End of Summer is not the end of Termites

On the radio this morning we were discussing fall gardening and the effects of the dry summer. Even though the last tomatoes will soon be picked and the yard mowed for the last time this season. Termites are still active in our yards. Stacks of firewood that are in contact with the ground will be harboring termites until the temperature drops below 60 degrees and those of us who live in houses built on concrete slabs provide winter protection for the termites. My father told of times in North Mississippi when there were no termites in houses in the winter time at least. All of the houses were built up off of the ground on piers and would freeze out in the winter time. Now if for some reason your termite barrier has been breached the termites can be active inside your house during cooler weather.
Termite barriers can be broken by plumbing that has begun to leak or by plumbers that repair the leak. Cracks in the slab can provide entry points to termites, and when they occur under carpet or wood flooring discovering the point of entry can be difficult or impossible. Trees growing too close to houses can provide paths of entry to temites when the wood dies and or the root growth causes a shift in the concrete slab.  It is important that the termite barrier be protected. To do this certain landscape practices need to be avoided. Any digging next to the foundation will remove the termite barrier. This can occur when shrubs are planted, when irrigation pipes and heads are installed, when plumbing is being repaired or pipes cleaned, when fence posts are placed close to the structure, or when additions are made to the house.
Mulching to protect your plants and to improve the looks of your landscape has the down side of covering up the termite treatment and allowing termites an open route into your house. When we build decks to add value to our property and to increase it's utility or value we may also be creating a path around the termite barrier. Wooden steps and firewood stored against our houses are also ways that termites may use to enter our houses. Even tools that have leaned too long in one place have been used by termites to enter a home. Trellises are beautiful but they also obsure the view of the slab and displace the insecticide that is protecting your house. As the weather cools off and it is now pleasant to be outside it is a good time to walk around the outside of your house and comtemplate the effects your landscaping has had on your termite protection.

A small demonstration of landscaping don't was established at the Calhoun Research Station and at the Citrus station south of New Orleans to help people visualize mistakes they can make when landscaping their property.