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Integrated Pest Management

Will cardboard mulch attract termites to my yard?

11 years ago

We just put in new, raised vegetable beds, and there is now grass growing around them. I read that we could put a layer of wet cardboard down, then put straw on top of that for the paths between the beds (the cardboard is to block the grass and weeds). But someone else told me that laying down cardboard on the ground was like an invitation to termites, since cardboard is like half-digested wood to them. We just moved here, and have a lot of empty cardboard boxes we could use, but I don't want to attract termites, because after they finish the cardboard they may want to move into the house!

Can any knowledgeable Entomologists tell me if this is a valid concern?

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

Kimmsr
11 years ago
The termites that you have in New Jersy eat dry cellulose, not wet, so any cardboard (it does not necessarily need to be wet when you lay it down) you put in contact with your soil will become wet and of no interest to any termites you may have around.
arrowleaf
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you so much, that's a big relief to know!!!!!!
(Gardenweb is wonderful!)

- Arrowleaf
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I don't know as for the termites- but that was one reason we did it. I was hoping to dissuade them. It may be more like 10" than a foot, but it's fairly deep. I didn't want weeds germinating and i wanted to channel water away from the foundation, so the bottom of it is packed clay that slants away from the house. The deeper side that is next to the beds is about a foot, the shallower side next to the house maybe 8"? I wanted that excess water in my beds to water my plants. It's been a long time since we put it in. It's only about 18" wide, too- about the width of the overhang- we put it right where the drip line for the roof is. So you're talking an area about 18"x 50' x an average of 10" deep- that's not tons of gravel. Regular grey gravel is cheap, and we just went to the quarry and got it bulk, so the quantity of rock really wasn't an issue. It's not so much a decorative thing for potted stuff (though i do use it as a holding area) as it is easy access behind my beds and to the windows for maintenance. We also really, really like the way it prevents splash back for getting on the house so much - before we did that we would have a mess every time it rained on the lower portion, which is light siding for part of it. During the drought we installed 2 rain barrels in it, so now it's not quite as nice since the path is broken up, but it still helps.
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There are many sites on the web addressing this topic and some say yes and some say no. Some say don't put any kind of wood mulch by your foundation. The science that I have read says that if you have termites in the soil, they will like your new wood chip mulch. If you don't, it will not attract them. Based on the science, the issue is not wood but moisture. You should ensure that the foundation around your house is properly drained. If so, and inch or two of mulch will likely not create an increased risk for termite infestation. I've been using mulch around my house for 20 years (in NC) and have had no termites. If you want to be on the safe side, you can not put them withing 2-3 feet of your foundation - or if you must for whatever reason, apply an insecticide that will kill any termites around the perimiter of your house (you should be doing this anyway!) I have a half acre landscpape and a tree company removing trees kindly gave me a dump truck full of wood chips. I am using them on my garden "trails" over fabric cloth--they make a wonderful soft walking surface. I am also using them judiciously in an area that I want to look natural. I am putting a light layer on top of fallen leaves - which gives it a nice uniform appearance and prevents the leaves from blowing around. I will likely spread some insecticide in the entire area just to be on the safe side - and if it gets rid of the million tics on my property, that would be a benefit.
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mparel
11 years ago
Hello,
I had the same question but I'm in Miami converting my lawn to a mulched space. I used vinegar to kill the grass and thought of putting down weed sheeting then mulch to top everything off. I do not intend to plant anything else there. Would I still need newspaper or cardboard. Don't want termites.

Thanks.
Kimmsr
11 years ago
The reason for using either newspaper or cadboard is to deprive any plants growing under that material from getting the sunlight they need for growth. Deprive them of that sunlight and they will die. If there is no growth, or if the mulch material is dense enough to do that then there is no need to use newspaper or cardboard. So if you put down a 6 inch layer of mulch that should deprive anything attempting to grow under it of sunlight.
The primary reason for using newspaper or cardboard is to enable one to use less of the quite expensive mulch material then would other wise be necessary.
mparel
11 years ago
Thanks much.
itspooh2
5 years ago
So what about the termites? I was under the impression in TN that termites like wet wood (and cardboard technically is wood) so there would be no way to keep the cardboard dry. I have also read that they like cardboard because of the cellulose in it.

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