Termites cause trouble in the garden, too

Get it growing

Growing vegetables, herbs and other plants in raised beds holds a lot of appeal.

Raised beds give gardeners more control over soil quality and drainage. They tend to have fewer weed problems, and they can make gardening more accessible to those with mobility issues or limited space.

If you’re not careful, though, raised beds can invite some unwanted guests into your garden: termites.

“If we fill our raised garden beds with logs or large pieces of wood in addition to compost that has a high percentage of wood inside, we can inadvertently lure in termites,” said Aaron Ashbrook, an entomologist with the LSU AgCenter.

Termites can attack plant roots. And no one wants these wooddestroying insects anywhere near their home or other structures, where they can wreak havoc.

It may be tempting to partially fill raised beds — especially deeper ones — with wood so you don’t have to use so much soil. But stick with a good raised bed growing mix that contains fully decomposed organic matter — and no big chunks of wood — to keep termites from taking up residence.

“It is difficult to control them in the raised bed setting,” Ashbrook warned.

There are a few things you can try if you suspect a termite problem in your raised beds. You can apply a pyrethroid insecticide or boric acid to help control the termite population, Ashbrook said. Always be sure to use products labeled for gardens and carefully read and follow all directions.

Another option Ashbrook recommends is emptying your raised beds of any woody contents and refilling them with different growing media. While this may be time consuming and laborious — not to mention disruptive to your plants — getting rid of termites’ food source is the best way to keep them out of your garden.

You also might want to look around your yard for other things that could be drawing in termites. Dead trees and scraps of untreated wood can provide a feast for the insects. Standing water can attract them, too.

“We have to remember in the South that termites are ever present,” Ashbrook noted. But it’s important to do what you can to keep them at bay.