Landscaping Tips to Prevent Termite Infestations

Key Takeaways

• Smart landscaping can lower your termite risk, and you don’t have to compromise on your garden to get it.
• Physical and chemical barriers, moisture control and the right materials are the main tools for preventing termites.
• No plant on its own will stop termites, so keep plants away from the walls and treat them as a bonus, not protection.
• Untreated wood and mulch are very attractive to termites, so keep them clear of the house.
• Landscaping lowers the risk, but it does not replace a yearly termite inspection and treatment plan.

Opt for Physical Barriers

As a homeowner, it’s natural to want to landscape your exterior to make it more functional and appealing. With so many termite infestations in Australia, it’s essential not to create an environment for them to run rampant by accident. Keeping termites at bay doesn’t mean giving up your landscaping dreams. All you need is smart planning and regular care.

Physical barriers are an effective way to prevent termite infestation. They work by physically blocking access points, which limits a termite’s ability to reach your home and garden. Such materials include plastic sheets and steel mesh that cannot succumb to a termite’s efforts.

• These barriers do not kill termites or their colonies. They simply block or deter them from passing through.
• They are best installed during construction or major landscaping works.
• They must be fitted without gaps around pipes, slab edges and paving.

Apply Chemical Barriers

If you are looking for an immediate, fast-acting solution, a chemical barrier is a great tool. It keeps subterranean termites from tunnelling through your soil and entering structures, and keeps other termites from approaching any drywood or dampwood.

If the application is thorough, these barriers can provide good protection from termites for years. How long depends on the product and the site, and landscaping works can break a barrier. Tell your technician before you dig, pave or build new garden beds.

Option	How it helps	Keep in mind
Physical barrier	Blocks access with steel mesh or plastic sheeting	Does not kill termites, so best fitted during construction
Chemical barrier	Treated zone in the soil around the building	Needs full coverage and can be disturbed by digging
Bait stations	Targets the colony itself	Needs regular monitoring

For a closer look at the two main options, read our baiting systems vs chemical barriers guide.

Termite-Resistant Trees and Plants: What to Know

People often ask which trees and plants are termite resistant in Australia. Some timbers are naturally more durable than others, but no plant or tree can be relied on to keep termites away from your home.

No matter which plants you choose, it’s essential that they aren’t planted too close to your property. When plants and garden beds sit against the walls, they hide the entry points and keep the area damp, which gives termites direct access to your home.

• Keep garden beds and shrubs clear of the slab edge and weep holes.
• Leave a gap between trees and the house, so roots and branches don’t touch it.
• Remove dead trees, stumps and old roots from the garden.
• Choose plants that are easy to prune and keep tidy.

Prioritise Moisture Control

It’s no secret that termites are drawn to moist, damp environments. A waterlogged garden can often become a breeding ground for termites. Look to include moisture control in your landscaping plans.

1. Install a drainage system where water collects.
2. Slope the soil away from your house.
3. Make sure sprinklers don’t soak the ground near your foundations.
4. Fix leaking taps, pipes and downpipes.
5. Keep subfloor vents clear so air can move under the house.

Gold Coast homes sit in a warm, humid climate with regular rain, so moisture control matters all year. Our guide to why termites invade homes explains the link between damp and termite activity.

Choose the Right Materials

Whatever your landscaping vision, think about the materials you bring into the garden. Untreated wood and mulch are very attractive to termites, offering an environment in which they’ll thrive.

Often attracts termites	Smarter choices
Untreated wood sleepers and edging	Treated wood or termite-resistant wood
Thick mulch piled against the walls	Stone or gravel near the house, with mulch kept well back
Timber decking in contact with soil	Concrete, metal or composite decking
Firewood stacked against the house	Firewood stored off the ground and away from the walls

If you are removing old timber from the garden, read how to safely remove termite-infested wood.

A Simple Garden Checklist

Use this checklist once or twice a year, and after heavy rain. It takes only a few minutes and helps you spot problems before a technician needs to.

• Mulch and soil sit below the slab edge and weep holes.
• No timber is touching the ground, including stakes, edging and steps.
• Firewood is stored off the ground and away from the house.
• Downpipes, taps and sprinklers are not leaking against the walls.
• Stumps and dead roots have been removed.
• Any mud tubes, wings or hollow timber are photographed and reported.

Protect Your Home With Specialist Advice

No matter how good your prevention techniques are, a minimum of an annual inspection will help keep termites at bay. If you are looking for the best way to protect your home and garden, call the team at Control Pest Management. We offer both termite prevention and treatment options that will safeguard your property.

Our technicians are licensed, fully insured and police checked, and our treatments are suitable for children and pets. We service the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Gladstone and Logan. Request a free quote or call 1300 357 246.