.
• Use cedar mulch or pine straw around plants to prevent termites, as they naturally keep termites away.

Final Thoughts: Signs of Termites in Mulch

Signs of termites in mulch are a concept that needs to be understood by every gardener so that they can manage them only. In the matter of mulch bags, it is not neccessory that mulch bag suffers from termites.

Many nurseries and companies are knows this problem. However, if you have store mulch in bags, attention is needed, especially if mulch bag was placed in humid conditions.

Having mud tunnels like pencile in the soil, wood chips with groove and empty inside and piles of winds near mulch or plant are the signs of termites presentation in mulch.

To avoid this issue always water the plant root above, and store mulch pile in dry and sunny place. Opt termite resistant mulch like cedar, cypress, rubber, rock, gravel, and pine straw.

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