Termite control products: I have seen advertisements for wood mulch products that control termites. Do these products work?
Unfortunately, this “too good to be true” product will not provide a great enough termite control product to provide protection. The wood mulch products on the market that are advertised for termite control contain disodium octaborate tetrahydrate or borate. Borate products can be used as a supplement treatment against termites. However, they are not a control for termites and would provide little benefit when used as mulch. As the mulch heats up and dries out, it becomes unattractive to termites. Termites prefer the soil layer under the mulch that remains cool and moist. Termites normally enter the home through buried wood or dead roots around the home. There is often a concern that the use of wood mulch around the home will cause a termite infestation. This should not be a major concern as long as the mulch is applied to the soil surface and never buried.
