How To Keep Wood Eating Pests Away From Your Deck And Out Of Your Home

26 July 2019
 Categories: Home & Garden, Blog


If you have a wood deck outside of your home or other wood structures, the threat of termites and other wood-eating insects is always at your doorstep. Therefore, you want to make sure that your home is protected from these pests. The following tips, tricks, and improvements will ensure wood-eating pests stay away from your deck and out of your home: 

Keep Your Landscaping Clean and Free of Moist Decaying Debris Where These Pests Thrive 

The debris that is left to decompose in your landscaping can create a heaven for wood-eating pests like termites. Therefore, you want to make sure to do routine maintenance and remove any moist, rotten debris that termites thrive in. In addition, if you have any dead trees, remove them before they turn into termite colonies, and trim dead branches from trees regularly to reduce potential pest problems in tree canopies.  

Use Hardscaping and Landscaping Designs That Provide A Barrier Between Wood Structures and Pests 

Hardscaping features can also be a great way to keep pests like termites, ants, and other wood-eating pests away. First, consider inorganic groundcovers like gravel, synthetic materials, and pavers. In addition, make sure that these hardscaped areas of your landscaping are well-drained to make them uninhabitable places for termites and other insects that can cause damage to wood structures.  

Keep Wood Posts and Structural Timbers Off the Ground to Keep Wood-Eating Pests Away from Your Home  

Wood posts, structural timbers, and decorative columns may be areas on the exterior of your home that are susceptible to damage from insects like termites and ants. To protect your home, keep these wood materials off the ground with features like post boots and masonry for decorative columns. This will help create more of a barrier between the ground and wood, reducing problems with moisture and rot that attract wood-eating pests.   

Seal Your Home, Do Repairs, and Use Traps to Keep Insects Under Control and Away from Your Home  

You want to also do repairs and routine maintenance to the exterior of your home to ensure pests stay away from wood. Make sure that any leaks, moisture, and problems with rot are repaired quickly before they attract pests like termites. In addition, make sure that the exterior of your home is sealed and that there are no cracks where the wood-eating pests can get in and start causing damage.  

With good maintenance and the right prevention measures, wood-eating pests will not cause damage to your home. If you have a termite problem that is getting too close for comfort, contact a termite control service for help with termite removal and prevention to protect against damage.  


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