Does mulch against the foundation of a brick home matter?
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Anonymous
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We heard for many years that mulch again the foundation is bad because it might attract termites, yet so many homes have mulch againt the house. Is there any actual science showing that mulch against the foundation of a home from garden beds attracts more termites?
We currently have mulch a giant our foundation of a brick home, does this matter? Should we install a drip edge with stone 1' from the foundation and between the garden bed? It's a lot of work, so before I did all that, I want to make sure mulch against the foundation isn't some old wives tale. |
Anonymous
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https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN651
"Mulch increases the ability of termites to survive where they are already established by keeping the soil moist and temperatures moderate. Mulch laid too thickly (>4–6 inches) can also provide a "bridge" over the treated perimeter of a house, allowing termites to walk over from landscape to house and avoid contact with soil treated with termiticides. "Mulch is useful in keeping mud from splashing up against a house. If mulch is part of your landscape, we recommend a thin layer (<2 inches) of mulch be placed within 12 inches of the foundation to allow the soil beneath to naturally dry. Desiccation is the termites worst enemy. Also avoid watering next to foundation walls." |
Anonymous
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It’s for foundational landscaping x I think originally the plants and shrubs were to cover the foundation( and you needed mulch to keep weeks at bay; but now it’s mainly for curb appeal.
If you want much, and are concerned don’t put it so close to your house or call an exterminator. If you don’t want mulch, Doesn’t really matter. you could also not plant grass or not have decorative shutters and architectural accents. IT’s the aesthetic |
Anonymous
| When we had an infestation of camel back crickets in our basement, we were advised to get rid of any mulch right against the house. Eventually we installed gardens with small rocks next to our house instead, and they went away. |