Part One: The Old Stumps and Timber  in my Garden.

The old stumps and timber in the garden are breeding grounds  for termite colonies. Termites live in the top 200mm of soil and most have different nesting preferences depending on what species of termite they are. All species need timber to nest.

The first two are the most destructive and are responsible for most of the damage to homes. The last two are less dangerous sometimes called “bush termites” but can still cause serious damage once they have accessed your home.

1] Coptotermes spp likes to nest in the house walls and because of this makes it a nightmare if the nest expands undetected in your home.

2] Schedorhinotermes spp. prefers to nest in the crown or dead stump of a tree
or under the verandas in old form work left while house was being built amongst other areas.

These termites are so destructive and feed on any type of timber. I believe this termite is the worst in Brisbane. They eat hardwood and softwood and they don’t discriminate between dead and dying trees and your home.

3] Microcerotermes spp. nest in mounds on the ground or in trees . They enter buildings and prefer hard wood .

Nests in the Garden

The garden is the nursery and breeding ground of termites. Most people see termites in their garden and think that they are safely contained in it. Nothing can be further from the truth. Termite colonies are like octopus tentacles. If you see termites in one particular place you are only seeing one of the many tentacles.

A garden looks more natural with old stumps and logs. The removal or treatment of the timber is very important. A treatment of the stump or timber can eradicate a termite colony and deter re infestation. It is a good option as gardeners can be attached to timbers, old stumps and logs in their garden. The best option however, is to remove them completely.

In the next post, part 2 of 10 series I will cover Drainage and Termites around the Home..