Streator Homeowners' Handy Guide To Effective Termite Control

Natural Termite-Prevention Tips For Around The Home

Now that you know what termites do in your yard and how they feed on the wood of your home, we can look at the prevention tips we promised. These tips work because they counteract the natural behavior patterns of subterranean termites and block access to food sources. As we look at them, we'll explain why they work.

• Remove stumps, logs, and dying trees. Decaying wood sources are desirable to termites and provide a food source in your yard. You don't want to give termites a reason to hang out in your yard.
• When you collect dead branches, store them in a plastic bin. You want to prevent the branches from resting on the ground where subterranean termites can access them.
• If you have campfire wood, lumber, or some other source of wood in your yard, place it on an elevated structure or rubber mat. When subterranean termites attempt to get at these food sources, you'll see the mud tubes they create.
• Address wood-to-soil contact on your home—for example, rest deck posts on concrete piers. The last thing you want is for termites to get into the wood of your home directly. Putting wood on concrete gets the wood out of the soil.
• Replace wood fences with vinyl. There are beautiful vinyl fences that are almost indistinguishable from rustic wood. Keep your curb appeal without inviting termites to dine on your property.
• Pick up junk piles. Termites can feed on cardboard, paper, clothing, and other materials found in a pile of junk. Technicians have found termites inside junk piles in storage sheds and garages. They're even more prone to get in a pile sitting on the soil in your backyard.

When you have a wood source termites can feed on, it is possible to look under the wood or cut into the wood to find workers. Doing this can help you uncover active termites. But, while having these vulnerabilities can help you see signs of termites in your yard, it is far better if you don't give termites food sources.  

Besides removing food from your yard, there are other ways to deter termites and protect your property. These tips are also 100 percent all-natural.

Moisture Control: Termite workers need to stay hydrated. Their need for moisture attracts them to moist soil. When you address moisture issues, you make your property resistant to subterranean termites.

Inspections: Performing routine inspections for warning signs of termite activity can catch a termite problem early.

• Look for mud tubes on your exterior walls and foundation. Subterranean termites are surely going to create these.
• Look for mud tubes on interior surfaces.
• Look for wood changes in dark, moist areas around and underneath your home. Subterranean termite damage may look like trenches or splintering. You should see mud in the trenching or on the surface of the wood.
• Keep watch for winged termites in your yard or inside your home. Finding a termite swarm in your house is hard to miss; it is also a sign that you have a severe infestation.
• Often, the only sign of a termite swarm is wings shed by swarmers during the mating process. You may find these wings on the ground or in spider webs.

Contact a certified termite control professional when you find warning signs of termites on your property. It is best to address these homewreckers with effective treatment methods.