Knowledgebase

Does Mulch (wood bark mulch) placed near brick foundation of a house increase the risk of termites #848886

Asked September 06, 2023, 4:25 PM EDT

Hello - I am trying to determine whether it is safe to place mulch around the foundation of my house - in my case - shredded hardwood bark. I would use it to keep weeds down around beds around the foundation of the house and help retain moisture around plants. I have heard mixed opinions saying that any wood product placed near the foundation could provide a food source for termites. Is this true?

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

While termites won't be consuming the mulch as a primary food source, they might use it as shelter for their foraging tunnels due to the retained moisture, so keeping it away from the foundation a few inches should suffice. The link on our Termites page that leads to an Iowa State University Extension article about termites and mulch provides a little more information, but essentially no, you should not need to worry.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied September 07, 2023, 10:12 AM EDT

Loading ...